Savage Satisfaction Read Online Free PDF Page A

them
out. With a sigh William started to return indoors to fetch him, but Mirela put
a hand on his arm.
    “My lord?”
    He looked down at her pale fingers resting against his
sleeve. The sword, which he still wore, pressed against her leg. “Yes, Mirela?”
    “Are you going to do…what he said?”
    Her eyes were wide, her lips parted. If not for the wrinkle
of concern between her brows he would have thought it was desire writ upon her
face, but it was fear.
    “What were you told about your service to me?”
    “I was born to be yours,” she said quietly. “My mother was
given to my father so her family could share the burden of payment to you. I am
the oldest girl, and so from the time I was small knew what my life would be.
They said that the lord, that you, would demand hunting by the falcon and quiet
obedience from the woman.”
    “And was that obedience to include sharing your body?”
William lifted her fingers from his sleeve and cupped her wrist, stroking the
hollow of her hand with his thumb. She drew in a deep breath and they were
standing so close that her breasts brushed his chest.
    “I-I don’t know. They never told me. I thought to die
untouched. I thought the lord would already be married. No falcon has ever
returned to the family to speak of her time here.”
    “None have returned?” He snorted in disbelief, though he
could understand that Mirela wouldn’t have been told that tale. “What you were
told was neither more nor less than the truth. I will demand obedience from
you, perhaps in all ways.”
    He kept his words strong, fighting the public school manners
that demanded he reassure her and promise to leave her alone. Perhaps a kiss
would calm her. He cupped the falcon’s neck and tilted her head up.
    “I knew you were going to fuck her,” Christoffer said,
closing the mudroom door with a bang.
    “Christoffer,” William growled. Mirela pulled away, her
fingers twisting together. William wanted to take her in his arms and carry her
to his bed.
    He would have to consider the ramifications of having sex
with her. A sexual relationship had been low on his list of concerns. After
all, what if his falcon was like his father’s? But now that she was here and so
heart-stoppingly beautiful, why should he deny himself?
    He did not have to decide immediately; after all, she
couldn’t leave.
    “This way,” William said tersely, looking at Christoffer.
    Christoffer’s gaze was on the clearly visible erection in
the front of William’s pants. William met Christoffer’s eyes and something
passed between them, something William would have called attraction if that
weren’t so ludicrous. Though he had to admit the boy was handsome.
    William took them across the manicured grass to the edge of
the woods. Once at the tree line he turned, not right toward the place where
the fence of the deer park cut through the trees, but left to the outbuilding
he’d had retrofitted for this purpose.
    “Where are we going?” Christoffer asked, jogging a few steps
to walk beside William.
    William debated responding, but said, “This is where you
will live now.” The corner of the building was just visible through the trees.
    “Ahh, can’t let the freaks live in the main house?”
Christoffer sneered.
    William winced but didn’t respond. What he was doing was
necessary. He’d lain awake many nights telling himself that what he planned
wasn’t cruel or degrading but prudent.
    The building, whose original purpose was forgotten due to
age, was made of rounded gray stone. It was newly mortared, and for all its age
appeared solid and steady.
    As they drew closer William’s heartbeat sped up.
    He stopped at the heavy wood door. He stared at it,
gathering his courage. William looked over his shoulder at them—his Hunting
Pair—and opened the door.
     
    Mirela was the first to enter, ushered in by a gesture from
the man. William, she reminded herself. It did not seem appropriate to continue
to think of him only