‘Our absence will have already been discovered my love, now we must do our best to stay hidden until we can get out of the country and on that ship.’ He kissed her and she responded while he caressed her breasts. ‘I could never get enough of being with you Catherine, I love you so much.’
‘I love you too,’ she whispered, arching her back as his hand reached between her legs and stirred that familiar feeling in her stomach. It took no time at all for her to be ready and he rolled her over onto her stomach, pushing into her from behind.
She moved her hips to push him in as deep as he could. ‘Arif,’ she cried, feeling him thrusting in and out of her.
‘Oh Catherine,’ he called as he came deep inside her. Then they were still, him not wanting to pull out of her and her not wanting to move away. Both knew the odds were against them.
After washing in a nearby stream and dressing they were back on the horse and on the road and when night began to fall they realised they would need to stop somewhere to rest. There was an inn at the side of the road, the sounds of the men drinking inside spilled out into the evening.
‘I don’t want to go in there,’ she said, suddenly frightened.
‘Inside will be a warm soft bed Catherine, we’ll be comfortable for the night and leave early in the morning. Just think my love,’ he said as he began to nibble on her ear, ‘What we could do with a night in a warm, soft bed.’
‘They do have those in England you know,’ she said, ‘The sooner we get there the sooner we are safe.’
He laughed. ‘While that is true, there’s one right here and I am tired and just want to wrap my arms around you and go to sleep. We have another big day ahead of us tomorrow.’
He left her outside while he went into the inn, it was busy, there were men everywhere drinking and whoring and Arif headed straight for the bar to enquire about a room. After confirming he could get a room, he went back outside for Catherine.
She was surrounded by the palace guard. ‘They found us,’ she said quietly.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said. A blanket was wrapped around her and she was thrown on the back of a horse, bigger and stronger than Arif’s, it was easy to see why they’d been caught so quickly.
Arif was also pulled up onto a horse and without any fuss the young lovers were on their way back to the palace, all hope of escape gone. They travelled most of the night, arriving back at the palace in the small hours of the morning.
Once back in the palace they were both led to the Sultan’s rooms. At sight of Catherine he embraced the frightened young woman. ‘My love, you are safe,’ he exclaimed, covering her face with kisses. ‘No need to be frightened anymore.’
‘She had no need to feel frightened,’ Arif cried out, ‘She was with the man she loves, and I would have protected her until the end.’
‘We found the cloth and drug Arif,’ his father said, ‘I know you took Catherine unwillingly. She is back where she belongs, with me.’
‘Catherine was mine,’ Arif shouted, ‘You took her from me father and I cannot forgive you for that.’
‘I should punish you for what you have done Arif, you will have nothing more to do with Catherine, it is forbidden. If I ever get so much as an idea that you have been anywhere near her I will have you whipped, do you understand?’
Arif had never seen his father so angry. He had never been threatened with any punishment, let alone a whipping but he could tell the Sultan meant it. The Sultan led Catherine to the bed where she sat down. ‘Arif, I have already told you this is how things will be. Catherine is my wife, and will never be yours. Come, stand by the bed.’
Catherine’s eyes widened as he instructed her to remove her clothing and lie on the bed and terrified of what might happen she obeyed. ‘Now Arif, I am going to comfort my wife for what you have put her through and you will watch. This is your punishment. Perhaps you will now understand you can never have her.’
Tenderly he stroked Catherine’s body before nuzzling and licking at her breasts. His hand moved down between her legs until it found the spot that Arif had so recently touched. Tears rolled down her cheeks and he kissed them away as her body betrayed her and gave way to the feeling that overwhelmed her.
Arif watched as the woman he loved moved her body in rhythm with the Sultan’s hand, the smell of her sex slowly filling the room. ‘My Catherine, my darling Catherine,’ the Sultan murmured, moving between her legs and slowly impaling her on his hardness.
She couldn’t stop herself from gasping as he pushed deep inside her, feeling every inch as her body drew it in. ‘Oh yes my love,’ he cried as he started to thrust. Catherine closed her eyes as he moved in and out of her, slowly building to reach his climax before collapsing, spent, on top of her.
‘You may go now Arif,’ he said, not looking at his son but instead gazing at his young wife, ‘I think you can see that Catherine is quite content with me.’
He went back to nuzzling her breasts, already stiffening again and Catherine met Arif’s eye before he turned and left. ‘I love you’ he mouthed and the tears started again.
Alone, the Sultan pulled Catherine up. ‘I do not entirely believe you were innocent in all of this, you loved Arif once.’ She nodded. ‘Did he touch you at all? Was he inside you?’ Catherine shook her head, not wanting to make things even worse. Try as she might though she could not stop the tears.
‘Catherine, I do not wish to punish you. You are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on and the thought of you in pain upsets me but I must punish you for your part in this whole affair.’ Her eyes widened at his words, unsure of what was coming next.
Roughly he pulled her over his knee, her belly resting over his cock. He bought the palm of his hand down hard on her backside and she gasped. Even as a child as high spirited as she was she had never been spanked but now her husband performed the task.
‘You were very naughty Catherine,’ he said as he struck another blow and then another. She tried hard to not try to wriggle away from him, it hurt but it was also clearly having another effect on him. She could feel his hardness pressing against her belly and as she cried out at the unfamiliar touch it excited him and soon he was ready for her.
She felt him slide his hand between her legs, feeling for the wetness between her legs. The sound he made told her he liked what he had found. ‘Catherine, even in punishment you excite me,’ he murmured before pushing two fingers into her.
‘Oh my sweet Catherine,’ he said, moving his fingers in and out. It was clear this had distracted him from the spanking he had been in the process of giving her. ‘I promise I will be gentle my love, oh you are so tight.’
He rolled her onto her side, facing away from him and lay behind her. Continuing to probe her with one finger, he reached around with the other hand and stroked her clit. She felt his hips move behind her, already in a rhythm he would continue no doubt inside her. ‘Make me happy my Catherine,’ he said.
Kissing her shoulder at first he bit her and she cried out, distracted while he pushed into her. ‘That feels good Catherine, you have pleased me,’ he said, thrusting in and out of her. Catherine clamped her mouth shut, not wanting to make any noise. As bitterly disappointed as she was at their failure to run away she could not help feeling this was where she should be, with her husband.
He continued to rub her clit while he thrust in and out until it was unbearable. She cried out as she climaxed, and finally he groaned and she felt the warmth on her skin as he pulled out.
She lay still as he continued to stroke her body and kiss her back. ‘I will never allow you to leave,’ he said finally. ‘You are mine sweet Catherine and always will be. Every part of you belongs to me.’
Chapter 16
As Arif left the room, his mother was waiting. ‘We must talk,’ she said angrily.
‘I have nothing to say, he has taken Catherine from me.’
Taking Arif aside to a room where they would not be disturbed Irina slapped him. ‘What were you thinking?
’ she said, ‘You are the heir, I know you are upset about Catherine but kidnapping her was stupid. Now your father will be extra attentive to her and the poor girl has been through enough without this.’
‘She went with me willingly,’ he cried, ‘Catherine wanted to be with me, not him. She has no choice mother, and you know this to be true.’
‘I know,’ she said through gritted teeth, ‘It was not her choice but this is her life now, she is part of the harem and she must be respected as such. This could have gone very badly for both you and her, especially her Arif. Did you not understand the danger you put her in?’
‘Father would never do anything to her. She is far too precious to him,’ he said defiantly.
‘Do not underestimate you father Arif, he could have very well had her killed as an example to the rest of the harem to ensure their obedience. If she went with you willingly why did you need the cloth with the drug?’
He blushed. ‘She was not entirely willing at first, once we were away from the palace she was happy to be with me.’
She stared at him, a thought suddenly occurring. ‘Arif, did you touch her, were you two intimate?’
‘A kiss or two on the horse, and perhaps a bit more. It does not matter anymore.’ He kicked the wall in frustration. ‘All we needed was a little more time and we would have been free.’
‘Your father would never have let you or Catherine go. He would have hunted you down and found you wherever you went. My son, you must let go of her. I know she is in your heart, she is your father’s wife now and the guard on the harem will be tightened now.’
He sighed. ‘I hate this, I hate him. She is my first and only love, why did he have to take her as his own?’
‘It is because he is the Sultan my love.’ Wrapping her arms around him she held him close. ‘As his only son he will never let you go, one day you will rule this land and have your own harem, you will find another.’
‘I don’t want to find another,’ he said, burying his face in her, ‘She was meant for me.’
‘Perhaps there is a way you could be together,’ she said softly.
He looked up at her. ‘How? You said yourself that there is no way I could get her from the harem.’
‘No but I can. For a week out of every month.’ His eyes widened realising what she was saying.
Every night Catherine was summoned to his bed. Some nights he was loving and caring, other times he would be upset from the day’s events and be rough with her. She didn’t complain. He could take her to the highest she had ever felt, and also the lowest.
In between the women of the harem were loving and caring and as the first month came to an end she was almost sorry to go into seclusion when her courses arrived, away from the harem. When Irina told the Sultan she had been removed from the harem to wait out her bleeding, he expressed disappointment. ‘I had hoped she would not bleed this month,’ he said sadly, ‘I want a child from her.’
‘I will join you in your bed this night husband if you will it.’ She replied.
‘I will send for one of the harem women,’ he replied, ‘One of the younger ones, perhaps while Catherine is away one of the others will fall pregnant.’
She was offended at the rebuff. ‘I had thought husband to please you, it has been a long time since I was in your bed.’
He looked at her. ‘It has been a long time, you are older now wife, it serves no purpose for me to have you in my bed.’
The words stung and she went back to the harem with them ringing in her ears. He would rue the day he had crossed her she swore. She would see her son take his place.
Despite being away from the harem Catherine enjoyed having some time for herself. Irina had supplied her room with books for her to read and although her bleeding only lasted a few days, Irina told the Sultan it had not stopped to give her some more time.
She looked at herself in the mirror in the room. Her body pleased the Sultan she thought and she’d grown to know more about herself in the last few weeks. How her body responded to being touched, where she was sensitive.
Lying back on the bed she explored her body with her own hands. There were always willing hands to do the work but she wanted to see what she felt like and for the first time in a long while she had the time alone to do it.
Touching her breasts she worked her nipples until they were rigid and made her moan before she touched herself between her legs, feeling her clitoris and rubbing it with her fingers until it was swollen. ‘Would you like some help with that?’ said a voice.
Shocked she sat up, had the Sultan learned that her bleeding was stopped? She hadn’t heard the door open but now it closed with a click and Arif was there. Folding her arms across her breasts she looked down, embarrassed.
‘Don’t stop on my account beloved,’ he murmured, ‘I would rather it was I doing that but I’d really like to see you continue.’
‘You should not be here,’ she said.
He sat on the bed beside her. ‘No, I should not be here but this time we are alone and will not be disturbed.’
She lay back down. ‘Now, show me,’ he said. Spreading her legs she put her hand back and began to rub her clit. Her hips moved with the sensation and he watched, fascinated as she climaxed before leaning over and licking his way up the lips of her entrance.
‘Arif,’ she whispered, ‘You mustn’t’
‘No one will disturb us, mother has bought us some time.’ Moving between her legs he made little sucking movements around her wetness before licking and sucking her clit. Moaning she put her hands into his hair and pulled him in, her hips rising to meet his tongue. Hungrily he licked at her, his hands making his way up to her breasts, making circles round her nipples with his fingers before using his thumbs to rub them.
‘Oh my love,’ she cried. He continued to tease her while wave after wave coursed through her body. As he pushed into her he groaned and the rest of the evening became a blur as they lost themselves in each other.
By the time she returned to the harem she was relaxed and happy. On the first night back she was summoned to the Sultan’s rooms and went knowing she was truly loved and wanted. Nothing would keep Arif from her.
Chapter 17
Catherine’s life settled into a new routine now, days in the harem resting with nights in the Sultans bed. Anxiously she would wait for the week of the month where she got one and sometimes two nights with Arif.
When she did not fall pregnant as he had hoped for, the Sultan eventually stopped sending for her. He had now pinned his hopes on a new wife and Catherine was relegated to the harem which she had no complaints about
She was happy with the monthly visits she now had with Arif. As she had not fallen pregnant by the Sultan for all these months it took her by surprise when her courses didn’t come and instead of the joy she should have felt she was terrified.
Irina knew the truth, knew the child was not the Sultan’s but was indeed Arif’s. ‘We must get you back into his bed,’ she said, ‘you have not been with him for some months and he will know the child is not his.’
‘Though you are,’ she continued, ‘near turning nineteen so I propose we ask for you to have an audience with him and you will need to work out from there how to get into his bed. Tell him you wish to celebrate the anniversary of the first night in his bed.’
For days she told herself this would work. She would offer herself up and do whatever she had to in order for him to take her to his bed. Soon this nightmare would be over. When the day arrived she received permission for an audience and hurried to his room, finding him there with a young woman in his bed she’d not seen before.
‘I understand you wanted to see me,’ he said stiffly.
‘My Lord it is the time of the year of my birth and as such I came to offer myself to you, as a gift I would like very much if you would give me your seed, fill my womb, let me try one more time to give you the child you wanted from me.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘You were unsuccessful f
or many months in giving me a child. You had far longer than any woman in my harem at trying but you failed at it Catherine when I was sure for so long it would be you. What difference will one more night make? Go back to the harem, I have a new wife to take in the morning and tonight she will be virgin no more.’
‘My love, perhaps I could help you, show you my gratitude for all you have given me these past months even in my failings to provide a child?’
Interested he looked at her. ‘Help me in what way?’
‘I am very experienced with other women due to my time in the harem. Perhaps as a gift to you for my birthday I can touch your young lady, make her ready for you?’
‘You would want to do that?’
‘Once she gets into the harem she will be welcomed with open arms, it may help prepare her for that and watching me with her might add to the excitement.’
The idea appealed, she could see that. ‘Remove your clothing,’ he said. While the woman on the bed watched she removed her shift and he ran his hands over her body. ‘This is how I want you to be for me,’ he told her, ‘obedient in every way, giving your body to me completely.’
Standing behind Catherine he put his hand between her legs and rubbed her clit. ‘Catherine was not always obedient but now she comes to me willingly and offers her body. This is what you must aspire to.’
Catherine arched her back, the familiar shudder flowing through her body and he pushed her towards the bed and the naked woman waiting. Touching her leg she found her shaking. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ she said, ‘I will be waiting in the harem to welcome you. Life can be good here.’
She stilled under Catherine’s reassurance and Catherine made her way up her body with little kisses until she reached her face. Looking into the young woman’s eyes she smiled. ‘What is your name?’
‘Alena,’ said the woman.
‘I’m going to kiss you Alena, just relax and enjoy yourself. You will feel good very soon.’
The young woman relaxed and Catherine kissed her, softly and gently at first but soon her mouth opened and Catherine’s tongue slipped in. The Sultan watched, entranced, wondering why he had not thought of this before. Catherine could feel his cock pressing against her arm, growing harder watching the two women kiss.
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