Climate of Change Read Online Free PDF Page B

hit me. Now I will scream. But you anticipate that, and—” She jammed his open hand across her mouth.
    At last he caught on. He was stopping her from screaming.
    He sought a third time to enter her, but the position had changed and he was not aligned. This time her right hand grasped his member and corrected its course. He started to thrust, and she let go and lunged to meet him, as if struggling to free herself. She twisted, and her right hand came around and up to scratch his back. Then her fingers caught his hair and yanked his face down to meet hers. She kissed him savagely, her interior muscles clenching.
    He pulsed inside her, transported. He had done it. She had actually done most of it for him, but perhaps it counted.
    They relaxed together. “And never again will I resist you,” she murmured in his ear.
    â€œNever again will I force you,” he said. He suppressed a foolish laugh.
    â€œWe are married.”
    He hesitated. “Crenelle, this is not the way I—”
    She cut him off with another kiss. “It is the way we do it.”
    In due course they disengaged, got up, dressed, and made their wayback to the house. Haven was standing by the fire, which she had built up to flare more brightly. “What happened?”
    â€œHe raped me,” Crenelle said.
    Haven stared at her. “He what?”
    â€œHe threw me down and hit me and stifled my scream. I couldn’t stop him.”
    Haven looked at Hero. He averted his gaze. She knew that he would never force a woman, but she didn’t understand what was going on.
    â€œI tried to fight. See, I scratched his back.” Crenelle pointed to the place she had scraped him.
    â€œSo what does this mean?” Haven asked cautiously.
    â€œSo now we’re married,” Crenelle concluded.
    Haven looked again at Hero. This time he had to speak. “She says she will join our family, and help us look for good land.”
    â€œBut what of your brother?” Haven asked.
    â€œNow he can rape his own woman, and bring her here. Before someone else gets her. There is one who wants him. She has held out about as long as she can, hoping he’d come. Now he will. They should be happy.”
    â€œThat’s nice,” Haven said noncommittally. “Now we need to get some sleep.”
    â€œNow you can join me inside,” Crenelle said to Hero. “It’s more comfortable there.”
    â€œI can sleep outside,” Haven said.
    â€œNo, you can be in with us. If you don’t mind what we do.”
    Haven looked once more at her brother. Hero shrugged. She knew about sex, and was figuring out that Crenelle was not an unwilling partner. “Is there anything else I should know?”
    â€œHe also saved my life,” the girl said.
    Haven’s lips quirked. “That too?”
    â€œYes. From the leopard. He fought it and drove it off. Just before he raped me.”
    She kept insisting on the rape, and that kept restoring his doubt. He was willing to marry her, but not to do it by a lie.
    Haven nodded. “He is thoughtful about things like that.”
    They went inside, and Hero joined Crenelle on her mat. He had thought to sleep, but she embraced him and kissed him repeatedly, and summoned his desire again. This time she made no mock resistance. She was showing him all that she had to offer, to solidify his resolve to marry her.
    It turned out to be a long night, for Crenelle was endlessly ardent. But Hero didn’t mind it at all. At last she tired, and remained asleep, and he was able to sleep too.
    In the morning Haven was up first, tending the fire. Hero got up and went out to urinate, leaving Crenelle sleeping. He was somewhat bemused by his new state of companionship, but not regretful. Crenelle had excited more than his passion; he believed that she would be a good wife. But the idea of calling it rape repelled him.
    â€œYou didn’t really rape her,” Haven murmured as he