The Shepherd's Daughter

I was recently challenged to write a “non fan-fiction bodice ripper”, so this is my first attempt. Please do not flame too much...

The Shepherd's Daughter

Anna sat below a tree, on the banks of the small river that ran through the glen, watching her father’s flock of sheep while he was away at market with her two older brothers. She had taken her shoes off, dangling her toes in the water; the lose tunic she wore had belonged to her father, and was perfect for scrambling through thorns and over rocks to find lost lambs, even if it did little to show off her well developed young body. She longed to strip entirely and immerse herself in the cool stream, and the more she thought about it, the better the idea sounded. Finally, looking and listening carefully until she was positive no one was near, she stripped and folded the tunic and her simple undergarments by her shoes on the ground below the tree.

The water was cool in comparison to the hot summer sun, and pleasing in the way its gentle motion lapped against her hot skin. She swam for a while, until a chill began to take the pleasure away, and then stepped out, the water dripping from her skin, to sit on a rock overlooking the stream.

She spun around when she heard the crack of a footstep on branches from behind her.

A young man, roughly her age but maybe a year or two older, stood before her, with blond hair and sun-darkened skin. The scruff of a few days beard was on his chin, and his arms were sinewy with muscles well-used. He was dressed strangely, in what appeared to be hard leather over his chest and softer leathers underneath. At his side hung a small sword and a pack, and across his back Anna could see the tip of a very large sword.

Her mouth fell open in surprise, as she sat there, dripping wet and naked, unable to say a word as she recognised him: Sir William, youngest son of the Earl who owned the land her family’s own home stood on. She had not seen him for many years; seeking his own way in the world, he had gone off to fight for King Richard in the Crusades. But when he had been but a boy, he had often taken to the hills, exploring the land that would never be his, unless something happened to his bothers. It was on one of these many ramblings that they had met and become friends, spending many days together, wandering through the hills.

But the Earl had soon put a stop to it: no son of his would spend his time with a peasant, and they had not seen each other up close in almost a decade.

“Are you a nymph?” he asked, his voice was deep and rumbling, and very, very pleasant. “Risen: seductive and wet from the waters to tempt me?” He walked closer to Anna, and knelt so that his head was level with hers. “’Tis said that to catch a nymph is luck, but to lie with one means death. Your beauty does bewitch a man's loins, though.”

Anna couldn't believe he had just called her beautiful. His eyes were still focused on her full bosom and her breath felt short. There seemed to be some sort of message in his eyes, and her young, if inexperienced, body was answering.

Sir William stood and unfastened the leather thong holding his scabbard onto his back and then slowly lowered it to the ground. Anna's eyes watched his every move, her cheeks growing warm with where her thoughts wandered. Slowly, and with great care for his possessions, he divested himself of his weaponry. Glancing up, his hands about to unfasten the hard leather that covered his broad chest, he caught her eyes and smiled as Anna blushed.

“A shy member of the folk?” he chuckled. “Well, I think I'll just cool myself off, if that be fine?”

Anna nodded, still unable to speak. She had barely heard what he had called her, and slowly it dawned... he thought she was one of the faerie folk! He thought she was a nymph, a water nymph most likely.

Her train of thought derailed as he pulled his soft leather shirt over his head, revealing broad shoulders, also sun-bronzed and strong. He hooked a hand over the waistband of his trousers and quickly drew them down over his narrow hips. Anna's breath caught in her throat as he stood before her, naked and strong, his intentions clear: growing up on a farm, she had learned the practical side of procreation at a young age, but she had never so much as kissed any of the young men who came courting.

His eyes followed her gaze to that part of him which stood out stiff and long from his loins, and then he caught her eyes in his again.

“A hungry nymph, are ye? Well, I think a wee bit of a swim first, and then we'll discuss other matters.” He walked up onto the rock by Anna and then down headfirst into the water. Once in he called to her, “Jump, nymph! And I'll catch you!”

It was as if Anna were under a spell: she slowly stood and then hesitated just a moment before jumping. She landed in his arms, a bit harder than either of them intended, knocking him back into the shallow water. They landed in a tangled heap; Anna on Sir William's lap, feeling his hardness against the softness of her rear. She lifted her eyes shyly to his face.

He was staring at her again, and before she could react he had pinned her shoulders beneath his hands and claimed her mouth for a kiss. His lips moved against hers with a deep hunger, and her lips parted automatically to allow his tongue entrance. His tongue slid into her mouth, caressing the roof, sliding along and discovering every crevice as it fenced with her own. She moaned against his mouth and felt him grow harder beneath her, if such things were possible.

When their lips finally broke apart, he growled huskily, “If to lie with a nymph is death, then 'tis a death I gladly welcome!” His lips were on hers again so quickly, and one hand slid down to capture her breast. His hands weren't as rough as Anna had expected as they tantalized each nipple. His fingers rolled the tender nubs to hard points, his thumbs teasing the tips while he continued to thrust his tongue deep inside her mouth.

Anna leaned forward, her breasts aching for more, and she felt his mouth leave hers to trail a fiery path down the edge of her throat to the hollow at the base of her neck, then finally to her breasts. Sir William teased her still, his mouth and tongue caressing the tops of each breast, then the sides, then licking up the hollow between the two. Her hands came up and her fingers entwined in his hair and she guided his head until he caught one nipple between his teeth.

The sensation was ecstasy, unlike anything she had ever experienced!

Anna moaned, sliding her hips against his, the feel of the water lapping over them adding to the sensation. His mouth still locked to her breast, suckling deep, his hands guided her feet until she sat more comfortable on his lap, one leg on either side of him. His hands began to caress the rest of her body as his mouth continued to play havoc with her senses, tasting first one nipple, then the other, and then back again. His hands slid over the curve of her waist, down across her smooth buttocks to caress the shape of her ass, then forward until they found her warm slit, fiery to the touch.

Sir William slid one finger deep inside, and Anna moved against it until it reached her maidenhood. He tilted his head back and smiled, and with one hand on her breast he slid his finger in and out, while his thumb caressed the throbbing nodule of her desire.

“Be thee still a maiden, nymph?” he asked, “One can scarcely believe it.”

Anna's hips moved against his hand, and he moaned her pleasure as he thrust his fingers back and forth: she was about to go over the edge when he took his fingers from her. She cried out, but the loss wasn’t for long as he lifted her hips and settled her gently against his throbbing member. He positioned her carefully and she slid down, and there was only a momentary stab of pain as he breached her maidenhood. Anna gasped as she felt him filling her until she thought she would split. They stayed still for a moment, their hands caressing each others bodies, their tongues fencing within their mouths. Then slowly, oh so slowly, they began to move.

He slid in and out, deeper with every thrust. Anna could feel herself grow accustomed to the intrusion, and she moaned and whimpered with pleasure. His fingers slipped between them, caressing the same area at the top of her womanhood until she suddenly felt spasms of pleasure wash over her and cried out in delight. Her voice echoed off the nearby hills and out across the glen. As the pleasure subsided, she felt his arms stiffen around her as he thrust deep, and felt the warmth of his juices within her.

She blushed as he picked her up and carried her back towards the bank, stopping at the same rock she had been resting on when he arrived. Reaching forward, he turned her round until she had her back to him. She could feel his manhood growing behind her again as he bent her over the edge of the rock: the cool, rough surface of the stone rubbing against her tender nipples.

Sir William moved behind her, parting her legs a little as he began to rub the head of his now fully erect manhood up and down her formally-virgin opening. He sighed softly as he slipped back into her and pushed forward until their bodies met. From this angle, he was able to probe even deeper into his newfound lover, and she seemed even tighter than before.

Anna moaned as she felt him re-enter her, filling her until it almost hurt. Her young body was still not use to such incursions, and she gasped as he withdrew and thrust in again. His rhythm built up as her body finally became use to his presence, and she found herself instinctively thrusting back to meet his every move. The movement of their bodies rubbed her nipples against the cold stone, sending flashes of pleasure through her body.

The water around them was turned to a torrent as Sir William ploughed in and out of her with all his strength, groaning with pleasure as he felt her shudder beneath him as she reached her second orgasm. He thrust into her as deeply as he could and held her tightly as he emptied his seed into her for the second time.

Anna felt as if she was dreaming as Sir William lifted her out of the water and laid her to rest on the warm grass beneath the tree. He propped her up on her side and lay behind her, holding her body against his own as he kissed the back of her neck.

“’Tis death to lie with a nymph for she exhausts you.” He smiled as he ran a hand over her body, “There were many times when I though of you while I was away in the Holy Lands; every night, when I dreamed of home.”

“And now we hear tell that you have been summoned back to marry the bride your father has selected for you.” Anna looked out across the glen to the loch far below, “Yet you have taken from me that which I was to give my husband on our wedding night, and I am ruined.”

“The woman my father wishes me to marry is not the woman I love: You are.” Sir William brushed away tears from her cheeks, “Come away with me, be my wife.”

“You say such things as if it were that easy.” Anna shook her head, “Do you really think your father will accept a shepherd’s daughter as his son’s wife?”

“I am the youngest of four sons; my father only sees my marriage as a way to expand his power and influence.” Sir William moved a hand round to cup one of her breasts and rub the still erect nipple, “If I marry the woman he has chosen for me, then I will never be free of him. But if I marry for love, and return to the Crusades, then I can earn my own place. I have been asked to join King Richard’s Royal bodyguard, should I return. Such an honour comes with the chance of a title and land of my own.” He rolled her onto her back and kissed her, “Say you’ll marry me, and we can be far away from my father by nightfall.”

“And what of my family?” Anna asked, “Your father will take out his anger on them once he learns the truth.”

“My father is many things, but he is not vindictive.” Sir William kissed her again, his hand wandering lower, “I give you my word that he will leave them be.”

“As a Knight, you’re word is your...Oh!” Anna gasped as her newfound lover slipped a finger into her slick core, followed closely by another.

“It is hard to believe that someone who was until recently a fair maiden could be so sensual.” Sir William chuckled as he continued to probe her, invigorated by the tight heat he found, “You have the most bewitching affect on me.”

“As I see.” Anna ran a hand along his hardening manhood, “You are as insatiable as a Ram at mating season!” she looked him in the eye, “Do you truly love me?”

“I love you.” he smiled, slipping between her legs, enticing a gasp from her as he entered her for the third time in less than an hour. He moved his arms behind her shoulders, supporting most of his weight on his elbows as he started to move in further.

Anna moaned, wrapping her legs instinctively around his back, her ankles crossed, matching his movement with an upward thrust of her lower torso. His lips found hers again, his tongue slid into her mouth, caressing the roof, sliding along and discovering every crevice as it fenced with her own. She moaned against his mouth and felt him grow harder inside her, if that were possible.

“Oh God, that feels good!” Anna’s back arched as her first orgasm ripped through her body, making every part of her shake.

Sir William kept moving inside her. He slid in and out, deeper with every thrust. Anna could do nothing but moaned and whimpered with pleasure as his fingers slipped between them, caressing her clit until she suddenly felt more spasms of pleasure wash over her and cried out again.

“Will!” The sound of her calling his name at the height of her passion had been too much, and he felt his world exploded around him, shattering into a million pieces. Her hands gripped his arms, her nails almost drawing blood as she pulled him into her body as she could, almost squeezing the air out of him with her legs.

Spent, they both collapsed; his head resting on her chest. He managed to roll over to one side, pulling her with him so her head ended up resting on his shoulder. He found some last reserve of strength from somewhere and pulled his discarded ridding cloak over their naked bodies before they drifted off to sleep. The last thing he heard was Anna’s soft voice.

“Yes, I will marry you...”

The End