Page 18 of Taken By the Soldier
“Good.” I lift her hands from her lap and guide her arms around my waist, encouraging her to lean against my chest. She hesitates for a moment but eventually leans closer, pressing her cheek to my bare chest as a shudder racks her body.
“Promise me you’ll never run away from me again, wife.”
She draws back and wipes at her face. “You know I can’t promise that.”
My mood darkens at her words, though I admire her honesty. “Then promise me you’ll make an effort to know me better.”
She sighs. “I-I suppose I can promise that.”
“Good girl.” I kiss her forehead and then study her expression. She stiffens in my lap and appears as though she’s about to break down in tears. Is she embarrassed I turned her over my knee? Angry?
In a flurry of movement, she attempts to launch herself off me and onto the bed. I tighten my hold on her, refusing to allow her off my lap. As I force her to remain in place, my cock grinds up against her bottom.
“What’s wrong, wife? Tell me what has you so upset?” I beckon her to meet my stare, holding her chin between my fingers.
Annoyance spreads across her face. “It’s nothing.” She tries to squirm away.
“Judith,” I say in an encouraging tone, careful to keep my voice gentle. I want her to take a chance and trust me, to open up to me about whatever is bothering her. Perhaps I can fix it. I doubt it’s just her recent disobedience and the spanking that has her on the verge of breaking down. I’m suddenly struck by how little I know about her, this American woman I’ve claimed as my wife.
As fresh tears glitter on her lashes, she flashes me a sudden hateful look, shaking her head back and forth in a manner of disbelief, or perhaps displeasure. Her lips tremble and she narrows her eyes at me.
“Fine. You want to know what has me so upset? Alrighty, I’ll tell you. The world has gone to shit,husband,” she says, slurring this last word like a curse. “I’ve lost everyone I loved. I’ve lost my home, my job, and my whole way of life. Everything is gone. All because of this stupid fucking war. And now I’m married to a fucking stranger. I’m married to the motherfucking enemy.” Contempt weighs heavily on each word. Gone is the penitent woman who’d clung to me for comfort only moments ago.
I study her in silence, carefully weighing my next words. “I am sorry for all you’ve lost, Judith. Truly, I am. But I don’t appreciate you speaking of our marriage with such disdain. The vows between a husband and wife are sacred and never to be mocked. Furthermore, you already know how I feel about cursing. A woman cursing reflects badly on her husband, and it’s a habit I intend to break you of. You are free to express yourself, but you must do so in a respectful manner.”
“You want the truth, don’t you?” A tear cascades down her cheek, and she angrily wipes it away. “Well, that’s the goddamn truth. You want to hear another truth? Our marriage is a fucking sham. It’s not real and it never will be, even if you do manage to fuck me.”
Holding her in place, I boldly reach between her thighs and stroke her wetness, even as she struggles to escape my lap. “I believe you’re angry about all the things you just listed, Judith,” I say, “but I think what has you most upset isthis. This slickness between your thighs. If I didn’t know better, I would say you enjoyed going over my knee.” I dip my fingers into her womanly core, and she jerks on my lap, whimpering and squirming to evade my probing hand. I place my lips at her ear. “If I didn’t know better, I would say you like being my little captive wife. God, princess, you’re soaking wet.”
“Fuck off, you bastard! I’m not your wife and you sure as fuck aren’t my husband.” Her voice comes out shaky and breathless, and her struggles start to die down. She trembles against my touch and another whimper escapes her throat while I continue to explore the sweetness between her thighs.
“I’ve warned you about your language, young lady, yet you still persist in defying me.” I make a tsking noise, then pull back to meet her gaze. I’m pleased to find her face flushed and her eyes hooded with reluctant desire. “I think it’s time for another lesson.”
I lift her off my lap and force her to kneel on the floor.
Panic plays across her features as she peers up at me with rounded eyes. When another tear rolls down her face, I wipe it away before she has the chance, taking my time as I drag a finger slowly across her cheek.
She quivers in place, and her eyes gradually fill with remorse. Does she regret the venom of her words or is she only sorry because she fears another punishment?
Either way, I will have her compliance.
By the time I’m through training her, she will be my perfect, obedient little wife, eager to spread her legs for her husband. Eager to follow my every command.
“Don’t move,” I say, still deliberating what to do with her.
Part of me wants to take a belt to her, wants to paint angry stripes across her backside. A good whipping would likely cure that wicked tongue of hers and make her think twice about defying me again.
I cross the room to the window. All is peaceful outside. The lake glistens under the morning sun. Boats travel by in the distance. A few women tend the garden behind Forrest’s cabin. Two men carry a large bucket of fish from the docks. A typical day in paradise, far from the blaster fire and constant death I’d been surrounded by for months.
I turn to face Judith. If I could survive six months of hell and successfully lead my men to win after win in battle, I could wrangle a small thing like her. I may never win her affection, but I would at least secure her obedience.
And she would learn to submit, goddammit.
I would teach her that every action has a consequence.
A tangle of curls obscures her face as she glances down, avoiding my eyes. I cannot allow her to speak to me with such blatant disrespect, and I half-wonder if she’s intentionally testing me.
I cross my arms over my chest as I finally reach a decision.
