Chapter 12

Rose was afraid and her hands were shaking as she reached out to touch Nathaniel. Her hands stroked his arms, his chest, and back. She felt his hand stroke in between her legs as his mouth again found her breasts. She felt him suck on her nipple and nip it with his teeth. This time it did not hurt but felt pleasurable. When his fingers pushed inside her, she expected the pain but it didn't come. He was gentle until her body responded to him.

Rose felt that heaviness growing in her belly. She moaned when he removed his fingers. His mouth trailed fire down her body and she gasped as she felt his mouth in between her legs. Nathaniel licked her folds and his tongue went inside to that small nub he had rubbed with his thumb. That heaviness began to grow again. Rose felt her thighs squeezing Nathaniel's head. Her hands clenched the sheets as she cried out from the intensity of the pleasure.

Nathaniel moved back up her body. She felt him press against her opening as he kissed her. She tasted herself on his lips. He nudged her as if he was asking permission. Rose felt her nails sinking into his arms as the fear of him hurting her came crashing back down. Perhaps it was a good sign that he was not just taking her as he had last time.

She slowly lifted her body up to meet him as her legs slid up to where her knees were pressed against his hips. She felt Nathaniel slide himself inside of her. It was so slow and not painful like she had thought it would be. It was more a feeling of being filled and stretched to your limits. He was so long and thick. He moved slowly in and out of her as he kissed down her neck.

She felt her body react to him. She became wet in between her thighs, even wetter than before. His hips rolled as he started to move faster in and out of her. His hand moved up and down her thigh, slightly pulling it further up his body and opening her further up to him. She moaned as he did and she heard a growl against her throat as his response.

"Don't be afraid, Rose. Touch me. I won't do anything to hurt you. I promise," Nathaniel said, encouraging her to engage in the lovemaking.

Rose's body responded to his voice even as her mind was screaming that he was lying to her. Her hands touched every part of him that she could. She pushed her hands in his hair as he kissed her. His hair was so soft. She felt him push himself in and pull out of her faster and faster. He looked at her and told her to open her eyes. She looked into his eyes as her body soared to the sky with pleasure.

Her legs wrapped around him as she felt her body starting to clench tighter around him. He started talking to her, saying sweet nothings in her ear. Rose cried out as her stomach unclenched and she felt heat and fluid rush down to her womanhood. Nathaniel slammed his body into hers over and over, losing control of himself until he spilled himself inside of her.

Rose was not afraid as he took his lust out on her. He did not hurt her as his body pushed harder and faster into her as he had the first time. It merely made the pleasure she had felt heighten. When Nathaniel laid on top of her and placed his head on her chest, she began stroking his head and moving her fingers through his hair. She was pleasantly surprised that she liked the feel of his heat on top of her, the weight of his body on hers. The feel of his skin against hers felt wonderful. His breath on her breasts caused a tingling sensation. This was what she had imagined it would be like with her husband.

Nathaniel rolled on to his side taking Rose with him. She started to put her leg in between his but stopped. Just because his lust was slated did not mean he wanted to hold her. Or have her touch him any further. She was being kept for his pleasure. His arms tightened around her so she was as close to him as she could be.

"It's alright, Rose. You don't have to be afraid. Lay how you are comfortable."

Rose moved her leg in between his and put her arm over him. Her body was tense again. So many thoughts were going through her mind. Did she dare to ask them?

"M'Lord, why are you keeping me here? I'm broken. My defiance is gone. You have succeeded in your quest but you break your promise to an old man by not returning me to my home."

Rose felt her body begin to shake as Nathaniel moved away from her. Would he beat her for speaking her thoughts? Would he become angry and take his anger out on her like he had the first time? She sat up and although she was afraid and her body betrayed her by shaking, she held her head high. Nathaniel looked at her and his lips twitched and he smiled.

"You are not broken, woman. Your strong will remains. You are afraid and your body shakes but you hold your head high. I thought I had lost you forever after my actions. I love your strong will and defiance. I will admit at first it was just a challenge to break you. After so many months, I came to care for you. You are mine."

Rose saw his eyes darken as he proclaimed her to be his. She belonged to him now. She would forever be his concubine. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized she would never have love in her life. He had said he cared for her but that was not love. She was being punished for her mother's sins.

"Rose, do not cry. All will be well. You will be taken care of and protected. I will see to it."

"Will I be loved? Will I forever be your concubine as you are married off? Will I always compete for affection once you have a family of your own?"

Nathaniel was taken aback. Claiming her for his own was not what she had wanted. Would she be loved? He had come to care for her. The compassion she showed to others, the way she defied him every chance she got, even taking his horse for secret rides, had made him want her more. He wanted to be around her constantly. Yes, he loved her. He did want a family. He wanted her to be his family and bear his heir. He had not given thought to being married off. His thoughts went to the old hag in her village. "Tell Rose not to fight her future." She had said. His future was already written.

"Do not fight your future, Rose, or it will end badly. Your place is with me. I will love you and you will bear my heir. I will refuse an arranged marriage."

Rose felt that defiance fill her veins. Who was he to tell her not to fight? Instead, he threatened her if she fought. He stated he would love her, not that he did love her. He could not force himself to love her so why say that? She did not wish to bear his heir out of wedlock. The baby would forever be a bastard and treated like one for their lifetime. He could not refuse an arranged marriage and he knew it as well as she. She decided she had to leave this place. She had wanted to marry the great Sir Nathaniel when she was a mere child. Now, she longed for home and to be anywhere but here with him.

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Dominique awoke from the dream with her body feeling on fire from the sex in the dream and angry from the last conversation Rose and Nathaniel had. She opened her eyes and felt confused. She was in her bed. How had she gotten there? The last thing she remembered was sitting on the porch. Had she fallen asleep outside? Had she slept walked to her room? She was so tired nowadays. She probably had fallen asleep and woke up just long enough to go to bed. She was still dressed in her clothes from the night before. She slowly got out of bed feeling that old familiar ache in between her legs. Maybe she should take Melissa's advice and get under someone. And a different Nathaniel came to mind.