Page 45 of Bought to Break
‘Keep your focus and get up!’
With a growl and a burst of energy, she surged up and parried his attack, their wooden weapons clonking together so hard, it made her arm hurt, but she didn’t care. She had blocked him! Then his leg came around, knocking hers out from under her easily, and she was on her back again.
The morning was spent thus. Then there was a small afternoon meal and more of the same well into the early evening. By the time Kane brought her back to the tent, Lana’s body was covered in new bruises and every part of her from her toes to her red plait hurt. She sat heavily at the table and let her head fall forwards into her arms.
‘You did well today.’
Lana’s eyes narrowed at her tormentor’s voice. ‘It didn’t feel like it,’ she muttered.
She heard a chuckle and resisted the urge to throw something at him.
‘Come.’ Kane pulled her up, but she sank back.
‘Where? I can do no more today. I swear it. I doubt my hand can even grip a sword.’
He pulled her up again and she reluctantly allowed him to draw her to where the largest wine cask she’d ever seen had been brought into the tent. She’d noticed it before, but now she realised it had been cut in half, scoured, and filled with hot, steaming water.
‘A bath!’ she exclaimed.
‘Sorin said you had a preference for them. I couldn’t get a real bath, not yet, but this will do until then.’
‘T-thank you,’ she stammered. First the clothes and now this. They weregivingher things. She wouldn’t have believed Kane capable of being so thoughtful, even if Sorin had helped him. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
To her mortification, tears came to her eyes. It had been a long day. Kane had warned her, but she hadn’t really understood. But this … She couldn’t wait to sink into it and relax her aching limbs. She could think of nothing she’d rather do at this moment.
She turned to him and smiled.
His brows drew together. ‘Tears?’ He sounded confused.
She dashed them away with a laugh. ‘I’m just tired is all.’
‘I have some business. Sorin or Viktor will be here soon. Have the bath while it’s still hot. My men,ourmen, were ages bringing ewers of hot water to fill it.’
She gave him a nod. ‘This is lovely. Thank you.’
He said nothing, just left. Lana shook her head. Now she was confused. She would have expected him to make her undress in front of him or join her in the bath; something. The more she thought about it, the more she realised she was disappointed that he hadn’t. He killed your father. He killed your father.But even that little mantra was no longer keeping her heart hard against him. She climbed into the massive barrel, which was more than big enough for her, and sank down into the hot water, closing her eyes with a sigh of contentment.
‘I toldyou she’d like it.’
Lana started, eyes opening with a gasp to find Sorin and Viktor standing next to her, staring. She sank deeper into the water, uncomfortable with their scrutiny.
Viktor cocked his head slightly. ‘You did. I thought she might be over this embarrassment by now, though. We’ve seen her body countless times.’
Sorin’s eyes were fixed on her, making her pulse quicken. ‘I like it.’
He began to remove his clothes. Should she get out of the water … stay? Unsure of what he wanted, she tensed, panicking and futilely seeking escape. He took off everything, and when he was naked, he suddenly threw himself over the side of the barrel with a whoop.
Lana leapt out of his way with a shriek, but as he came to the surface laughing, she couldn’t help but giggle as well. Playfully, she splashed him as he cleared his eyes, and he gave a mock growl.
Viktor rolled his eyes. ‘Well, there’s no way three of us will fit in that thing, as much as I would like to join you, so I’ll see you both later.’ With that, he vanished from the tent, leaving her with Sorin.
She stared at him bashfully, hiding herself from his eyes.
‘I do like it, you know.’
‘Like what?’ she murmured.
‘That you’re so shy. It makes me want to fuck you.’
