Chapter 5 - Chapter Five

The next morning, Mabel returned to her little pool in the forest. She was wearing the nicer of her two kirtles and the rather fancy bodice her mother had made for her for her wedding. She had put her hair up in braids and she had woven daisies into it. She thought she should look her best for a meeting with a duke. Once she got to the pool, however, she wondered why she had bothered. The Duke of Rutland isn’t paying forty silver knights to see my best bodice, she thought ruefully. His instructions had specified she wait for him in the pool. She started stripping off her clothing until she was covered only by the white chemise she wore underneath. 

Standing on the bank, she let it slip from her shoulders and fall to the ground. The brief garment pooled about her ankles. Naked, she stepped into the water. Her bare flesh pimpled and her nipples stiffened, standing at attention like soldiers. The effect was not entirely because of the cold water. She suddenly felt certain she was being watched.

It was one thing to fantasize about being watched by a dark stranger. It was another thing entirely to know a flesh-and-blood man might actually be observing her at that very moment. She was quite conscious of her nakedness.  Even her pussy was more exposed than usual, for the Duke had instructed that she shave it completely bald. Not even Galen had ever seen her womanhood without its protective thatch of hair.

Mabel stepped deeper into the water, arms crossed over her chest. The pool was not deep. When it was up to her pale thighs, she stopped and stood still, listening. All was quiet. Even the birds were silent. The only sound she heard was her own thudding heartbeat. Suddenly, she heard a rustling from the bank behind her. She froze. He was here; she was sure of it. Her stomach felt as though it were full of fluttering butterflies.

“Do not turn around, girl,” a stern, rich voice commanded. “Stand where you are and close your eyes.”

Mabel squeezed her eyes shut obediently. She heard movement on the bank. There was a metallic click and a thud, as if a heavy belt buckle had been unbuckled and discarded. This was followed by a soft rustling. Articles of clothing were being removed. Then she heard a gentle splash. She felt the water rippling around her bare thighs as he entered the pool and waded toward her. 

“Put your hands by your side,” he commanded her gently. “Do not open your eyes until I tell you.” 

Mabel uncrossed her arms and let them drop to her sides. Her hands trembled slightly.

“Don’t be afraid, sweet maiden,” he said. “I shall be gentle.” He laughed. He had a wry laugh, but he did not sound unkind. He was right behind her now. “Saints above,” he said, “You have a wondrously beautiful body, woman. You do not know how many times I have fantasized about doing this.” Mabel felt his lips brush her neck softly. A shiver ran down her spine. She felt another kiss, firmer this time, and higher. She could feel the soft tickle of his beard. It smelled of scented oils. He nibbled on her earlobe. A sharp, involuntary sigh escaped her lips.

Mabel felt him reach an arm around her and cup her left breast with one strong hand. He rolled her erect nipple between his thumb and forefinger. 

“Ahh, sweet maiden,” he said, “You are as soft and ripe as I had fantasized. Did you know that? That a Duke was fantasizing about you?”

She shook her head.

“It’s true,” he whispered. “Often. Let me tell you of my fantasies.” He kissed the nape of her neck. “I have fantasized,” he said, “that I was running my hand down your swollen belly.” She felt his hand trace the curve of her pregnant stomach. Lower it went, and lower still. “I imagined how I would touch you here.” He pressed a finger against the top of her bare cleft. 

Mabel was finding the situation intensely, shamefully erotic. It was as if her fantasy of being watched and taken by a stranger had come to life. She had not known how badly she wanted a strange dick inside of her until this moment. No. That’s a shameful thing for a wife to want. I must not enjoy this, she thought. But her body had other ideas. Mabel found herself rocking her hips forward, inviting his questing finger lower. Very gently his finger massaged the soft, supple flesh of her vulva. 

“Yes,” he breathed in her ear. Once more he nibbled on her earlobe. His finger traced the furrow between her thighs. Mabel bit her lip as his finger brushed gently across her clitoris. Now the questing finger found the lobes of her inner labia, hanging like delicate curtains between her velvety pussy lips. The finger parted them and burrowed between them. “You are quite moist,” he whispered. Her cheeks burned with shame. 

“I have fantasized about touching your most intimate places. I have dreamed of what it might feel like to be inside you.” Mabel felt his finger pushing up into her. She felt his other hand cup the underside of her buttock. He gave it a gentle squeeze. It felt good. She could not help thrusting her hips forward a little more and tightly clenching on his finger inside her. 

“Blessed saints! You are so tight, little maiden,” he said. “I dreamed you would be. I have desired you so greatly it was like a fire burning in my loins. I could not stand it. So I promised myself I would find you and I would open the door to a whole new world to you. I will teach you of many carnal delights. Sexual delights. Let me be your master in the school of pleasure.” His finger was thrusting in and out of her now. 

“You are willing, are you not?” asked the man suddenly. He released her. All of a sudden the finger was no longer inside of her. “I made this arrangement with your husband, as I deemed proper, but I instructed him to gain your assent. I am not some base cur who would violate an unwilling woman. Are you willing?” he inquired.

Mabel nodded her head. She did not wish to say anything. Who knew how her mouth might betray her? But she badly wanted him to put his finger back into her. Why did he take his finger out?

“Speak, girl,” said the Duke.

“Yes, Your Grace,” she said in a small whisper.

“Yes, what?” the Duke prompted.

“Yes, I am willing… willing for Your Grace to f—I mean, to take me,” she said. 

“I am glad,” he said. “Because I am going to do both those things to you.” 

He put an arm around her waist. She felt something feverishly warm and fleshy pressing against the crevice of her bare bottom. She realized it must be his manhood. She realized she was excited to see what it looked like. 

Perhaps the Duke sensed her desire. “I have a gift for you,” he said, releasing her waist. “You may open your eyes.”

She did so. The Duke turned her around, and she looked at him for the first time. He had sharp green eyes beneath bushy dark brows. His eyes seemed to bore into her, taking in every inch of her nakedness. He was also naked. Although he was an older man, his body was built along long, lean lines. This included, she saw, his penis. It surprised her to see it was shaved bare. She had never seen a penis that was not nesting in a patch of pubic hair. She stared at it in fascination, realized she was staring, and blushed.

The Duke smiled. “If I’m going to ask a lady to shave, I can hardly do less myself. Besides,” he said with a chuckle, “One finds maidens are much more likely to suck one’s cock when there is less hair to get in the way.”

“Do you wish me to do that, Your Grace?” Mabel asked. “To suck your cock, I mean.” 

“Not quite yet,” he said. “First, I have a gift for you.” Around his neck on a fine silver chain was what Mabel had taken for a gold pendant. The Duke now unclipped the pendant and held it up to her. It looked like bit like a large, golden top. One end was wide and tapered. A narrow neck connected the other end, a flat oval on which was set a large, shimmering jewel. 

Mabel reached out, and the duke placed the object in her open hand. She held it between her breasts. “Would you like me to wear it, Your Grace?” she asked.

The Duke chuckled. “I would,” he said, “but not around your neck.” Mabel blushed, feeling like a foolish backward peasant. “Ah, forgive me for laughing, my sweet maiden,” said the Duke. “This little ornament is for your delightful bottom. Here, allow me to show you.”