Doira'Liim (The Beautiful Whisper of the Goddess Saga) by Krystal Orr

"How dare you think you can speak as if you are my equal! You are a woman! Why Markahn insists on putting up with you is beyond my thought. You forget your place, but I will remind you!"
         His words were spoken with barely restrained vehemence. They sparked fear and panic inside Talliea's stomach at a vivid level. She tried to move her left arm, but Lao'dahn leaned forward and the arm keeping her mouth shut cut off her efforts. She felt him become aroused and a new wave of panic washed over her.
         "You think you're so very clever, don't you? We have been aware of your sneaking off into the woods."  Her eyes widened. Did they know about Arizira? "Oh, yes, we've watched you leave many times. Where your feet take you we are unaware."
         Talliea felt a minute bit of her anxiety fade away. The Lat'sa'val did not know about Arizira. That at least gave her a small amount of comfort. "Who do you think you are?" Lao'dahn asked. "You are a woman! You are no different than cattle! Your existence is to service us! I've watched Markahn summer after summer wait for you! You!"
         Lao'dahn rocked his hips and she felt his erection push against her. Her stomach twisted itself into deep knots and new tears fell from her eyes. She could not believe what was happening. Lao'dahn could not take her. He would be banished for having relations with her since another man, Markahn, had already clamied her. Unless he challenged Markahn's claim, Lao'dahn was in violation of Esu law. What was he thinking?
         "You're a beautiful woman, Talliea. I'll give you that. It is your mouth that gives you trouble. You use it too often and not in a way that is enjoyable. I won't allow you to continue to defy Esuval. You need to be reminded of your place."
         Talliea continued to struggle against his grip and managed to free Lao'dahn's hand from her mouth. "Y-you can not do this. Markahn will have you banished," she cried, her voice thick. Lao'dahn laughed at her and used the hand that had been covering her mouth to reach down and roughly squeeze her breasts. He rocked his hips against her again in a forceful thrust. "You feel that? That is the power of Esuval, woman. It lives in us. In men!  As a woman, you can not fully appreciate that power, even when we mate with you, but, I'll show you."
         Talliea watched as he reached down to his pants and pulled loose the strings around his waist. "Don't think about calling for help. I will tell Markahn that you came to me. Who do you think he will believe? A whore who can not do as she should or a man of the Light?" Talliea knew he was correct. Everyone in the clan believed that she was a problem for many. Her refusal to join with Markahn summer after summer had branded her a near heretic. None would believe that Lao'dahn, so adored, would have forced himself on her.
         "That's it. You're learning your place," he said, rising up slightly to lower his pants around his thighs. Talliea felt bile rise in her throat when Lao'dahn's erection stood between them. She did not know what he intended, but the powerlessness that she felt was enough to cause her tears. Lao'dahn grabbed his length in his hand and used his other to grasp her around the neck. She struggled to breathe through his tight grip and turned her head to shut her eyes.
         Lao'dahn squeezed her throat tighter. "You will keep your eyes upon me. Do you understand?" he rasped angrily. She swallowed as best she could and nodded. Never in her life had she felt so alone and humiliated. Markahn touching her was bad enough, but he never made her feel like Lao'dahn was. He was trying to strip her of her independence, her dignity. He was forcing himself on her and degrading her just because she had been unfortunate enough to be born a woman.
         For her free thought and free will, she was being punished by a man who sought to teach her her "place." Lao'dahn looked down at her, his hand still grabbing