He hooked my chain to a link mounted in the fireplace. Binding me to one wall.

Dammit.

I could meander the room but that was as far as I could get.

Nowhere near that door. As if I could reach that bolt anyway.

But I was stuck here, bound to the fireplace. Until I get that key.

But despite that I'd pleasured the barbarian, he now looked at me with renewed interest instead of appearing sated.

Or what I thought sated should look like.

The village boys had always said they were never more relaxed than after having the heat of a woman.

I thought that was what we'd just done.

"What?" I snapped waspishly.

"Why are you so shrewish now?"

"I want to know why you're looking at me that way."

"Because I'm imagining the ways I'll have ye after I've trained ye."

"You'll never 'train' me. You'll have to beat me bloody first."

"Nay. No beatings for one such as you. You don't fear being struck. It's written over you. But 'tis clear to me what ye do fear."

Him. He knows it.

Eying him slumped back in a wood chair. Unashamed of his near nudity, I was concerned about the harm he could do me with his large frame. With fists the size of meat hammers.

But he's right. I don't fear his beating.

"You've already had my flesh!"

He chuckled coldly. "That snippet was sweet. But I'm ready for the meal. I want to fill you."

I chewed my cheek. Wondering if I'd be able to get away from him unscathed. Before he hurts me.

***

"I'll tell ye what." He stood and gave me a thoughtful study. "I'll get ye some help so I don't break ye."

"Help?"

"Another woman."

He checked the lock on the chain and the loop on the mantle. "Behave, Woman."

His way of saying goodbye.

As soon as he was out the door, I had my feet on the wall and was tugging at the metal loop, trying to break it free to make an escape.

After several hours, I was exhausted and sweating and tucked against the mantle. Frustrated from my inability to escape my bindings.

***

Mardichi returned that evening with a pretty, voluptuous blonde. Barely draped in clothes. He walked her in by holding the back of her neck.

"Raven, this is Bonnie. She is going to teach you what pleasing me should look like."

"Pleasing a man." Bonnie corrected.

"Only man she'll be pleasing is me." Mardichi scoffed.

"Poor thing." Bonnie shot her a sympathetic look.

"Don't make me sound as bad as that."

"You're not." Bonnie said quickly. "You're a kind one, you are. It's just your part." She gestured.

He'd resumed slouching in that wood chair. Leaned sideways and thoughtfully massaging his fingernails with the thumb on the same hand. "Yea...I'm worried 'bout tha' too."

He sighed and stood. "That's why yer here, Me Dear."

He took Bonnie to the bed as he had me this morning. Pushing her over to put her hands on it so she was bent in half. He tugged the strips of cloth covering her down off her arms and let them fall to the floor. Exposing her entirely.

"You watch." He ordered. Positioning behind Bonnie. He moved the pouch covering his groin aside and pulled out a large pulsing pink bit of flesh. Looking much like a small arm gripping an apple.

I looked at the tiny entrance I could see on Bonnie where she was bent over. He'll never fit.

"Now, Bonnie?" He leaned around her to ask.

"Make it quick." She pleaded.

He took that as consent to enter her fast.

She shrieked and lurched up to grab the sideboard of the bed in a white knuckled grip.