by N J Adel
This was wrong on so many levels.
I tried to think of anything else. A distraction from the desire pooling between my legs. But when she lifted her arms to wash my neck, her breasts perked up.
That didn’t help at all.
I bit my lip at the throbbing in my sex, and I dragged my stare up, shifting my concentration to the…ceiling architecture. Anything to stop me from envisioning my mouth on those little, pebbling, brown nipples.
This is getting ridiculous. Drusus, Redamun and now Tia. What has gotten into me? And why am I picturing all of them naked with me in the bath now? I need to make love. To a man. As soon as possible. As soon as I get out of this bath chamber.
Her fingertips brushed against my own nipples as she swiped the washcloth over my chest. My belly clenched, and I moaned softly.
“Enjoying your bath, Majesty?”
My lips twitched with a smile. “Yes. More than I should.”
“Would you lift your arms, please?”
I did, and she moved closer to clean my armpits, our breasts accidentally touching.
My eyes closed in response, my breaths getting louder. I wanted to place my hands on her, hold her in my arms and…kiss her. I’d never kissed a woman before, and I wondered how Tia’s thin lips would taste and feel between mine.
My unbridled imagination started the fiery energy inside. I inhaled and exhaled multiple times, concentrating on the cooling water to calm down.
And cool down.
“Your beauty is unmatched, my Queen.” Her hands moved up and down my sides and glided over my stomach with a slight tremble.
I opened my eyes and glanced down at her. She was staring at me, at my heaving chest, swallowing.
Was she aroused by me, too?
Sudden heat seared my flesh.
From her palm.
Shaking, she hissed and pulled away, her eyes black with fear. “I’m sorry, Majesty.”
I took one of her hands in mine, held it tightly despite the heat, and lifted her chin with my finger. “Look at me. It’s the energy. I know it’s scary, but I’m right here with you. It’s all right.”
“I’m sorry. Forgive me, my Queen. I’m so terribly sorry!” She was quivering, her skin burning up. Tears filled her eyes as she kept repeating how sorry she was.
“Tia…”
“I didn’t mean to. I swear I don’t know what happened.”
“Tia…”
“I have no excuse. I don’t know how I… I’m so sorry—”
Without thinking, I put my hands on her cheeks and pressed my lips onto hers.
To shut her up.
To take down her panic.
To ease her nervousness…
Who was I fooling?
I did it because I wanted to taste her so badly.
And by how intensely she was kissing me back, I’d say she wanted it, too.
I inhaled her breath, felt the warmth and the softness of her mouth. Heat rose in her cheeks as her tongue touched mine. I kissed her firmer, more determined, more curious about the new drive that lay within both of us.
Much to my surprise, the kiss wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable or repulsive as I’d always thought something like that would be. It was soft and hot and breathy, not trying to win a battle but seeking closeness. The sharing of one sensation, one wild moment.
When I drew back, both our lips were swollen. We were out of breath and words but not fire. The wild energy in her blazed with mine, and I had to take my hands off her face, break our connection before it brought this place to the ground.
I held her gaze and tried to see through her soul once again. This time, I understood what she meant earlier when she said she saw how Redamun felt. I, too, could see her. Sense her. As if her body was split in two, exposing the insides, and a pipe inserted in there led straight to my soul.
Just like with Drusus, but stronger.
“You’re worried. Terrified…and deeply aroused,” I said.
Her eyes brimmed with tears as she nodded. “I swear on Your Holy Self I’ve never had any…” She sobbed. “I don’t know what has possessed me to feel that way all of a sudden. Please forgive me.”
“Tia, be calm. I’m not angry at you. Whatever you felt, I felt it, too.” I grinned. “And I liked it.”
“I liked it, too.” She slapped a hand over her mouth.
Laughing, I lay on my back and spread my arms in the water. “It’s all right. You can tell me. It’s not like you can hide your emotions from me even if you wish so.”
“It’s not all right. You’re my Queen, and you’re a woman.”
“I don’t know what I am anymore. All I know is that we are changing into something unusual. To understand it, we have to let go of what we thought we knew and accept this new force within, not fight it.” I looked into her eyes. “Whatever it takes. Or this fire will eat us up and destroy everything, our souls included.”
“That force is so powerful, my Queen. I can feel it taking over me already.”
“All of us, not just you. But rest assured we shall find a way to control it. I felt it so many times today but only unleashed it when I couldn’t control my wrath.”
“I only felt it now, when I was…aroused,” she said quietly. “I don’t think I could have controlled it if it hadn’t been for Your Majesty’s kiss. It calmed me enough to contain it.”
“Redamun felt it when he was jealous. He seemed in control, though.”
“And yet Master Nur hasn’t experienced the fire at all.”
“Yes.” Thoughts swirled in my head. Too many variables to consider. “That’s odd.”
She chuckled. “Well, when does Master Nur ever get angry or jealous? He’s a very…composed man.”
I smirked. “He’s still a man, which means…”
Tia gasped, blushing. “Majesty.”
“What? It looks like we can’t have an intimate moment without the threat of setting something on fire, tearing a place down or killing someone. It’s not safe to let out this massive sexual need around an ordinary soul. That means we’re limited to each other in that matter.” I grabbed the washcloth floating in the bath, straightened and finished washing my lower body by myself. “And he’s a very attractive man. You will have a lot of amusement in the process.”
Her eyes widened. “Me? I don’t know how to seduce Master Nur. He never looked at me that way. And to be honest, and rather insolent, if I have a choice, I prefer to feed my needs…with you, Majesty.” She slapped her mouth again.
I threw the washcloth at her playfully. “You are far more mischievous than I thought.”
She dodged it, giggling, water splashing around her.
I sighed. “Well, if you don’t have the heart for that task, that leaves Redamun and I for it.”
“I don’t think Guard Redamun is fit for the task of seducing another man.”
My body shook with laughter. “Neither do I, but… You don’t understand. This can’t be. I cannot do such a thing.”
“What is it about Master Nur that makes it so forbidden for my Queen to be with him, if I may ask?”
“With Redamun and you, I’m your Queen. Since I don’t rule for now, it’s fine to cross a few lines. But with Nur, I’ll always be his teacher. It’s so…wicked to even think of him that way.”
She shrugged, barely holding her laugh. “It’s not wicked if it’s for knowledge and learning purposes, Majesty.”
The things I’d do for knowledge…
CHAPTER NINE
The Egyptian cotton softness dried my wet body, hugging my skin. Delighted our finest of crops was still used in what had become a Roman province, I squeezed the towel with both hands and brushed it over my face to inhale its smell.
Sitting on the edge on my new bed, I noticed the two dresses Drusus must have left there. One royal blue. The other orange red.
Feeling the fabric, the silk of the blue one, I realized Drusus had chosen it carefully for me. One of my favorite colors and material to
wear.
Tia took the second dress and placed it on her towel-wrapped body, as if trying it out. “It’s so beautiful. I like the drapes and the color.”
I slid mine over my head and looked in the mirror covering the opposite wall. “I like our old draping style better, but these aren’t bad either.”
Tia’s pale expression and the feelings oozing from her perturbed me. “What’s wrong?”
“I hope Your Majesty will not strip me of the honor of dressing and serving you as I’ve always had after what happened.”
A sigh of relief left my chest. “Don’t be ridiculous. You will always be my trusted server, Tia. I dressed myself now so I wouldn’t overwhelm you. I’m certain it won’t be long before we can devise a way to regulate the energy, and then all of us can perform our regular duties.”
“Thank you, Majesty,” she said as if she was going to cry.
I was going over to her to reassure her more, but a knock on the door interrupted me.
“Majesty, may I come in?” Drusus’s voice rang.
I nodded at Tia.
“One moment.” She got dressed quickly and opened the door.
Sitting in one of the gold-plated red arm chairs, I saw him approach. He’d showered and dressed in a white tunic with a dark red shawl draped over it, his short black curls beautiful when wet, his turquoise eyes brighter than before.
He looked at my uncombed, wet hair. “Apologies, my Queen, if I came earlier than I should have. I can come back later.”
I smiled. “Do you know how to comb a woman’s hair?”
His silly grin manifested as he scratched the back of his head. “Uh… The only hair I’ve ever combed is my sister’s, and I can’t say I’m very good at it.”
“How terrible was it?”
He chuckled. “She threw the comb at my face and called me…names.”
I joined his laughter. “Tia, give Drusus my hair grooming tools and go tell Nur I shall meet him in the underground after I’m finished here.”
She stared at me, Drusus too, and then she bowed, biting her lips on whatever she wanted to say.
“You may want to take a look at your chamber after,” I added.
“Yes, Majesty,” she whispered, handing Drusus a brush and a comb while holding three small bottles in her other hand. “The castor oil first, mixed with a tad of olive and coconut oils. Then sprinkle the rosewater oil after you finish combing. Don’t overdo it or it will get too greasy,” she told him, holding each bottle as she instructed, her eyes glistening. “Her Majesty loves a sprinkle of lotus essence as well, but I couldn’t find any in the bath chamber.”
“I will bring some from the market,” he said, dazed.
“Good.” She practically hit his stomach with the bottles instead of giving them to him. Then she twisted to face me. “Anything else, Majesty?”
“You may go,” I said.
She bowed and stalked to the door, her ache a big bubble about to burst. As much as it pained me to hurt her, I knew I was doing the right thing.
Only for now, my friend.
As if she heard my thoughts, she looked at me over her shoulder, nodded and left the chamber.
“Your handmaid seems to be very upset,” Drusus said.
I rose and walked to the terrace. “She’s going to be fine.”
His steps followed me as I watched the sun set in the horizon, purple streaks in the dark sky. “How is your hand now?”
“Which one?” One of the wicker chairs in the corner screeched. I looked behind me and saw he’d placed it for me to sit. Then he grabbed a small table and set the oils and grooming tools on it.
I sat, looking at him sideways. “The one Redamun smacked at the tomb.”
He stood before me and flexed his fist. “I’d completely forgotten about that. It feels very well. No signs of pain whatsoever. I guess the smack wasn’t that hard after all, and I was still taken aback by…my fall.”
“I see.” My gaze drifted to the fading sun. Imaginary danger bells boomed in my head, but I chose to dismiss the assumptions causing them for now.
Sweating, he opened the castor oil bottle and put some on his palm, rubbed it and smoothed my hair with it. Despite his huge, quivering hands, his touch was tender.
Sweet.
The castor oil not so much. With my enhanced level of smelling, it was torture. I put a hand on my nose to stifle it.
“Am I doing this correctly, Majesty?”
I could feel his dread. “Oh, it’s perfect. It will take me a while to get used to strong smells, though.”
His sigh of relief fell warm on my hair. “I’ll close the bottle.”
“Thank you.”
The coconut oil fell strong on my nose, too, but tolerable, masking the previous smell swiftly.
His fingers plunged in my locks, untangling them, making sure the oils have reached them all. Then he used the comb.
“Do you have a woman, Drusus?”
The ivory teeth slowed down on my scalp. “No, my Queen.”
“Why not?”
“I…I…”
“You’re old enough to get married and have a family of your own, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely, Majesty, I’m nineteen.” He chuckled. “But this is not why I don’t have a woman.”
“Is it that you’re not wealthy enough? I was wondering how you paid for this house. I shall happily give you enough gold to compensate your efforts. You can then betroth any woman you like if that’s the issue.”
He stilled. “My Queen, you’ve already left us enough riches to last a lifetime before the burial. I can assure you, we are all very wealthy because of you. Your Majesty paid for everything we have. This house and everything my family and I own are at your disposal. It’s the least we can do. I’m certainly not asking for compensation.”
“I find this…pure dedication from the entire family you keep talking about hard to believe.”
“I fear I don’t fully understand.”
I tilted my head backwards, locking my gaze with his. “I have no doubt you’re fully dedicated to my service, Drusus. But a thousand years is too long. There must have been several skeptics and cynics in the family about me, if not whole branches of it. And I’d like to hear the whole truth now.”
CHAPTER TEN
Drusus’s pupils dilated, the green in them dark, the blue darker. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.
“Speak,” I commanded, not leaving his gaze.
“True,” he whispered. “There have been skeptics and cynics who haven’t believed in the cause or Your Majesty’s return.”
“Many are alive today?”
He shook his head. “One great uncle and his offspring, but I’m certain their doubts will be silenced once they see Your Majesty. Nonetheless…”
“What?”
His lips twitched.
I reached for the comb in his cold hand and held both of them, guiding him to stand before me.
Tossing the comb on the table while keeping his hand in mine, I sensed his afflicted emotions.
Thrill.
Anxiousness.
Hesitancy.
Fear.
I held his stare again. “Is it the way I touch you that makes you nervous? Or is it what you’re hiding from me that does?”
“Both.”
“What is troubling you this much that you are too afraid to speak of it?”
His knee hit the floor. “Please don’t be mad about what I’m about to confess. May I speak freely?”
Leaning forward, I took his free hand and rested it on top of my mine. Now my own hand was nestled between both of his. His touch sent a sweet chill down my spine. “Always.”
His palms heated in a heartbeat. “First confession, there has been an eternal debate in the family about Seratis.”
I filled my lungs with as much air as I could, fueling my patience, summoning my strength so I wouldn’t lose my temper.
“Please tolerate my
ignorance, my Queen. The question wasn’t whether you were divine or not. You have been kind enough to demonstrate your humanity for my poor mind.”
“Then what is the question?”
“There is no smoke without fire.” He looked at me as if I was the one he was interrogating, not the other way around. “How would Bessen Ra invent that epic myth without a kernel of truth in it?”
I didn’t see that coming.
Not from him.
Not now.
I leaned back, examining his expression. “Has that been the debate started by your ancestors or your poor mind?”
“It’s the one question Ari never answered about you, Majesty. No matter how many times he’d been asked.”
My skin broke in gooseflesh. I was moved by Ari’s devotion, yet disturbed by the past that would always haunt me. “Do you trust me, Drusus?”
“With my life.”
Leaning forward again, I smirked. “Then trust me when I tell you some questions are better left unanswered.”
He stared at me, unblinking, unchanging, but I could feel him without error. Frustration and curiosity mixed with primal desire.
I brushed his face with the back of my hand, his skin rough with the beard. “What’s the second confession?”
He squeezed my hand gently. “Huh?”
I chortled. “You said the debate about Seratis’s truth was the first confession. What’s the second?”
His cheeks burned as a sheepish smile stretched his lips. “Has Majesty wondered why someone like me was at the tomb and not, let’s say, one of my more intelligent architect brothers?”
“I might have.”
“Well, my elders organized a competition for all the family members who have been desperate to have the honor of receiving Your Majesty first. Most of the family youth including myself have been training for it since I can remember.” His passion rose with every word. “When the time came, I couldn’t let anyone beat me to it. Those catamites might be more intelligent, but I’m the strongest, and I beat them all.”
My hand flew to my chest, and my jaws parted in shock. “Catamites?”