I knew that was bad. I could see both his hands now and knew we were connected at the pelvis. And I understood enough of mating to know that this act was what defiled ladies.

This act is the one that makes men have to marry damaged goods.

I was now his damaged goods.

There was slight pain as he pressed in further and something inside me gave.

I yelped slightly beneath his hand.

"Be quiet now, Belle. I'm going to feel you."

He slid his hand away and slowly his shoulders eased forward and I felt him stab inside me. Though it didn't hurt it was a strange intrusion I wasn't accustomed to.

His teeth gritted and his head dropped as he paused.

I watched him in confusion.

Slowly his hips began working into mine. Forward and back. Dragging the weight of him inside me back out then piercing back in.

He was panting raggedly and eventually dropped to his elbows over me. To ride more deeply into me. Feeling my body beneath his. His hands holding my shoulders in place so he could stretch further into me without me sliding along the bed.

He was going so fast now the bed was bumping the wall slightly.

***

Those strange strings of warmth were climbing through me again. I felt myself beginning to flex around him. Inside me gripping him like a fist massaging his cock. Tightening around him with each long stroke.

He was pumping faster and I felt icy fingers slide up my back before my body super-heated then I felt myself explode in a way that made me draw my knees up along his sides.

Pinching him between them.

My hands shot up to grip his shoulders as I knew I should be begging him to stop but it felt so foreign, so forbidden...

I bit my lip as my hips rose up to meet his thrust. Forcing him to embed deep into me and bump something which stung.

I yelped slightly but it was too late. My breasts jutted beneath my dress. The crests hardening to tiny rocks. My hips rocking into him spasmically. The muscles in my thighs quaking so hard that even my calves shook.

I rode the wild waves of pleasure until my body collapsed flat back to the bed.

"There." Bodin slid out of me.

Making me yelp in objection and lurch upward. My body still trying to hold him as he escaped.

He knelt between my calves and cinched the laces back up on his breeches. Tossing my skirt down. "All well and done. What more do you have to fear now?"

"What?" I blinked at him in shock.

"Here." He gestured to the gray coverlet which was now bloodied beneath me. "Let up and I'll remove it for you."

No one would know what happened if he took it away. I tossed him a thankful look.

"I'll have the maid bring you another one."

I nodded in shock. Adjusting my skirts as I slumped back to the edge of the bed. So confused I wasn't sure what'd just happened.

***

Bodin slid out the door and observed his brother leaning next to the wall. "Did you hear it."

"Every bit of it." James shuddered. "You included."

Bodin shrugged. Unravelling the blanket thoughtfully.

"Did you get it?" James peered around the backside to view the blood stain on the front. "No denying you now. Though it didn't sound as though she'd fight being your wife as much as you say. Not from what I just heard in there."

"She will." Bodin gave his brother a decisive look. "It's not her idea. So she'll fight me tooth and nail."

"But?"

"But I have everything I need to ensure she's well and duly trapped." He gestured to James. "A witness..."

He began carefully wrapping the coverlet again. "And the evidence. She's not going anywhere."

"You're really serious about this?" James peered at him.

"She's mine, James. She just doesn't know it yet."