Inayah felt uneasy, anxious and her stomach clenched with complete dreadful humiliation.

Her face was bright red, not from pleasure. Her eyes rose to Sin’s back, tall and steeled on the horse and she glared timidly.

Her whole body felt sore, especially groin regions and she could still feel his cum, now sticky and slightly crusted between her inner thighs.

Sin had taken her Maidenhead.

He had claimed her on the forest floor. She had lost what was considered the most precious thing, to a man she knew nothing of.

A cold, callous, unemotional scum of the earth. It repulsed her, the thought of submitting so willingly— yet part of it had been out of fear. Fear that he would do more than spank her, and his coal gaze held true to its threat of harming her should she resist him.

He had touched her in ways only a husband should. His mouth had descended on her breasts tentatively, hands skimming up and down her bare legs, and that tongue— he stroked and licked her pussy like a lover kissing another.

The act was mortifying. If her parents knew, if her friends knew... If Oscar knew. And perhaps what made the situation worse was her undeniable enjoyment, the sounds of wanton pleasure he easily drew from her.

Despite his dangerous, hardened demeanour, Sin was surprisingly gentle while making love to her.

Making love.

Inayah shuddered at those words. A master and slave do not make love for no feelings except desire and submission are present. It made her wonder about him more.

Why he chose her, what he was doing so far away and who exactly he was. Inayah bit her inner cheek, wondering if it would be considered rude to ask questions.

While contemplating over talking, her eyes slant over the path before them and her steps visibly slow down. The path eventually fades to grass as trees begin to look over their heads, seemingly drawing them in.

Inayah realized then that they were walking into the heart of the forest.

The uncharted woodlands.

The land of the beast.

She stopped. “What are you doing?” Inayah questioned in slight terror as her eyes flickered between the horse and Sin.

Sin had yet to divert his attention, and when he did it seemed to be with a lot of effort— cold, calculative eyes shifted from the path to her face calmly.

He seemed quite reptilic then, otherworldly. She withered beneath his intense stare, “I just—” Inayah fumbled with her small hands nervously, “this forest... It has... We’re not allowed in it.”

His features shifted then, full mouth curving at the corner ever so slightly. It was a wicked smile, dry and humourless. “Is that so?” Inayah nodded still frozen in place.

Everyone knew of the Woodlands. One thousand acres of complete uncharted territories, no one dared step into the forest. Anyone who did never saw the day of light. Stories of their disappearances had begun centuries ago, passed down from one generation to another as they warned their children of the dangers.

The creature that lurked within those trees, preying on idle stumblers or those who dared. A creature that ripped bellies open and wore the skin of its victims. A creature so demonic, the king had once sent caravans of priests and his best knights to track and kill the creature.

None returned alive. Realizing that he was up against something far more evil and dangerous, the King published a rule that no human would be allowed to enter the forest. Inayah knew better.

She stepped back, tugging the ropes with her. “No,” she stated less calmly, “I refuse.”

“Do you?” Sin mused, arching a perfect eyebrow. “Very well.”

At her insistent nod, he turned back on the saddle and gently kicked the horse’s side, nudging it forward.

“No!” Inayah screamed in terror as the rope tugged her forward, “No! You can’t do this!”

“Oh, but I am.” She fought to reel back, digging the heels of her feet into the soil, leaning far back and eventually opting to sit on the ground. Big mistake.

“Noo! Stop! I refuse!” Inayah wailed as she was dragged along on the ground. Her dress rose as rocks and twigs scraped bare skin on her stomach and thighs. Inayah tried pressing her weight onto the ground.

“You can’t do this! Are you mad! We’re going to die!” Amidst her outrage, she failed to notice the horse stop, neither did she hear the heavy thump of boots.

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around her wrist and violently yanked her upright. Wordlessly, Sin hoisted her in his arms, as though she weighed nothing and placed her stomach down on the horse’s saddle.

“Quiet yourself.” He demanded but she refused, instead bucking as he mounted the horse behind her. “Slave—”

“No! I refuse! The beast will find us! We’re good as dead!” Her hysteria almost rose significantly as terror seized her by the throat.

Sin inhaled a sharp, irritated breath before grabbing her forearm. Easily, he lifted her upright and turned her around the saddle such that she now sat facing his chest, legs resting above either of his thighs considering the horse was far too wide.

His hand captured her jaw, shutting it, and tilted her face upwards to his. Inayah stifled a pained cry from his grip while staring up through hazy eyes at ruthless ones.

“I will not repeat myself. When I tell you to keep quiet, you do as I say.” The hand squeezed as she flinched, “do you understand, slave?” Inayah’s heart thundered almost painfully.

She nodded, unable to speak. His grip on her cheeks loosened, strong slender fingers dropping to her neck steadily.

“Say it.”

“I— I understand,” Inayah’s eyes lowered to his chest in deference and fear. A low growl reverberated from the centre of his chest along with a slight squeeze on her neck.

“I understand, Master.” She quickly corrected, conscious of the darkness that slowly began to settle as they moved deeper and deeper into the forest.

Inayah was terrified to a point where she almost felt sick. She wondered why he remained so calm in the face of death, was sort of sociopath was this man?

Sitting stiffly before him, she anxiously fiddled with her thumbs, forcing herself not to lean forward and just rest her face on his chest. It was difficult, the position he had placed her in but at least she was not walking. The relief was welcomed.

“Are...” Inayah began then halted, almost waiting for him to snap.

“Speak.”

“Are you not afraid of the beast?” Inayah tentatively asked, brown doe eyes rising to his face briefly then away at the realization that he was watching her almost heatedly. Something surprising happened then.

Sin laughed.

A slow, deep rumble of the chest that nearly had her leaping off the horse in surprise. She stared at his chest, then throat and finally face. Sapphire blue eyes flashed in amusement and despite the foreboding darkness, they seemed to glow even brighter.

“Should I be afraid?” He questioned and her eyebrows knit in confusion.

“Well, yes.”

Sin leaned forward then with a sigh, and her palms automatically rose to brace against his chest as she attempted at leaning back. He growled his disapproval.

Inayah stilled as one hand released the reign and slid up her spine, gripping the nape of her neck, holding her in place.

“Why do you fear so?” He nosed her hairline, “if the beast appears, you may run like the little rabbit you are.”

“Oh,” she replied dumbly, anxious to get away from his touch, “and you?”

Sin stilled then as his mouth moved across her cheek, lips brushing the shell of her ear intimately.

“Pet,” he whispered darkly, “I am the beast.”