It was three days before Belinda decided that Balek would not send for her again. Each night she had paced the floor of her tiny cottage and awaited the sound of his men’s approach. And each night she had gone to bed disappointed.
Forlorn, Belinda finally threw herself down upon the bed tucked against the corner of the room, her fisted hand coming down hard upon the quilt.
Damn you Balek. Even when you are gone from my sight, your presence does haunt me.
Less than an hour later, after she had finally drifted off to sleep, Belinda heard a hard knock at her door. She sat upright in bed, immediately alert.
“Who goes there?” she yelled, her heart pounding anxiously.
“’Tis I. Your lord,” a deep voice said.
Belinda didn’t waste a moment. She leaped up and hurried across the floor to throw the door wide. She patted her hair into place as Balek strode briskly past her into the room. She watched him as he came to a halt before the dwindling fire in the hearth. When he placed his hand upon the mantle and dropped his head, she knew that her plan had not failed. He was not a man who had found satisfaction with his betrothed. Nay, he was a man who was greatly frustrated.
Belinda approached him cautiously. “My lord? Why do you come here at this late hour?”
Balek spun around to face her, his face a picture of defeat. “I cannot take my betrothed,” he said.
“But when I did take my leave of you, your rod stood firm, even after three trysts.”
“Aye, I know it. But ’twould seem I cannot perform without your ministrations.”
Belinda licked her lips as she pondered his dilemma. “Did you attempt to take her this night?”
“Nay. I thought about it but I grew fearful of making a fool of myself again.”
Belinda knew if it were anyone but she standing before him, he would never have admitted as much. “Perhaps the problem is not you, my lord.”
Balek shook his head. “Aye, ’tis. I have even tried to lay with three serving wenches in the castle but still have the same problem.”
“Really?” That was a surprise to her. “If you wish my lord, I could perhaps give you the herbs to add to your wine and the vial of oil. Your betrothed could minister to you in my stead.” She was taking a big chance here, but she had to follow through with her plan.
Balek stared at her with a shocked expression. “I cannot ask my betrothed to ply my rod with oil and take me into her mouth. She would swoon if I did.”
Belinda couldn’t imagine a woman not wanting to do anything and everything in her power to have a chance to lie with him. “My lord, when we did lie together in this very room months ago you did not have a problem getting your manhood hard. Indeed, I did not then put any herbs into your wine and I did not massage you with oil or take you into my mouth.”
He contemplated this for a moment. “Aye, you are right. Though I am loath to admit this to you, that was the last time I did lie with a woman before sending for my betrothed.”
That statement pleased Belinda greatly. “Really?”
Balek reached out to tenderly touch her cheek. “Really.”
She smiled up at him. “Then take me now, my lord. Take me as you did that night, without any herbs and wine. Without any vial of oil and without me taking you into my mouth.”
He looked a little disappointed over her last few words. But then he placed his hands upon her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “Aye. I will then,” he said, accepting her challenge.
He swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. Belinda lay back and watched as he divested himself of his clothing. Then he lifted up the hem of her shift and helped free her from the garment.
Belinda drank in the sight of his muscular body. He is so perfect. As her eyes traveled down the length of him, from his handsome face to his broad chest, to his slim hips and lower... Oh my. “My lord.”
“Aye,” he rasped, his voice thick with desire.
Belinda sat up. “You are large and hard.”
Balek looked down at himself with surprise. “Well, look at that.”
“I am, I am,” Belinda said. “Quickly, my lord, mount me.” She lay back upon the sheets and opened her legs to him.
When he hesitated she grew alarmed. Would he hurriedly don his clothing and race back to the castle to bed his betrothed? Surely he must feel that he is really and truly healed for she had not used the herbs or oil upon him this night. Would he leave her? As she watched him with trepidation she was shocked when instead of throwing on his clothing he instead dropped to his knees beside the bed and grasped her ankles with his hands.
“My lord?” She sat up and gaped at him.
He smiled at her questioning glance. “I think it only fair that I should now take you with my mouth,” he said. “Do you agree?”
All Belinda could do was mutely nod her head and collapse with relief. A few seconds later, she was arching up off the bed when she felt Balek’s lips upon her. “Ah, my lord. What are you doing to me?”
Balek lapped at her sensuously before answering. “Inflicting you with the same brand of torture you used on me. Surely, you do not object?” His mouth once again lowered to her core.
“Nay. Nay, lord.” Before Belinda could gather her wits she felt one thick finger find its way inside of her. She gasped aloud when she suddenly felt another...and then another. He worked his fingers back and forth inside of her imitating the movements of intercourse and Belinda groaned at the sensation. She looked up at him and saw he was watching her face intently.
“Do you surrender to me?” he demanded.
“Aye, lord. Aye.” She only wanted to end this torment.
Smiling in triumph, Balek withdrew his fingers and guided his thick manhood toward her passage. Belinda felt his deep plunge and sighed with satisfaction. He pumped her with long strokes, quickening his pace with every thrust, until she was panting with desperation. Moments later, her climax crashed over her. Balek continued to move while she rode out the waves of passion, then he withdrew to seek his own release. Soon, they lay side by side upon the bed breathing heavily with exertion.
“I do believe I am healed,” Balek said with wonder. He lay with her for a while and then rose from the bed to dress.
Belinda propped herself up on an elbow to watch him. She couldn’t help but be worried. “Do you go to seek out your betrothed, now that you are healed, my lord?”
“When we are alone together like this you do not need to call me lord.” He had told her this many times before but Belinda always ignored his words.
When we are wed I shall call you by your name. She had made the vow the night he had taken her virginity and she had never forgotten it, or given up her hope of them being together.
But he had not answered her question.
She didn’t want to ask him again, for like a coward she feared his answer. Of course he will go to her now. She is his betrothed...not I.
Balek, now fully dressed, bent down and kissed her on the head. Only when she heard the door click shut did she notice he had left her a pouch of coins upon her table.