Whitefire Read Free Page B

dragged her backward. The men from the campfire!
    â€œHere she is, Banyen! Do you still want her after what she did to you,” one of the leering men asked, “or will you be generous and allow the rest of us to have some sport with her?”
    â€œBring her here!”
    The icy words sent a wave of fear down Katerina’s spine. She was flung to the ground and pulled by her long cascading hair to his side.
    â€œOne more move out of you and you’ll be the first bald-headed Cossack woman on these plains.” He nodded curtly to his men, and they withdrew to the campfire.
    â€œI should kill you for what you just did to me,” Banyen said harshly.
    â€œI won’t make it easy for you, so be prepared. How many times can you survive what I just did to you? I’ll do it again and again, every chance I get. Let me go, you foul Mongol! I’ve been in stables that smelled better than you do!”
    â€œAnd I’ve smelled and seen better whores than you!” Banyen retaliated.
    â€œThen go find one and leave me alone! I’m warning you, I’ll do what I said. Let me go!”
    â€œNot till I see what you look like underneath all those blankets you wear. I’ll say one thing for you, you wear enough clothes to cover an army. I’m going to have you one way or another, so why don’t you save yourself all this anguish.”
    â€œMen are all alike,” Katerina said hoarsely as she felt his strong hands tear at her clothing. “Why do you have to take a woman physically and degrade her? I’ll kill you for this, my word as a Cossack!”
    Mist escaped both their mouths as they struggled on his lush sable cape, which lay like a blanket on the hard-packed snow. The silvery moon, hidden behind dark clouds, made it impossible for Banyen to see the face of the young woman beneath him.
    â€œI’m not a cruel man—hard and demanding, perhaps, but women need to know they lie with a man. I’m not one to inflict pain,” he grunted as he tore apart the top of her coarse woolen shirt.
    His searching hands on her exposed flesh drove Katerina to near frenzy. By all rights, she should have been freezing to death from the biting pellets of snow that covered her tender skin, but his frantic movements atop her made her oblivious of them. When his scorching lips touched hers, Katerina relaxed every muscle in her body and allowed her lips to respond against his. She moved slightly and opened her mouth invitingly, her tongue seeking his. The moment he tilted his dark head and moved his arm slightly, to position himself better, she sank her teeth into his cheek, and felt the flesh tear when he tried to pull away from her. With one mighty shove, she sent him sprawling backward and was quickly on her hands and knees, crawling away, her clothing hanging in tatters. However, she couldn’t resist a parting comment as she scrambled to her feet. “You can mark that down to hearty peasant stock. I told you I wouldn’t make it easy for you, and I hope your blood floods this plain!”
    A bellow of anger ripped through the night. In two long-legged strides, Banyen had her imprisoned in his arms. Once again she felt her feet leave the ground as she was thrown onto the sable blanket. She resisted the raging Mongol with all the strength left in her, knowing all the while she was no match for him. She felt a reeling blow to the side of her head, and then Katerina knew no more.
    Banyen took her brutally, savagely, again and again.
    Spent, he staggered to his feet and stood looking down at the naked body of the young girl. A pity he couldn’t see what she really looked like in the ebony night. His own words rang in his ears: “I’m not a cruel man . . . I’m not one to inflict pain.” He shrugged. Every man was forced at one time or another to tell a lie. Why should he be any different?
    He leaned over the unconscious form and drew his burnoose over his