Grace, Viola - The Wench and The Giant

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To David and Gale, who unfailingly support the lack of seriousness in my work…

The Wench and the Giant

A

nya had always lived a comfortable life. That was of course, until her father died and left her alone in the world. The estate was entailed to a cousin who had no interest in supporting a grown woman on his coin. He turned her out into the world without a copper. “Have fun finding work! The only occupation you are suited to is whore.” He cackled evilly for a few moments as Anya picked her gowns out of the dirt where he had thrown them. “Maybe that pretty face of yours will be able to support you.” The door of her childhood home slammed in her face. She scooped up her clothing as best as she could and made her way to her new life. It took her only a few days to realize that her ‘pretty’ face was a detriment to her finding a position in any household as a servant. The offers she did receive were along the same professional lines that her cousin had mentioned to her. She left the premises as fast as she could and hid in the forest until the leering ‘gentleman’ had given up the hunt. 1

Viola Grace She needed a job where an interested man with unscrupulous intentions would not be able to spirit her away. She needed to be in public. As she mulled this over, she heard laughter from inside the local tavern. A woman was ensconced in a man’s lap as he drank his ale. She seemed happy enough, and there was a large, intimidating individual near the door to make sure that no one took one of the wenches off him by force. She had a sudden idea. She took her small bundle of possessions into the nearby forest and began to craft a disguise. When she emerged she bore no resemblance whatsoever to the woman who had gone into the woods a few hours earlier. A veiled hood covered all of her head except for her brilliant green eyes. Her breasts had been bound down to give her a cylindrical appearance and a sack of a dress fell from her shoulders straight to the floor. Not one feminine attribute was visible to the eye. Nearby was a still pond, a place she liked to go to and dream. This is where she had come up with the idea of her disguise. She walked to the pond and gazed at her reflection in its still waters. It was perfect. No one would recognize her. Now all she needed to do was convince a tavern keeper to hire her. Another village would probably be best. 2

The Wench and the Giant **** Several months later Anya reflected that life as a tavern wench was actually kind of fun. The customers occasionally got extremely drunk and tried to carry off one of the wenches, but it was never Anya. The rumor of horrific burn scars under the draped fabric was enough to cool the most ardent of admirers. This enabled her to wait on the tables, chat with the customers, and clean the more obvious spills without extreme harassment, and only receive the occasional pinch on her curved buttocks. She took possession of a tiny cottage outside the village that housed the tavern, and was on the way home when her life took an unexpected turn. “Damn it! Imps!” The tiny creatures were frolicking across her path. At her outburst, the collection of creatures turned as one and hissed. The pack attacked her, leaping upon her robes and twisting them around her feet, sending her to the ground in a tangle of fabric. She clawed at the creatures as their tiny teeth gnashed at her clothing, tearing off strips to nest with. Suddenly, they were gone. She sat up slowly and looked around at the catalyst for their exodus. She found it in the very large boots that entered her field of vision as she calmed her breathing. 3

Viola Grace “Are you alright?” The voice was very deep, and based on her current locale it was extremely far away. “Yes, I’m fine, I think.” She started to stand up but tripped over the shredded scraps of fabric that were still twined devilishly around her ankles. Large hands caught her and lifted her up against a chest that was wonderfully warm and hard. “Apparently not.” His voice was amused and she could feel it rumble through the walls of his chest as he spoke. She still did not have enough nerve to look up and meet his eyes. “Where were you headed, miss?” He seemed to be unfailingly polite. “To my cottage, at the end of the lane. Near the Maiden’s Pool.” She had tucked her chin into the fabric of her shawl, which muffled her voice, yet he obviously understood her as he began to stride down the path. “Have you lived there long?” His legs made short work of the walk as they ate up ground at twice the rate of her pace. “A few months. I only just moved to this village recently.” Warmed by his interest, even if it was just out of politeness she continued. “People around here are very nice for the most part. The tavern keeper has been very kind.” “I don’t go into town much. I have a slight problem with the scale of the place.” He smiled. 4

The Wench and the Giant She could feel it. She peeked up at him and was astonished at the pleasant features that met her gaze. The moment that she looked up at him, he looked down at her. He smiled again. It was a kind look, amused and full of good humor. It transformed his face from pleasant to handsome in the blink of an eye. “I didn’t think giants were so good natured.” She smiled in return, and then stopped as she realized that he could not see her face. All that was visible were her eyes. She attempted to put as much warmth as she could into them, but he had already looked away. “Most aren’t, but I am not fully a giant. A fullblooded giant would be over ten feet tall. I am a few feet short of that.” He stopped and began to lower her to the ground. With astonishment, she realized that they had reached her little cottage in the woods. The pond was a glassy reflection of the night sky and everything was silent. “Well, here you are. Safe and sound. I will bid you good night.” He turned and began to stride away down the path into the deep woods. “Wait! What’s your name?” she called to his retreating back. “Orthias, miss. My name is Orthias.” He continued without looking at her and soon was lost to her sight. 5

Viola Grace “Thank you, Orthias.” Her voice was a whisper. She turned and went inside her tiny cottage, sealed the windows and locked the door behind her. Her mind whirled in bewilderment at the feelings that had started to warm within her. **** “What do you know about the giant, Orthias?” Anya was wiping down a table, John the tavern keeper was nearby repairing a bench. “Not much. Why?” He continued to work absently and glanced up at her. “He drove off some imps for me earlier in the week. I was just wondering about him, you know, where he lives, how long he has been in the area. Stuff like that.” “Oh. Hmm…he’s only a half giant, only seven feet tall or so. Lives near the Great Oak in the forest. Nice guy. Makes furniture in his spare time. That is about it.” “Thank you, I was curious. I haven’t run into many giants, half-blood or otherwise. He seemed polite enough. Does he ever come into town?” “Very rarely. Only when he needs to lay in supplies.” John focused his entire attention on her, “Why all the questions, really?” “I wanted to take him something. You know, as a thank you for his help.” She scrubbed harder at the table. 6

The Wench and the Giant “Hmm…why not take him some of the fresh bread Minya made this morning? Perhaps one of the roasted chickens.” John seemed most helpful in his suggestions. “Ok John. What do you want? You never give up food without a fight.” Anya stopped her cleaning and crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine, you got me. I want to know if he can make me some new benches. These old ones are falling apart.” He shook his head at the wobbly repair he had affected on the furnishing. One heavy patron and it would fall apart for good. “What are you willing to pay him?” “Free meals for a month for every bench he makes.” “But you said he doesn’t come into town. How is he going to get the food?” Anya was curious now. “You said you wanted to thank him. You can deliver them once a day.” He seemed very pleased with his logic. And so it was that with basket in hand, Anya found herself walking down the path in the woods, past her own cottage and into the deep forest. The walk to Orthias’ house took her the better part of one hour. When she arrived, she knocked on the door and waited for a response. Nothing. She knocked again. “Is there something you want?” The voice sounded from right behind her and she almost 7

Viola Grace jumped out of her skin. “Oh gods, you scared me!” She whirled to look at him, finding herself confronted with a wall of bare skin. Sweaty bare skin. He had obviously been working in the yard when she arrived. She tilted her neck back to meet his eyes. “I have brought you food and a business proposition.” “What kind of business?” He seemed only slightly curious as he took the basket from her and went into the cool darkness of his house. “John at the tavern would like to know if you would be willing to trade your carpentry skills.” She trailed after him as he entered a spotless kitchen and set out two plates. “Trade them for what? He doesn’t have anything that I want.” He swiftly divided the chicken, and served it on the plates next to neatly sliced pieces of bread. “He would give you one meal a day in exchange for a month for every bench you complete.” Anya blinked as he held out a chair for her. Since she had transformed herself into a shapeless blob of fabric, very few men had ever treated her like a lady. She hopped up onto the chair and gave him a nod of thanks. “I don’t go into town.” His voice was matter of fact. “He knows that. The meal would be delivered 8

The Wench and the Giant to you each day.” “By whom?” “Me.” She studied her plate and picked at the chicken. Tearing off a piece and then tucking it behind her veil to eat it. “You are willing to come out here every day? Rain or shine?” His surprise was evident. “Well, I’ve wanted to thank you for your help the other day. This seemed an expedient way to do it.” A tiny piece of bread disappeared behind her veil as she continued to eat slowly and carefully. “You could just say thank you.” “Thank you.” Her gaze met his and a smile crinkled the corners of her eyes. “Are you interested in John’s offer?” “Not really, but I will accept it. On the condition, that you bring enough food for two everyday and have lunch with me.” Anya was startled. Apparently the widening of her eyes betrayed it. “Every now and then I do have the urge for…company.” Orthias was smiling again. “This is a convenient way of ensuring it.” “Alright then.” She pushed her half-full plate away. “When will the first bench be ready? The agreement will start as soon as John has it.” “It will be ready in one week. I expect to see you the day after it has been delivered.” Orthias took her plate, finishing the food she had left 9

Viola Grace behind. It seemed very intimate to share food with a man she had just met. Especially since she was unable to use her looks to charm him. “You can go now.” “Fine then. I will see you soon, I guess.” Anya slowly rose from the table, then walked out the door and back into the green silence of the woods. **** Exactly one week later Anya found herself back at Orthias’ house. Once more with a basket full of food and still wrapped head to toe in her disguise. Two benches were delivered to John's tavern and he was delighted with them. The elegant carving on the supports made each bench a showpiece in the tavern. Villagers came by just to see the exquisite workmanship, and they'd stay for a pint. Two meals a day was a small price to pay for such a draw. He had been startled that it was a pair, but he was not about to complain. She stood on his porch and knocked. The door swung open and his massive form confronted her once again. He was tall, but fit and trim. His body hard muscled from working outdoors. “Hello Orthias. With compliments from John.” She held the basket out between them and his fingers brushed hers as he took it. As if his hands were fire, her fingers released the basket and withdrew into the folds of cloth. 10

The Wench and the Giant She smoothed her hands down her thighs as she followed him down the hall and into the kitchen once again, trying to stop their shaking. Lunch was a polite event. John had packed enough food to satiate Orthias’ enormous appetite, and he made quick work of it. When he had cleared the dishes off the table, he offered her a tour of his home. A dining room was off the kitchen, two guest rooms, a small washing room, and finally a library. Anya was astonished. She had never seen so many books together in one place before. Her father had had a few, but nothing to compare to this collection. “Where did you get all of these books?” One of her hands reached out to caress the spines lightly. She glanced over at him to find him watching her slender fingers stroke down the books with a sensitive touch, and jerked her hand back to her side with a blush. He cleared his throat. “Most of them were given to me by my mother. Some by friends. Some I found in my travels.” “Oh, have you traveled much?” “Not recently. I came to this house and decided to settle here. There’s everything I could possibly need within easy reach.” “Except books.” She smiled at her thought. Then froze her features when she noted the intense look he gave her. If she didn’t know better, she would guess that he could see through her 11

Viola Grace clothing. His features composed themselves. “The books should not be exposed to the elements, so I will ask you not to take any with you. You are welcome to read when you come to visit though.” “Thank you, I may take you up on it.” She smiled at him again, a pleasant, vacuous smile that emptied her eyes of any thought. This set the pattern for the next few weeks. One day she got up the courage to ask a question that had been bothering her. “Why did the imps scatter when they saw you? And why haven’t I seen them since.” “It must have been your charming attitude, and the way you sway your hips while you are carrying that basket. It must have scared them off.” He gave her a grin and went back outside to work on one of his projects. Each day she brought him food. Each day he divided it between them and then he escorted her to the library and left her to read for a few hours. The companionship between them grew. Anya began to have stronger feelings for him than she had ever imagined, but she didn’t know what to do about it. If she made her attraction known, she might lose his friendship, he might reject her, or gods help her, he might take her up on her offer. If only there was a way to lie with him without him knowing about it. Anya pondered this for a few days, and then 12

The Wench and the Giant decided on her course of action. She would go to the forest fey, Kenyon, and ask for a potion to serve her purpose. Then she would go to Minya at the tavern and get the rest of what she needed. **** Kenyon had a house deep in the forest. Anya was slightly timid as she walked up to the door. She started when the door opened and an attractive elf stood in the opening. “Can I help you?” His finely sculpted brow raised in query as he assessed the unidentifiable creature before him. “Yes, I mean, I hope so.” Anya stammered slightly as the elf gestured for her to enter the house. Inside she was astonished. It was extremely similar to Orthias’ house. The same basic structure, but something was off. In a few seconds, she realized that it was the scale of the rooms and furniture. Everything was too small. She had grown accustomed to the larger proportions. She smiled to herself and followed him into what should have been the library. It was a laboratory. Vials, beakers, flames, and powders she could not identify covered the walls and tables. There were large tomes stacked on a shelf and piled on the floor. “What do you need?” He took a seat on the 13

Viola Grace only chair in the room. “Uh, I’m not sure, a potion perhaps? Something to knock out a giant.” “A giant? You want to knock out a giant? Why?” He looked angry. His finely sculpted features were pulling into a scowl. “I would really rather not explain why.” She shrank back from his piercing gaze. “You will explain or I will not assist you in this manner. Causing a giant to sleep is not an easy task. They do not generally sleep for more than an hour at a time.” His voice was implacable. She tucked her chin to her chest and muttered, “I want him asleep so that I can…umm, lie with him.” “What?” Kenyon was incredulous, what ever he had expected her to say, this was not it. “I want him unconscious so that I can lie with him, without him remembering. Do you want me to draw you a picture?” Her voice was shrill with embarrassment. The elf sat perfectly still for a few moments. Then laughter bubbled out of his chest and spilled from his throat. He howled with laughter, and rolled from his chair and onto the floor. Tears coursed down his face as he gasped for breath. When he had himself under control again, Anya asked him, “So can you help me?” “Yes, just a moment.” Chuckling under his breath, he went to one of the shelves. Moving 14

The Wench and the Giant several bottles out of the way, he selected a large one filled with a viscous blue liquid. He carefully measured it out into three separate containers. He then crossed the room to her and handed over the corked bottles. “Here are three doses of the sleeping draught. But I am warning you now—the potion will be less effective every time you use it. It will give him a sleep that will last for four hours, no longer. His body should still be able to respond to yours.” Shaking his head and grinning he escorted her to the door. “What do I owe you for this?” “Nothing. Just let me know if it works.” He closed the door laughing, when her eyes displayed her dismay. **** The next day Anya found herself shaking as she knocked on Orthias’ door. She had dosed both pieces of roast that John had given her. It was too late to change her mind. They ate as usual and he started yawning halfway through the meal. Each piece that she removed from her plate was carefully stored in a fold of her robes and as was his custom, he finished all of the food that she had left behind. Yawning, he led her into the library and excused himself to take a nap. He yawned on the way out 15

Viola Grace of the room and she crossed her fingers. A few minutes later, she did not hear any movement. Carefully she crept out of the library, leaving the door open so as not to make any additional noise. She eased the door to the master bedroom open and slipped inside. The windows were open to the autumn breezes, the drapes pulled back. Light streamed into the room. Orthias slept soundly on his back, his shirt and trousers on, but unbuttoned and unlaced. His boots were on vigil by the side of the bed. She moved forward and cleared her throat. She waited for him to stir. He slept on. Steeling herself, she reached out to stroke his face, running her fingers along the edge of his jaw line and across his lips. When he still didn’t stir, she breathed a sigh of relief. With fingers that were trembling, her clothing was discarded one piece at a time. She stood completely nude with the marks of the binding pressed into her ample breasts in the bright and sun covered room. Her body was extremely pale, her wide hips flaring below a narrow waist. Anya climbed up onto the bed, contemplating where to start with the sleeping giant. Minya’s advice came roaring back to her and she raised one hand to slide his shirt open. Maidenly restraint was suddenly less important as she felt his heart beating a steady, heavy rhythm. Her other hand was itching to touch his flesh, and 16

The Wench and the Giant since she could not reach around him, she went over him. Kneeling astride him sent a hum of contentment through her. Both of her hands were now free to learn his contours and the textures of his flesh. She could feel the leather of his trousers on the soft delicate tissue between her thighs and she rocked on him slightly. The spear of delight that raced through her at the previously unknown contact caused her to gasp and rock again. Her hips rolled gently against his and she felt an answering response from him. Curious now, she scooted back to allow her adventurous hands to continue to explore. She gently peeled back the edges of his trousers, working them down to expose his member... It began to rise slowly from its nest of hair, jerking in response as she stroked her fingers down, then up, learning another texture of Orthias’ body. She heard him sigh and darted a quick look at his face. He slept on. Anya wrapped her hands around his length as her attentions had the desired effect. Stroking both hands down to the base then up to the crown, she was delighted when a pearly drop appeared at the tip. Looking up to watch his face, she took the head of his cock into her mouth, sucking gently. He made no movement to indicate his waking. She lifted her head and ran her tongue around her lips, tasting him again. He tasted salty, musky, 17

Viola Grace and very alien to her. Her hands resumed their task, stimulating his arousal every now and again dipping beneath to toy with the sack that lay below. She eyed the length and girth that she had awoken. She was not sure that she would be able to take him all within her, but the warmth blooming in her belly urged her to try. She levered herself up on her knees, then held his member in place as she began to press her opening against him. She was too dry. Minya had warned her about this. She needed to be wet. A tiny bit of moisture had leaked out of her when she had pressed that spot in the depths of her sex by rocking against him. Perhaps if she rubbed it again more would come. She tried to rub the head of his cock against it, but it was too awkward to support her weight and hold him in the right place at the same time. An idea occurred to her and she moved down to straddle one of his thick thighs still encased in the leather trousers. She braced her hands on his hips and rocked her pelvis against his thigh. There! That was it. The sensation made her dizzy and she fell forward rocking her hips to a steady beat. Her mouth was an inch from the head of his cock and she opened her mouth to take it in. Her hips rocked faster and she could feel the moisture beginning to leak out of her. As the heat flared higher in her, she sucked at him with a frenzy, her tongue spiraling around him and one hand 18

The Wench and the Giant working at the smooth column of flesh. He groaned in his sleep. She froze. One hand on his cock and one on his hip. When he showed no more signs of waking Anya decided that she needed to get on with it. Straddling him once again, she lodged him in her slick opening. She braced her hands on his stomach and lowered her hips. She flung her head back as she felt him slide an inch within her, then two. Her breasts heaved as sweat began to run down her body. She worked herself up and down on him until she felt resistance—then stopped. She drew her hips up and plunged them down, twisting in pain as she felt his erection push through her maidenhead. She fell forward, resting her head on his chest. A few tears leaked from her eyes as she waited for the pain to subside. She had been expecting it, but it still was not pleasant. She shifted her hips slightly and was surprised to find that the pain was subsiding and the pleasure was returning. Her hips started a jerky beat and soon she felt the burning pleasure returning. With every beat she was closer and closer to something. But she didn’t know what. Orthias’ body suddenly arched under her and she felt something squirting within her. She watched his eyelids flutter and quickly dismounted, flinching at the soreness. Whatever she had been on the brink of, it was not worth being here when he woke up. 19

Viola Grace She watched him as she quietly dressed. He had lapsed into deep asleep once again. His cock had softened to the point where she could tuck it back into his trousers, but then she noticed the blood on him. Quickly she ran to the kitchen and dampened a cloth. Returning, she wiped as much of the blood and sticky residue that she could get. She felt the same stickiness between her own thighs and blushed to the roots of her hair. She would have to bathe when she got home. She returned him to a semblance of the way he had been before she had entered the room. At the first sign of his waking, she left him and let herself out the front door. **** The next day she returned for lunch and he apologized to her for falling asleep during her visit. She blushed and said that it was fine. She had never been so happy to have the veil and robe in place as she was now. Her face was on fire. It was awkward enough that the smell of his warm skin close to her was causing that wetness she had had to work so hard for the day before. As soon as she could, she left him, practically running back to the village, her aching thighs protesting against every step. The next week followed their regular routine. Her embarrassment pushed to the side as she 20

The Wench and the Giant genuinely enjoyed his company. He had not noticed anything amiss apparently. Everything was as it had been. And she still had two vials of the potion. Her soreness had subsided after a few days and she was wondering if she could capture the feeling that had eluded her the last time. The next day she arrived with lunch and two portions of pork. She had treated both portions with the potion. Everything occurred as it had the last time. They had lunch and she went into the library to read. Soon he came in yawning and excused himself once again to take a nap. She waited five minutes and crept silently into his bedroom once again. This time she shed her clothing before approaching him. Her hands came up to massage her own breasts, soothing the flesh and helping to fade the marks of the tight bindings. Her hand came to caress his face once again, but this time she kissed him, stroking his lips with her tongue. She tasted the meat on his lips and felt slightly dizzy. Gasping she pulled her head back and wiped her mouth with her hand. The potion! Had she ingested enough to affect her? She didn’t think so and continued with her plan. Her hands eagerly spread his open shirt and touched the terrain they had been craving. She straddled him once again as she stroked and 21

Viola Grace worked her hands down his abdomen. A twitching between her thighs startled her. It was much sooner than the last time, but she was not going to waste the opportunity. Anya backed down his thighs and opened his trousers all the way. His erection sprung up as if it released from a bow, arching proudly toward his muscled stomach. She leaned forward to take him in between her lips once again, her mouth watering at the prospect. She heard a groan from his throat and increased her ministrations, confident that the potion would keep him under. Her hands held him, stroked him, and worked his cock without mercy while her tongue licked, swirled, and flicked at the purple head. She heard another groan and smiled, drawing back from him and sitting astride his thighs. She looked at his face with her mouth swollen and red. It fell open in shock when she saw his storm colored eyes looking at her with fierce concentration. With a roar he sat up and dragged her beneath him. Running his hands down her breasts and belly he worked two fingers between her thighs and smiled at the moisture he found there. Her hands pushed ineffectually at his chest as she fought him by reflex. “Anya, isn’t this why you came here today?” His voice was low and he punctuated his words with a thrust of his fingers. 22

The Wench and the Giant “No, yes, I didn’t mean to…ohh.” Her voice trailed off as his lips found one nipple and latched on. Waves of sensation coursed through her to that spot between her thighs that had caused the delicious tension the time before. Only this time it was stronger, hotter, and oh gods, the pressure of his mouth on her felt so wonderful. His hand was drenched with the slick moisture pouring out of her channel when he drew his fingers out and moved to cover her. She felt him nudging at her entrance and rocked her hips to take him deep. Slowly, ever so slowly, he worked inside. She had thought that she had taken all of him the first time, but obviously she was wrong. With his body covering hers and his hips rocking against her she began to moan with every thrust. Each time he withdrew, a mewling sound came from her throat, which ended in a sighing cry as he thrust forward again. Over and over her breathy cries filled the air. She felt that delightful coil winding tight once again. Orthias’ eyes watched her face carefully as he reached between them to touch that tiny bud of pleasure that seemed to be controlling the heat within her. With a few deft strokes of his wicked fingers, the coil snapped and she shuddered in her first release. Her eyes locked with his as her body twisted in its orgasm. Sweat dripped from his brow as he continued to move his fingers between 23

Viola Grace them, prolonging the pulsing deep within her. She finally relaxed against the bed linens and he began to move with a diabolical purpose. He pounded into her and groaned as his own release came closer with every stroke of his shaft into her depths. Her legs came up to lock around his hips as he rode her. Her hands stroked his chest, his arms, his belly, then gripped his ass and pulled him into her. His eyes widened, then he groaned as his hips jerked into hers and his cock spurted its load into her waiting belly. He groaned again and dropped his torso to the side, so as not to crush her under his weight. Silence fell between them as they both struggled for breath. Anya turned to face him and found his grin firmly in place once again. “Isn’t it better when I am allowed to participate?” His chuckle was deep and he was definitely in a good mood. “You were awake?” Her whisper was horrified. “I didn’t mean…I just wanted to…I’m sorry.” “Don’t be sorry. Just don’t try it again.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips, which slowed to a dueling of tongues. Their breathing had become deeper by the time he lifted his mouth off hers. “How could you have pretended to be asleep? I thought the draught was supposed to keep you unconscious.” Anya was perturbed, but not really disappointed at the way things had worked out. “Oh, the sleeping potion that Kenyon gave you 24

The Wench and the Giant works on giants alright. It just doesn’t work on the fey.” “The fey?” “Yes, didn’t I tell you? I may be half-giant, but I am also half-fey. Kenyon is my brother.” He kissed the tip of her nose then licked it happily. “Oh gods!” Anya flipped onto her stomach and buried her face in the pillows. She covered her head with her arms and swore to never look him in the eye again. Ha ha. Orthias began to laugh. It started as a chuckle and kept going until it was a full-throated roar of amusement. He howled with glee. It was at this point that Anya made a break for it. She rolled out of the bed and darted around the other side, snagging her dress on her way out and pulling it on as she sprinted barefoot through the house. She had just opened the door, putting one foot on the porch when arms snagged her from behind and lifted her off her feet. She began to kick and flail for freedom as he anchored her to his side with one arm and closed the door with the other. “You jerk! You fiend! Liar! Cheat! Jerk!” She kept her diatribe up as he calmly walked back into his bedroom and closed the door. Just as calmly he turned and slid a latch at the top of the door, two feet out of her reach. He dropped her onto the bed, peeled out of his trousers and shirt, and then came down beside 25

Viola Grace her. “You said jerk twice.” “Why, just tell me why I went through all that, and you played along?” She felt tears welling in her eyes and she began to sniffle. He cuddled her close, stroking her hair. “I didn’t want to make you nervous. I wanted you to be comfortable with me before we made love. Controlling myself and pretending to be asleep seemed the least I could do.” He continued in a quiet voice, “I had no idea that it was going to be your first time. By the time I realized it, it seemed too late to do anything. ‘Waking up’ at that point would only have scared you off, and I really wanted you to try again. Really.” “Really? The first time was nice, but what we just did was so much better. What did you tell Kenyon?” she asked, her voice muffled against his chest. “Kenyon has known about you for some time. He was shocked when you came to him for the potion, he couldn’t get over here to tell me fast enough. The thought of a puny human wanting to seduce his brother was more than he could handle. I think his head exploded.” She let out a muffled giggle, but his humor finally got through her miasma of humiliation. She brought her face out of hiding and lifted her mouth to his. “Ok, so my plan worked, after a fashion. The 26

The Wench and the Giant embarrassment will fade eventually I guess.” Her head fell back when his lips began to kiss their way down her neck. “Were you seduced?” His teeth grazed the sensitive side of her neck, “You doubt it?” “Well, I have never done anything like that before. I don’t know if I was any good at it.” “Hmm…well you were a little hesitant about taking my clothing off.” As he spoke, he tugged her gown up over her hips. He moved her slightly and flipped the gown off over her head. “Was that it?” “For now. I’ll keep you apprised of your progress as we continue. What you are doing right now is very nice, for instance.” She had drawn her head back down and was licking and kissing his chest, moving from one nipple to the other. She used her teeth to tug at him and was a little surprised when he moved her away from him. “There’s someone at the door.” He rolled away from her, grabbed his trousers, and tugged them on. He didn’t bother with a shirt or boots. “I’ll be right back. Stay warm.” He tucked her in with a quilt and kissed her forehead gently. Then he unlocked the door and closed it behind him. She heard male voices outside in the hall. They grew slightly loud for a few moments but she could not make out what they said. Snuggling 27

Viola Grace back into her warm cocoon, she dozed off. **** Hours later, she woke. The room was quiet and dark. Silence filled the entire house. She swung her legs out of bed and reached for her dress. It wasn’t there. What was there was a skirt and blouse that any of the ladies of the town would wear. Her breast binding and headgear was gone. There was no way she could go back to the tavern looking like that. She put on the clothing Orthias had provided and left the bedroom. She didn’t hear him anywhere. She checked all of the rooms. Nothing. Curious as a cat, she checked outside. What she saw shocked her. Orthias was standing in front of a bonfire, but that was not the shocking part. He was feeding her clothing to the flames one piece at a time. Not just the items she had worn to his house that afternoon. Everything. Obviously, he had raided her cottage and taken all of her concealing garments. “What the hell are you doing?” “Keeping you from hiding again.” He used a branch to tuck all of the clothing safely into the flames. “What do you mean, hiding?” “Hiding, concealing yourself from your friends, and your lover.” His eyes twinkled in the firelight. 28

The Wench and the Giant “I had a talk with John this afternoon. He agreed with me.” “John was here?” “Of course. He was concerned when you didn’t return at your usual time.” “What did you tell him?” “That you were having a nap, and that the concealing clothing was for self-defense. You had no disfigurements and were only dressing in that god-awful getup to keep men from flinging themselves at you.” “How exactly do you suppose that I do that now? If I show up in this getup the farm hands will be all over me.” She was angry now. He had burned her camouflage. “It won’t be a problem.” “Are you nuts? I work in a tavern for gods’ sake.” “You will stay with me tonight and tomorrow it will all be taken care of.” He seemed smug. “What will be taken care of?” “You’ll see.” He beckoned her to come over to him. She cautiously approached him, still not sure what to expect from him. She had known him for two months, but this whole intimacy thing was new to her. Anya walked within arms' reach of Orthias. It was really quite a substantial distance. He gently reached out and drew her against him. Her head 29

Viola Grace came up to the center of his chest as he towered over her. Her arms circled his waist and her head leaned against him. She breathed in deeply, filling her lungs with the scent of man and fire. “Did you have a nice nap?” “I guess so. I slept for six hours.” She rubbed her cheek against the laces of his shirt. Every muscle in her body was relaxed, she was at peace for a few moments in time. “Good, I have something planned.” “What?” “You’re going to find out in a few minutes, I don’t want to spoil the surprise.” He began to lead her back into the darkened house and when she balked, he simply picked her up and carried her. Back in the bedroom, he removed the new clothes from her with teasing slowness, kissing her flesh as he uncovered it. When he had her completely nude, clothed only in a blush, he removed his own clothing Once again, he laid her down on the bed, but this time he stretched her arms above her head. She relaxed and let him move her limbs about as he wished, but was still a little surprised when he tied her wrists to the iron headboard. “What? What are you doing? Why are you tying me?” “I had to keep completely still the first time you forced yourself on me. This is only to even the playing field.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips 30

The Wench and the Giant and began to explore her as thoroughly as she had him. When he dropped his head to her belly and began to trail his tongue down lower, her back drew taut. She arched against him and started to plead for him to end the torture. Sweat coated her body as the slick dew coated her thighs. With a swift move, he parted her thighs and dove between them. His tongue and lips danced over her slick folds. She squealed as he stabbed against the nub at the top of her sex in a movement that sent her over the edge. Her body arched and her thighs gripped his head as she came apart under his ministrations. The night became endless as he drove her over the edge of climax more times than she could count. Somewhere around the third time she screamed her release with his fingers deep inside her, he untied her arms. By that time, she was in a stupor of pleasure. When dawn came, she awoke in Orthias’ arms, his body curled around her spoon-fashion. She was sore. Every muscle in her body ached, but there was a smile playing around her mouth that she couldn’t subdue. “Enjoyed your surprise?” His voice was husky in her ear. “Mmm…very much. Thank you.” Her own voice was a hoarse whisper, the result of a long night of moaning and screaming. 31

Viola Grace “Good. I’m glad. Let’s have a bath, and then we’ll go into town and meet with John.” He rolled out of bed and tugged her up with him. He laughed when her legs gave out as he caught her against him. In what seemed to be a developing trend he scooped her up and carried her outside into the early morning. “Where are we going?” “The bath house, you haven’t seen it before. It’s fed by a hot spring.” “Oh, that sounds wonderful. Walk faster.” She trailed one hand up to caress his neck, toying with the hair at the nape. “Yes, ma’am.” Around the back of the house was a small building that was built into a hill. She lifted the latch and he opened the door with his shoulder. Inside, the air was warm and moist. He shut the door and walked forward to lower her into the stone pool in the center of the room. Her muscles sighed in relief as the heat began to penetrate her tissues. Her head fell back to the rim of the pool as Orthias took a seat next to her with his own groan of pleasure. She drifted over and put her head on his shoulder as they soaked out the stiffness caused by the night of excess. They took turns soaping each other and washing each other's hair until their fingers pruned up. He left her in the pool as he retrieved large drying cloths from a nearby shelf. They were large 32

The Wench and the Giant enough for him, so as she exited the pool and he draped one around her it fell to her knees and swallowed the rest of her. He carried her wrapped in the linen back into the house where he supervised her dressing. Adjusting the fabric of her blouse just so, helping her maneuver into her skirt, were things that seemed to give him pleasure. A possessive gleam lit his eyes as they walked into the village munching apples he had liberated from a nearby tree. People stopped and stared at the couple as they made their way to the tavern. Anya smiled and nodded at people she knew, accepting the startled looks she noticed as she passed. After all, they didn’t know her. In a reflex she didn’t even know she was developing, she reached out to twine her fingers with Orthias’s. He squeezed her hand gently and tugged her into the gloom of the tavern. Anya was astonished. Every table was a handcarved masterpiece flanked by two matching benches. “When did you do this?” “Before you arrived and after you left for the last two months. I delivered them yesterday, while you were napping.” “Anya! Orthias! Welcome. And congratulations! I didn’t think I would see you for a while.” John came toward them and absorbed 33

Viola Grace Anya’s altered appearance. He held out his hand to Orthias. “Minya would be here, but she is with her sister. She went into labor last night and wild horses couldn’t have stopped Minya from going to her side.” “Anya, you look…great. I had no idea that you were so…fit.” John flushed as his eyes lingered on her bust and narrow waist. Anya did not take offence. She had watched him flirt with the wenches since the day he hired her, but he was all talk and no action. Minya would skin him alive if she ever found out he had touched one of the girls. “Ok John, since Orthias won’t tell me, you have to. What is all this furniture doing here?” John looked at her closely to determine if she was joking with him. She raised her brow over one eye and waited. “Orthias sold the furniture to me for cash. It’s your dowry. And with the addition of the new furnishings people are coming from villages over one day away to eat in the tavern and stay at the inn.” “Dowry?” “Well, I figured that you wouldn’t agree to marry me if you had nothing. So I arranged for you to have twenty gold pieces as a dowry.” “Orthias, I can’t believe you would do something like that.” Anya fixed a scowl on her 34

The Wench and the Giant face and watched his expression falter for a moment. “To go behind my back and sell furniture for cash so that you could give it to me, so that I can give it to you when we wed. That is despicable.” She turned to walk out of the tavern, hiding a grin. She heard him sputter and call her name behind her, but she kept on walking. When she had exited the tavern, she ducked quickly to the side and waited. He came rushing out the swinging doors and she grabbed him by the arm. He stopped in his tracks, began to sputter explaining his actions in a fury of garbled words. Laughing at his discomfiture, she hushed him by the expedience of grabbing his neck and pulling his head down to hers. She locked her lips on his, her laughter quickly stilling as she drew her tongue along his lips to coax them to part. He quickly caught on, and took control of the kiss, lifting her up to meet him so that he didn’t need to stoop. “You only had to ask you know,” was the only thing that came to her mind as she came up for air. “It was a lot more fun this way.” With a silly grin he joined their lips and kissed her once again. When they parted, flushed and happy, they noted the large collection of villagers standing and staring in open astonishment. John stood in the door of the tavern watching them in amazement. 35

Viola Grace “Do you think that we have given them enough to see for the day?” Orthias was blushing slightly as he took in the gaping faces. “I think so. Let’s go.” She leaned up and whispered in his ear, “And I have an urge to test your self control once again. This time, your hands will be tied to the headboard…” Lust flared in his eyes as he swept her into his arms and carried her off. As he walked back to the path into the woods, her laughter trailed behind them. Laughter that was cut short when he asked her, “Did I ever mention that Kenyon raises imps?” A sharp slapping noise echoed from the path, and birds scattered at the resounding “Ow!” that followed. A giggle followed that last interaction which was cut off by a kiss as they disappeared into the forest. And they lived happily ever after.

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About the Author

A

n obsessed crafter who hates housework, Viola has been interested in inflicting her writing on others for years. She finds enjoyment in watching others, and taking notes. www.violagrace.com