Claiming His Human Wife by Sue Lyndon Read Free Book Online

don’t like being trapped in this cabin, all day, every day. But that is no reason to treat your husband so poorly, especially after I’ve just returned from a long hunting trip.”
    Rhiannon struggled to escape his hold, and she was determined not to meet his gaze, though his breath was warm against her face. “Let me go!” she growled. He didn’t understand how horrible it was to be trapped within the same walls day after day. How dare he lecture her when he couldn’t possibly understand?
    “I will tolerate the occasional bad mood from you, Rhiannon,” he said, “but I will not tolerate blatant disrespect.”
    “I never said any of those things to your face!” she said, still squirming to escape.
    “That’s funny. I thought you said you didn’t know what I was talking about?”
    She ceased her squirming and fell silent. The last time she’d been caught in a lie, Edwin had punished her severely. Her bottom quivered involuntarily as she recalled the lengthy bare bottom spanking that concluded with ten slaps of the belt.  “I-I…” But Rhiannon could think of nothing to say in her defense.
    Leaning closer, Edwin whispered her sentence directly into her ear. “I’ve just returned from a long hunting trip and I am tired. Tomorrow morning after breakfast I will check the blue turkey traps as I always do. When I return from that, I expect to find you waiting naked beside the tall chair. I will spank you then, Rhiannon, and I promise you this—the punishment will fit the offense.”
    Rhiannon shuddered at the dark gleam in Edwin’s eye. He had never made her wait for a punishment before. “Yes, Edwin,” she mumbled as the tears gathered in her eyes. 
    That night, sleep eluded Rhiannon. She watched Edwin, bathed in the fire’s glow, for most of the night. He had never before seemed larger or more intimidating. She eyed his massive, abrasive hands with fear and regret tightening her stomach, rebuking herself for being so thoughtless.
    Had Edwin not sought her out on the Cold Top, she would have perished in the snows long ago. Either that or she would have starved or become a rolabear’s dinner.
    Her guilt over treating Edwin so badly suddenly mingled with her hatred for her own father, and a lone tear trickled down her cheek. She would resign herself to Edwin’s mercy tomorrow and stand naked beside the tall chair, and after it was all over with there would be peace between them again.
    But she would never make peace with her father. Not even when they were both in the afterlife of Strellia and Ettonelli.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Rhiannon watched Edwin stand at the window, moving the curtains to make way for sunlight, the first sunlight in days. “Ah!” he exclaimed with joy. “Three of the traps are full of blue turkeys.”
    The last of the dishes were done and she came to stand behind her husband hesitantly, but she had to see for herself. He was right. Between the three traps there would be enough food to last at least eight days. This, combined with the shining sun, should’ve made her mood lighter this morning, but the unfinished business between Rhiannon and her husband filled the air with tension.
    Edwin turned and held her by her shoulders, at a distance. “Do you remember what we talked about last night, lass?”
    Rhiannon flushed and barely heard her own voice.  “Yes, Edwin.”
    “Good. I’ll be back after I get the blue turkeys inside the wall cage.” His voice was hard and she detected no sympathy in his eyes. Her hopes that he might go easy on her vanished.
    As soon as the door closed behind him, salty tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She hadn’t merely been unkind to Edwin—she had been outright selfish. “The punishment will fit the offense,” echoed in her mind as she stripped off her dress and stood beside the tall chair, sorrowfully resigned to her fate.
    Snow fell from Edwin’s boots when he finally returned, and Rhiannon’s heart contracted as he roughly wiped them on