by Emma Merrell
Berenice was a good tour guide. She was direct and forthright in her manner, making Jude laugh quite a few times. She answered all his questions without any sign of annoyance when they increased in either volume or frequency. She explained where all the food in the larder came from, a large set of tiered gardens above them in the mountain range and told him that all their water was hand-carried in from a nearby mountain stream. He offended her a little when he asked if there were slaves who did all these things. She gave him a sharp look and told him that they were all free, and everyone in the community, even her father, lent a hand in sustaining it.
By the time that she had led him back outside, it was dinnertime and the space under the pavilion was packed. People lined up at the cooking area. "I had better go help. Feel free to grab a plate and get in line."
She turned to go but before she could get away Jude spoke, "Thanks for showing me around."
She gave him an appraising eye. "Of course. Listen, there is a sort of celebration tomorrow night and if you like, you can come with me."
"Sounds good."
This time when she turned to go, he didn't stop her, and it belatedly occurred to him that it would have been nice to offer his help with serving dinner. Of course, he would probably just have gotten in the way and he decided that it was a better idea for him to eat and get to bed. It sounded like tomorrow was going to be interesting.
Chapter Fourteen
Luce
She had spent the entire morning being prepared, made up, and dressed. Thankfully, there hadn't been any mishaps today and Luce was waiting at the gate for the prince when he arrived. She dropped into her curtsey and rose even as the command was just leaving his lips, she knew he wouldn't leave her down there for long. "Your Highness."
"Luce. You look lovely today."
She gave a tight smile and a nod. There was a feeling of awkwardness in the air. It must've been the unspoken shadow in the room. The fact that they were going to have sex today after only meeting three times. Luce's stomach was lurching with nerves and she wondered if he felt the same way.
"Shall we?" he asked, offering an arm.
She was again led out of the gates and through the palace, but the route was different this time. Instead of heading to the center where the family resided, he led her outward. As they walked things grew less and less beautiful and there were more rough stone structures. There were also more servants coming to and from and Luce had the feeling that this was more of a service area than one that the royal family normally frequented.
Jonathan must have noticed her curiosity because when he spoke next it was in answer to her unspoken question. "We are heading for the stables, the staff way."
"What way do you normally go?"
"Normally the horses are brought out to us in front of the palace, and then we ride out through the city to allow the people a glimpse of us. Today I thought it more appropriate to leave through the back and give us some privacy."
Luce was grateful for that. "I'm sure that seeing you with one of us would have caused quite a scene in the city streets."
"We would have been utterly mobbed."
They arrived at the stables and there was a magnificent white horse already awaiting them. It was outfitted in a bridle and blanket, but no saddle that Luce could see. "I've never ridden before, except when I came first came here, but I don’t remember much of that."
"Not many of the girls have. You will ride with me." He offered her a hand and Luce didn't understand for a moment how she was supposed to get on, but then a servant came forward with a stepstool. She got on the horse. She was a little bit more frightened than she had expected to be when it shifted beneath her. This was a powerful animal. She felt much safer when Jonathan settled his weight behind her, and his arms came forward to encircle her when he grabbed the reins. Luce craned her neck to look behind them and saw two guards mounting up as well.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
They went very slowly until they cleared the stables and the back gate in the wall that encircled the city. As soon as they were out, though, with nothing but a path through the trees ahead of them, Jonathan urged the horse into a gallop. Luce gasped. It was frightening and amazing all at the same time. Also, it hurt a bit to someone who was unaccustomed to riding bareback, let alone at all. She tried to ignore the jarring sensations in her body and to focus on the beauty of the space in front of them.
"If we kept riding straight what would we see?"
"Miles of trees and meadows, but eventually we would come to the sea. If we rode the other direction, we would come to the mountain range."
"Where my brother is?"
"Yes."
"What about the other sides?"
"We are hemmed in by mountain and sea as if we were the pupil of an eye and they were the lids."
They rode for a while longer until Luce's back was growing sore and she was about ready to ask for a break. Then she saw a few white shapes in the distance, glimmering through the tree line at first and then coming into focus. As they drew closer, she could see that they were tented pavilions of embroidered cloth. There was a large one in the center and then spread farther out there were four more. A fire was blazing by one of them and the smell of cooking meat drifted to Luce on the hot wind. It was hard to believe what she was seeing. This was like some fantasy. She was on horseback, in the arms of a prince, about to have a picnic in the middle of a clearing ringed by towering trees. It should have been wildly romantic, but the circumstances still were not ideal.
Jonathan hopped off the horse without waiting for a stool and swung Luce to the ground. Servants began scurrying in from the tent by the fire, and they bowed low and opened the heavy cloths to allow them to enter. It was beautiful inside, almost a replica of the room where Luce had spent the night. It was warm and comfortable. Luce pointedly ignored the luxe bed in the corner and sat on one of the chairs that surrounded a table.
"When it becomes dark, we can open the tent and look out at the stars."
"That will be nice."
They settled into another silence. Their afternoon remained strained, up until dinner when they at least had a reason to be quiet as they ate. The servants came and cleared away the dishes, refilled their wine glasses, lit a brazier to keep them warm in the chilly night air, opened the tent, and vanished away. Luce's heart began pumping madly. It was time or would be very soon. Jonathan's eyes met hers and she knew that he was going to talk about it and she desperately willed him to be silent.
"Luce." Damn it hadn't worked. "I have a question. I don't want this to be...am I going to take your flower? We can find another solution if you do not want to do this. I will not force you."
Luce shook her head. "No, you won't be taking anything. I'm not new to this. And I do want to be with you, that way." It was true. Now that he had told her it wasn’t going to be forced, she found herself desiring him again.
Jonathan looked relieved. "That is well, I would hate for this to be the set of circumstances under which any girl lost her flower. I hate that it must be done this way at all."
"This way? Would you mind had we both chosen it?"
He shook his head, sending a ripple down his long braid. "No, Luce. I do not think that I would."
"Okay. What if we pretend that this is just a normal coupling, that we are here because we wanted to be and that there is nothing pushing us together."
"Is that what you want? Is it something that you could have wanted on your own?"
The answer halfway surprised Luce. "Maybe. I think so."
Jonathan stood and offered her a hand. "Come. Bring your wine if you like."
He led her to the bed, and she sunk down with a shaky sigh. "This is comfortable for a camp bed."
"It is. We-" Jonathan broke off when someone coughed just outside.
"Are your guards going to stay right here for the whole night?"
"I'm afraid so, someone must bear witness for my mother."
Luce's temper flared. "Are you kidding me?"
"Be glad that they are not in here with us like she originally wanted. This was the best compromise that I could come up with."
Ugh. It made Luce highly uncomfortable to think of those men overhearing them, but the alternative that Jude had just stated would have been much worse. She might have chosen death over that. "So now we are going to pretend that you didn't just tell me that."
"If you like."
Luce drained the last of her wine and set the cup on the floor, then she unwrapped the ribbon from around her head. Jonathan watched her every move with an intensity that gave her tingles. He reached out to brush a wayward strand of hair from her cheek. "I'm glad that it is you here tonight, Luce."
The words had a weight that settled in her belly with a heat that she hadn't anticipated. Was he glad that she was going to bear his child? That she would be full of his seed if all went well tonight? There was something about being desired by a man for that reason that made her breath come more quickly. "I am too."
He leaned into to kiss her, and there was a darkness to his gaze that made her bite her lip before it met his. It started so softly, and she could feel him trying to reassure her that he would be gentle with her, that he would do nothing to harm her. Trust me, his kisses said. And she did. Her whole body relaxed, opening to him and all that he was offering her. Jonathan noticed the change and drew back to look at her. The firelight was flickering over his gorgeous face and Luce felt an overwhelming urge to see it framed by all that black hair. She reached behind him and begin unwinding the long plait, marveling at how soft it was. When it was free, she felt her breath catch. No one should be allowed to be that handsome, it just wasn't fair.
"Undress for me, Luce. Let me see your body," he whispered.
The plea almost melted her. She rose to her feet and pulled at the lacing and buttons of her riding outfit, she managed to struggle free from them after a minute or two and then she stood naked in front of him. He looked her up and down, his gaze lingering at her breasts and belly, then lower. She knew that she looked good, she had been shaved and oiled thoroughly, and her body was still as fit as it had ever been.
He came to his feet and kissed her once, being sure not to touch her anywhere yet. Then he undressed for her and Luce was sure that there was no way this man in this body had really been given to her to run free with. Every angle of his body was smooth and hard, including his penis which stood proud and ready. The length of it quivered eagerly and it was all Luce could do not to reach out and touch it. Not yet. They needed to go slower.
"You're beautiful," he said, and Luce knew that he meant it.
He came forward and their lips met once more. They went to the bed together, side by side, on the soft blankets. Her hands began roaming the length of his muscular back, while he moved over her shoulders to tangle in her long waves. Luce tried desperately to lose herself in the kisses. She wanted to live in this moment with him, not to be forced to think about the guard outside and the reasons that they were there.
Jonathan rolled them over so that Luce was on the bottom and then he began kissing down her neck until he reached her breasts. He took first one nipple and then the other into his mouth, biting, rolling, and sucking until Luce squirmed beneath him. It was like there was a direct line leading south from her nipple, each time he did something it gave a tug and Luce throbbed. His long hair tickled her body and that was certainly a new experience for Luce, but one she found herself enjoying. As he worked at her breasts, one hand began traveling over her belly and hips. Surprising herself, Luce found herself wanting his hand to go lower. She was unconsciously arching her body up, trying to force him into making contact.
Jonathan noticed and looked up at her. "I am not going to quickly for you?"
"No," she replied biting her lip. "I want you to touch me."
He abandoned her breasts and returned to her mouth, kissing her for such a long time that she began to wonder if he had forgotten her request, but then she felt the light brush of his hand. Hesitantly at first, and then with more confidence, he closed his hand over her damp curls and traced one finger along the length of her opening. Luce shivered at the gentle touch. Jonathan grew bolder still and spread her open, inserting just a fingertip. Luce moaned into his mouth and broke their long kiss, panting for air. It had happened, she had forgotten everything but Jonathan and the feelings that he was creating within her.
She rocked against his hand, willing him to go just a little harder and a little faster. He drew back from her and sat on his heels, still working her. Now his eyes traveled over her freely and Luce flushed. It made her suddenly shy to be laid out before him like this, naked and writhing. Of course, it wasn't embarrassing enough to make her want him to stop. Instead, she let it add a new layer to her desire. She let herself be wanton for him, let him be the one in absolute control of her body. Luce gave herself over to him and whatever was going to happen between them fully. She wanted to be taken by this man.
His finger had long since slipped fully inside of her, as slick as she was, and his thumb was rubbing slow circles over her swollen nub. There was a spiraling sweetness growing inside of her and she knew that she wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. "Jonathan, I'm going to come...I want it to happen with you inside of me."
But she had given him control, and he didn't want to listen. He leaned forward to kiss her while redoubling the frantic pace of his fingers. The leash broke and Luce moaned repeatedly into his mouth, shuddering as the pleasure broke over her. When the shaking had subsided, he pulled back to look at her. "You are a gift."
Luce gave a low chuckle, still shaky. "You know, you're not so bad yourself."
He rolled off her and onto his side, pulling her over so that they were face to face. Luce appreciated the moment of rest, she needed just a little bit of time before her legs would start working again. While they were waiting, she figured that she might as well return the favor. She began running her nails lightly over the firm muscles of his stomach, drawing goosebumps up all over his skin. She planted tiny little kisses over his neck and chest, distracting him as her hand sought him out. He was hard when she found him, obviously turned on by the show that she had just given him. His skin was soft like velvet and hot to the touch with all the blood warming it. Luce was a little surprised to find him uncircumcised, she had never been with a man who wasn't, but she didn't mind it.
Now it was his turn to thrust his hips forward into her hand and Luce reveled in the feeling of power. He gave a soft moan and it made her throb with desire. She wanted this man, and sooner rather than later. Luce scooted in closer, throwing her leg over his hip. She rubbed the tip of him against her opening, lubricating him with her wetness, but the angle wasn't right for her to guide him in. He took control of her, taking himself in hand and slowly beginning to work his way into her. He stared into her eyes as he filled her, and their ragged breathing mingled in front of flushed faces. A feeling came over her, and while it was far too early for it to be love, it was still something powerful. Maybe it stemmed from their purpose here, it was a heady thing to try and create a life with someone.
"Jonathan."
"Oh, Luce. Oh yes, my Luce."
And then he was seated within her fully. Her whole body trembled around him and she felt as if she might have another orgasm right then, but it was hard to find a good rhythm positioned as they were. Jonathan rolled them over so that he was on top of her again and it was then that their bodies began to meet one another's without pause. Luce had never given herself over with more abandon than she did to him. She met each thrust with a strong tilt of her hips so that he came to the end of her at each one. It was as if they were trying to fuse themselves into one being.
Their hands and arms roamed everywhere and freely. Kisses were breathless and brief meetings of the lips. She was losing track of things, of trying to please him or the right way to move her body. She was losing herself in him, and the slapping of flesh and th
e soft whispers of her name. When orgasm washed over her again it seemed to involve her entire body, never had it been so intense. She dug her nails into his shoulders and cried out raggedly, repeating his name repeatedly without a care for who might be listening. It was so overwhelming that she was almost sure that she couldn't take anymore, but he was still thrusting into her shattered, boneless frame.
Desperately he brought her legs up so that he was kneeling between them, curling his body over hers. He grabbed her hips and guided them in time with his. Jonathan's breath was hot on her neck and growing more and more irregular. Finally, with a guttural grunt, he thrust into her hard a few last times, spilling his hot seed into her willing body. The feeling of him inside of her, liquid and warm, hopefully giving her a child, brought her to climax one last time. He forced his spent frame to move within her a few last times so that she could finish and then he collapsed on top of her.
For a while, all that they could do was regain their breath and let the sweat cool on their skin. That was...that had been...Luce felt like they deserved a round of applause. "Wow."
Jonathan chuckled and rolled off her. "Do you know how long I've been wanting that?"
"What? Sex with me or just sex in general?"
"Well, I have been good for a very long time."
"Even with Marianne?"
"Bah, Marianne. She was only my favorite because I could trust myself around her. I knew that I could never love her, she is too self-involved."
Ouch. Luce didn't want to imagine Marianne's reaction to that statement. Or maybe she did. It was going to be awfully fun returning and rubbing her outing with Jonathan in her face, immature though the idea was. And if Luce did become pregnant, she thought that Marianne might literally implode with jealousy. It wasn't a nice way to think, but that girl hadn't been very nice to her.