When the storm died, we ventured from our hiding hole. In the ravine, there was little dry ground. Haakon lay in a little crevice in the rocks, cramped and barely able to fit half his body. One calf bled where a rock had struck it. His breath came in short, pained gasps.

Ulf dropped to his knees, tearing strips from his own clothes to make a bandage. “I should not have moved you so soon.”

“It’s all right, brother.”

“No, my fault. I built the fire too large.”

“Showing off,” Haakon gasped, and I knelt close to shush him. I held his hand tight while Ulf went to retrieve his supplies. Sleep quickly took the wounded warrior, leaving me alone with his scarred companion.

I cursed myself for flinching at his scars. The left side of his face was so endearing, I forgot the whole of the man. Handsome and scarred. Stern, strong, and unyielding as a rock. And yet…

When I shivered, unable to get warm, Ulf slung a wolf pelt over my shoulders and gathered me into his strong arms. Any game that I’d been playing fell away. I needed him, and could not hide it.

Sometime later, I woke with a start. A body lay next to me, burning like an inferno. A strong body clad only in a loin cloth. For a moment, I thought I’d snuggled next to Haakon, but then the man raised his head, and the moonlight caught his ravaged cheek.

“Ulf.”

“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said, angling his face to hide his scars.

I don’t know why I did it, but I touched his chin, stilling him. I don’t know why he didn’t cringe, but he closed his eyes as I traced the line of his scars, smoothing the harsh ridge with my fingertips.

Not all of his skin was mottled and melted. The right side of his face was smooth, even pleasing. His lips were firm and fine.

I shifted uneasily. Liquid trickled from my nethers. I snatched my hand away, rolling to my back. I should be sleeping, resting so I might plot my escape. I should not be thinking about his lips…

“Thank you for saving me,” I whispered.

His body jerked beside mine. Shock at my gratitude?

Before I could think, I rolled onto him. I pressed my curves into his hard body, marveling at how we fit.

“Laurel?” his hand touched my hair, hesitant.

“Mmm,” I answered, halfway to falling back asleep. I was not playing a game. I didn’t know what I was doing, but one thing I did know. Ulf didn’t think he was worthy of a woman’s touch, love, or affection. I wished I was brave enough to stay and prove him wrong.

But I could not. I had to leave before my feelings bound me to these men forever.

* * *

When I woke Haakon lay sleeping. He didn’t wake when I moved. He looked whole.

Ulf was gone, most likely checking for danger. It was time. Rising, I wrapped the pelt around my shoulders.

My feet squelched on the muddy leaves as I followed the hidden stream out of the ravine. The sun was high, and I was well and truly lost when I realized I was not alone.

Stomach quivering, I faced my tracker.

“How long have you been following me?”

In answer, Ulf walked towards me. His boots made no noise on the gravelly ground. He made no move to hide his ruined face as he took my wrist. I followed willingly, only hesitating when our camp came into sight. Haakon was awake and sitting up.

I’m sorry, I mouthed to him. His gentle gaze was more censure than I could bear.

“Are you going to punish me again?” I asked Ulf. Some part of me had always known I wouldn’t escape. Had I run only so they could bring me back?

Ulf drew me into his arms and held me, the harsh lines of his face and stern frown at odds with his gentleness. I shook against him. When he drew away, I kept my eyes on the ground, unable to look at him or Haakon.

Ulf pulled me to face him and tugged at my gown. “Off.”

“What?”

“You disobeyed. I’ll give it back when I am sure we have trained you not to run.”

Slowly, I shrugged off the gown and handed it to him.

“All of it.” He draped the dress on a bush and folded his arms. He would not force me or hold me. He made me make the choice to obey on my own.

Once naked, I wrapped my arms around myself.

“It’ll be all right, lass,” Haakon called.

Ulf bound my wrists and wrapped a leather thong around my neck, taking care the knot would not tighten when he pulled the lead.

“You’ll sit with Haakon.”

Haakon pulled me to lie on my side next to him.

His hand stroked my arm as Ulf went to work. His axe chopped saplings, and lashed them together to make a frame, much as he had to make a spit for the stag.

“What are you going to do to me?” I whispered.

Haakon cupped my cheek. “We’ll make sure you never want to leave.”

The sun hung low in the west before he was done making a sturdy frame. Ulf left and returned with plenty of rope, and more rabbits for dinner.

He did the cooking, and brought over a bowl of food.

I raised my hand for him to untie, but Haakon clucked and held a morsel to my mouth. Cheeks burning in shame, I let him feed me like a babe.

“How long will you leave me like this?” I asked.

“As long as it takes you to learn,” Ulf said in voice hard as flint.

I winced and bowed my head.

Ulf crouched in front of me.

“Why did you run?”

“I cannot do this,” I pleaded. “I cannot be your mate.”

Ulf’s cheeks tinged red and he looked away.

“You already are.” Haakon’s hand drifted over my breast, secret pleasure curled through me.

“I was raised to be good a good girl. You should find someone else.”

Ulf put his hand on my knee and stroked. His touch was maddening. I winced away and his face turned to stone.

“Please, just punish me.”

“Very well,” he said harshly, his expression closer to hate than I’d seen it. I’d rejected him, I realized. Last night, I’d held him close, but I’d destroyed any fragile tenderness when I ran. As Ulf untied me and led me to the frame, I wondered if I could atone for what I’d done.

My heart beat faster as he secured my wrists and ankles to the structure. He lashed my legs and arms and middle to the saplings. I found myself spread eagled, legs far apart and cunny exposed. I squeezed my eyes shut and quivered as much as my bounds would allow.

What would he do? Would he whip me? My back was to the frame, but my large breasts were exposed.

I opened my eyes when Ulf cleared his throat. He held a switch. I gulped.

“Do you know this implement of discipline?”

I nodded. The nuns had used it on us, often.

“As I watched you leave, I was tempted to whip you up and down with it. Haakon does not wish to mark you. I must confess I’d like to see you marked by my hand.” He gripped my breast, no hesitation at touching my body now. My heart beat faster, breath coming in gasps as he squeezed and massaged my flesh. Helpless, bound before him, I never wanted his touch to end.

My cunny wept.

I sighed when he stepped away.

“I’m going to strike you, as a warning. You’ll be getting a spanking later. We will punish you as much as it takes to bind you to our will.”

I nodded, unable to look away. His harsh gaze captured me, held me tighter than any rope.

The firelight played along the edge of his ravaged face as Ulf snapped the switch a few times, testing it. I winced at the supple sound.

“Not too many, now.” Haakon spoke up.

“Just a few.” Ulf said, and flicked the switch across my breasts. I cried out, and stinging red line appeared across the pale skin. He placed the switch under my breast, lining up his next shot. My chest heaved. The switch left a mark under my breasts.

“One more,” he said and rubbed the switch between my legs. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

“Give me your tears, Laurel. This is how you please your masters. We would risk everything to keep you safe. Our very lives. You will not throw yours away.”

My lips trembled. I’m sorry, I wanted to cry out but had no words.

He marked the tops of my thighs and biting into my cunny.

I whimpered.

“Enough. See that you don’t earn more.”

I shook my head frantically.

He turned the frame and I saw what else he had done.

Haakon now lay on his back between two rows of large boulders on either side of him.

“Gently, brother,” Haakon instructed. Ulf just grunted as he lifted me, frame and all, and carried me over to Haakon, where he set the sturdy structure over the prone warrior. Haakon’s dimple flashed up at me. I hung suspended over him, helpless, held fast in my many bindings.

“What are you doing?” I thrashed but couldn’t free myself.

“Whatever I want.” Haakon craned his neck to kiss me. His lips seduced me as roaming fingers plucked my nipples, explored my cleft, squeezed my bottom.

A sharp smack made me cry into Haakon’s mouth. Ulf stood over us, switch in one hand. The other spanked my other buttock, hard enough to make me yelp.

“Poor little love,” Haakon crooned. “Did Ulf mark you? I will make you feel better.”

Carefully, he scooted down, and I moaned when I realized his intent. With my body suspended on the frame, my breasts hung down like fruit. Haakon was all too eager to lick and suck them, swirling his tongue along the switch marks to soothe them. He kissed the line of my hurts until I gasped.

“Enjoying yourself, brother?” Ulf asked.

“Not as much as I could be.”

“She’s responsive.” Ulf’s finger pressed against my bottom hole.

I yelped and tried to flail, but couldn’t budge.

Haakon chuckled. “I want to taste her sweetness.” He set his teeth around my nipple and I panted. Turning his head, he nipped me and my hips bucked.

“Please, no. I will go mad.”

“You accused us of being mad. Perhaps then you will better match us. Or perhaps the madness was in the abbey. Beautiful, luscious girls all taught their flesh was sinful,” Haakon tsked. “We will teach you a new lesson.”

Ulf lifted the frame again, turning me around so I hung over Haakon’s legs. His giant cock waved in the air, stiff and proud as a flagpole.

“Oh, no,” I groaned as I felt Haakon’s hot breath on my cunny.