But then he sat back on his haunches, his broad chest towering over her.
That was when she realized what the bindings had done to her body in the night. Her muscles ached and cramped from being in the same position for so long.
He shuffled back out of the cave, then stood up. “Come. You must move, or you will be crippled.”
It hurt to drag herself out on her hands and knees. Assoon as she was past the mouth of the cave, he gripped her arm and helped her stand. Her legs felt weak, like they might give and send her crashing to the ground.
He took a step back, then stepped around her. His hand fell on her haunches in a somewhat painful, but rousing swat. Then again on the other side. “On your toes,” he ordered. “Make your muscles work.”
She did as he asked, standing up on her toes.
“Arms in the air,” he said, coming full circle around her.
She did this, too, raising her hands above her head and stretching them out. Freedom felt delicious.
He walked around her and spanked her again.
This time, though it still hurt a bit, the arousal she’d felt the day before at his correction flowed through her again. Her sex began to drip. She wished he would touch her again.
He came to stand in front of her. His cock had engorged, so that it was half-erect between his legs. He reached up and pinched her nipples between fingers and thumbs.
The pain lanced through her, down to her toes. But it was almost a welcome sensation. As if the punishment were waking her for the day ahead.
Gripping her soft buds, he twisted them between his fingers.
Royla winced. But his expression didn’t betray cruelty. In fact, if she didn’t think she knew better, she would have saidhewas enjoying this, too. The idea caused fresh liquid to seep from her sex. “Thank you, Master.” The words came out nearly unbidden. She couldn’t understand from where this desire to... submit to him sprang. But she couldn’t repress it, either.
Each time he seemed pleased with her, a powerful and hungry lust grew between her legs.
He played with her nipples, rolling them between his fingers.
Royla stood on her toes, doing her best not to move.
When he finally released them, it was with another sharp pinch that made her wince. He gazed at her with, what shethought, or perhaps what she hoped, was admiration. “You may stand normally.”
Royla fell back onto her heels and let her hands fall to her sides but nothing else. His eyes didn’t fall from hers for quite some time. Finally, he bent over and picked up what he’d dropped by the cave entrance. A rabbit. It hung limp in his hand. He thrust it out toward her. “Eat,” he ordered.
Royla balked. Did he mean to eat it... raw? As much as she wanted to please him, she could never bring herself to do anything like that. She shook her head.
His eyes darkened. He dropped the dead animal on the ground.
“Master, please!” Royla said, breathless. Her body was tingling in anticipation of another correction, but she knew she would never be able to do what he wanted. “Please listen?” she whispered.
His hand was already raised above her rear.
Just as she thought it was going to come crashing down in a thundering smack, it wavered in place. “What is it?”
The tightness that had twisted her insides abated slightly. “I’m sorry. I want to do everything you ask of me. But I... I can’t. I mean... we don’t eat that way. If you let me... I can show you? I can show you how we eat in the palisade.”
His hand lingered above her backside as he contemplated the offer. Finally, he pulled it away. He folded his arms across his chest. “Show me what?” he demanded.
Royla’s breath was still coming quickly. Gathering her courage, she looked her new master in the eye. “You will have to let me find some firewood. And perhaps a rock I can use to skin the animal,” she explained.
His eyes narrowed as he contemplated the request. He seemed to be weighing whether to grant it. After what seemed an eternity, he took a step forward and leaned over her, his nose nearly touching hers. “Run from me and Iwillfind you.”
Royla swallowed back the tightness that had gripped her throat. She lowered her eyes, hoping he would take thegesture as a sign of respect. “Of course, Master,” she whispered. Then she dared to look up and at him again. “But I will not run. I promise.”
Chapter Six
