“It’s before the time Anauka calls for a monarch to be crowned. How will the Royal Faction react?”
“We’ll vote on it. I know my decision will be favored,” he assures me. “The Royal Faction is eager for you to choose one of their sons as King.”
“But I—”
“Worry about that later, my sweet. Your successful coronation is the first priority.”
Turning to Tether, he addresses him with experienced authority.
“Prepare invitations to the neighboring Monarchs, Anaukin Royal houses, and prepare the notification to the Anaukin journal. Have them ready to be sent the moment I give you the word. Prepare a meeting with the Royal Faction at lunch today. Notify Queen Melinda of the invitation to Belore’s coronation and have her brought to my sitting room.”
Facing me, his tone changes.
“My sweet.” He takes my hand in both of his, cupping it protectively. “Spend time with your suitors today. Enjoy the day. Let me handle everything from here.”
Appetite lost, my eyes stare back at him, no doubt revealing the whirlpool of emotions I’m feeling.
“It’s too fast, Father. The decisions I need to make, I’m not ready.”
“You are ready, Fiora. You were born to rule.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
—
FIORA
Standing atop a pedestal, I keep as still as I can as the seamstress measures and pins my soon-to-be coronation gown. Fabric billowing past my feet, the train extends a foot behind me. I expected the dress to be heavy and awkward, but thankfully, it’s not. The cream fabric is thin, light, and decorated with elegant lace.
To my right, Demerick watches with amused interest as the seamstress tugs at the fabric on my chest. My breast nearly pops out, and he lowers his head to avoid staring. A frown pulls my lips down as I think of Matheas. I haven’t seen him in days. My mother has done everything in her power to occupy him with tasks, deliberately keeping him from me. I know what she’s doing. She hopes his absence will direct my feelings toward one of the suitors. I admit, I have grown fond of the men, but not seeing Matheas has only increased my longing for him.
“Nearly finished, Princess.” The kind seamstress, with her large, bold cerulean eyes, pixy blond haircut, and beautifully aged face, places another pin. “I just want to ensure this dress looks flawless on you.”
“Thank you, Karina. I appreciate your attention to detail.”
“Of course, Princess.”
Another pin and she steps back to look me over.
“We’re finished. I’ll help you out of the gown, then begin sewing. Tomorrow, we’ll need to do another fitting.”
“I’ll arrange it,” I assure her.
“Excellent. Let’s get you out of it.”
Karina stands on the stool, untying the corset back. The gown drops below my chest, and Demerick’s gaze lingers over my breasts. Desire filling his eyes, he watches as Karina carefully lowers the dress. The door to my room slides open, and Matheas enters, taking in the scene. Gaze fixed on Demerick, he scowls.
“You’re dismissed.”
Demerick clears his throat, his stance becoming stiff. “Do I need an updated report?”
“Meet with Pollo, he’ll give you a report.”
Demerick nods to Matheas, giving me a fleeting glance on his way out. Matheas looks up at me, his gaze becoming warm and affectionate. Butterflies flutter throughout my stomach, and my mouth forms a welcoming smile. Walking to my closet, he enters, returning with my red robe. As soon as I step out of the coronation gown, I slide into the arms of the soft fabric he has open and waiting for me.
Karina gathers the gown and her supplies, mumbling to herself about needed adjustments before leaving. The moment the door closes behind her, Matheas brings the digital screen up on his soul band and locks the door. Screen disappearing, he wraps his arms around me, one hand on my ass and the other firmly at my neck, both pulling me tight against him. Arousal ignites at my core, rushing pleasure through my body. Nipples tingling, I lose myself to the feel of his lips claiming mine. We stay locked in this moment, hands aggressively roaming each other, desperate for the contact we’ve yearned for. Touching over his hardening erection, he moans into my mouth.
“I’ve craved the taste of you on my lips for days.”
“Let’s not waste the time we have together. Lay with me. I need you,” I breathe over his mouth, my lips swollen and tingly from his kiss.
Gripping my thighs, he lifts me, wrapping my legs around his waist, putting my center against his erection. Arms around his neck, I’m carried to my bed. He sets me down, lifting his uniform shirt off, revealing his sculpted chest.
“You know I haven’t intentionally stayed away from you, don’t you?” His expressive eyes display a hint of worry mixed with his carnal gaze.
“I do. It’s my mother’s doing.” Removing the robe from my shoulders, I let the fabric fall.
Matheas lies on the mattress next to me, caressing up my bare back, giving me pleasure with his touch.
“Straddle me, Fi. I’m showing you something new.”
Robe behind me, I lift my leg over his waist. Hands firm on my ass and thighs, he pulls me forward, placing my center over his face. Instinctively, I brace my palms on the mattress holding myself up as his mouth covers my clit. Sucking feverishly, he pauses to blow, nip, then suck again. My eyes pinch shut as my only focus becomes the pleasure he’s giving me.
Massaging between my ass cheeks, his fingers go in slow, circular movements, adding to the sensations my body is experiencing. Sliding a finger into my hole, he moves in and out, pleasuring me and stretching me as his mouth works me into a frenzy.
Satisfied cries spew from my lips, my orgasm on the edge, teasing me with my desperate need to release. Rocking over his face, I tremble, lost in euphoria as my orgasm overwhelms me.
Setting me back on his waist, he wipes his mouth, his expression one of satisfaction.
“Do you still have the cream I got you?”
“I do,” I grin. “It’s in the drawer.” I point to my nightstand.
Flipping me over with ease, I lie on my back as he opens the drawer and finds the tube. Collecting some of it, he reaches between my legs, spreading the cool ointment onto my backside. Lips covering mine, he massages my tight opening, increasing my arousal for him once more. Unfastening his pants, I free his erection, stroking it in my hand. Sliding down the bed, I pull away from his massaging to take his hard cock in my mouth. Sucking hard, he groans above me.
“Fi…” his voice sounds strained.
Cupping my chin gently, he pulls out and removes his boots and pants.
“Turn over for me,” he tells me as he climbs back on the mattress.
I do, putting my ass in the air and my arms on the mattress in front of me. Strong hands massage my ass cheeks. Spreading them, I feel his head apply pressure. With an easy thrust, he slides into my tight opening. Gripping my hips, he pushes farther in, then pulls back to slide into me again. A moan escapes both of us as our bodies take in the pleasure of coming together.
With each thrust, my body experiences an overwhelming sensation of fullness. Fisting the blanket beneath me, I bite my lip as his pace quickens, the pleasure astounding me. The sound of his thrusts against my ass echo with our moans of satisfaction. Reaching around my hip, his fingers massage my clit, tipping me over the edge. Soon another cry escapes me as my orgasm erupts from my body. Several more thrusts and I feel him thicken. A low groan sounds behind me as he reaches his own orgasm.
Carefully pulling out, he lays us on our sides, covering us with the blanket. Arm around me, he pulls me tight against him. With his free hand, he takes mine in his, raising it to his lips, giving tender kisses to my fingertips.
“I love you. For me, there is no life without you.”
His words and the pleasure he’s given my body have me dizzy with love and affection. Looking up at his beautiful, cerulean blues, I kiss him long and passionately.
“I love you like the day loves the sun. One cannot be without the other.”
Kissing me back, he pulls me a little tighter to him.
“I’ll have dinner brought to your room. I’m not letting you out of my arms.”
Nestled against his warm and protective body, I don’t want to leave any more than he does.
“That’s perfect. Tonight, all I want is you.”
“I’m all yours, Princess.”
***
Eyes fluttering open, I look over at Matheas asleep and sexy lying in my bed, one arm above his head, the other around me. His eyes slowly open when I move. Bringing me against him, he kisses my forehead.
“It feels good to be waking up with you again.”
Matheas’s soul band vibrates. The screen comes up with a call from my mother, and my lip curls in irritation.
“Don’t answer that. You’re done being her drudge. You work for my father and me, not her.”
I click the dismiss button on his screen, and he lowers his arm.
“She’s had me planning all the security for your coronation. The work has been important.”
“I believe it has been, but she can wait. I still want you to myself.”
“I’m not going to argue. There’s only one place I want to be.”
Lifting the blanket, he slides beneath it, positioning himself between my legs. Pressing his erection against my center, he watches the pleasure cross my face.
“Not much longer and I’ll be able to show you my love every way I want to.”
“That’s something I crave.”
Pulling back, he takes a moment, looking pained, I’m sure reminding himself to be careful. Reaching down, I take the length of him in my hand and his expression changes, becoming a mixture of relaxed and aroused. Grabbing a pillow, he raises my hips, placing it under me. Taking his own length he rubs it up and down my center, becoming slick with my arousal. Pressing his head to my backside, he holds my legs as he gently pushes in.
“I’m not too much, am I?”
“Every time you enter me, it feels better than the last.”
With a wolfish grin, he thrusts forward. My body clenches around him, accepting him greedily. In and out, he pleasures me. The lack of numbing cream gives me a new sensation, slightly painful, but nothing compared to the pleasure. Lowering, he sucks my nipple into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue as his thrusts go deeper. My body shudders, the sensation rushing through me overpowering my senses. Our moans are a duet between our heated kisses. With his lips, he burns a trail of love across my skin.
“You’ll always be mine, always,” he whispers before sucking my lobe into his mouth.
Placing his thumb on my clit, he works it in circles, enhancing my mounting orgasm.
“Don’t stop,” I beg.
Harder he thrusts, his thumb playing my nub with skill. Crashing, I fall into ecstasy, my moan loud and satisfied. Covering my mouth with his, he follows me into that ecstasy, his own moan filling my mouth.
A knock pounds at my door, and his movements stop abruptly, drawing a whimper from my lips.
“This better be important,” he groans, irritated, pulling out.
I yearn for him to return.
“Put on your robe,” he motions to it lying on the floor.
Quickly, he dresses, the pounding growing louder and more impatient. He reaches the door before me. My mother, in a red day dress with two familiar arms men, head to toe in the soldier’s garb, rush past my threshold.
“Detain him!” she orders.
Pollo and Nathanial look at Matheas hesitantly. Matheas places his hand at his hidden blade, his other arm protectively holding me at his back.
“Mother! What are you doing?”
“I heard the two of you!” Her narrowed eyes focus in on him sharply. “You couldn’t wait a few more days?” she screams. “Detain him, now!” she barks. “He’s taken the Princess’s purity.”
I move in front of him, putting up my arms. “You will not touch him! My purity is intact. The purity scan will prove it. Pollo, Nathaniel, wait outside my room, please.”
Relieved to be away from this situation, their feet move swiftly across the floor. The door slides shut behind them, and my mother steps forward, her eyes narrowed slits.
“Are you telling the truth? Will the scan prove your purity is intact?”
“Yes! Calm down. What you heard isn’t what you thought.”
She takes a breath, her hurricane of emotions settling.
“Did anything I say make a difference, or did you rush back into his arms the moment he came back to you?”
“Mother, I love him.”
My head whips to the side as the sting of her palm slaps my cheek. Matheas grips her wrist, his anger-filled eyes fixed on her.
“Queen Melinda, touch her like that again, and I’ll report it to King Gregory. I understand your emotions with everything that is going on, but it’s no reason to strike her.”
“You’re part of the problem.” Yanking her wrist from his grip, she scowls at him. “Don’t you see that? The more time she spends with you, the more danger you put her in. She needs to choose a suitor as her King. If she doesn’t, the Royal Houses will turn against her. You won’t be able to protect her then. If you truly love her, you need to let her fulfill her destiny as the ruler of Anauka.”
“She doesn’t need a King to rule.” Matheas squares his shoulders, his heated gaze matching her seething one. “Fiora can run our territory on her own, and she’ll always have me at her side.”
“You’re both being careless, letting your hearts lead you. It only takes one wrong person to discover what is going on between the two of you, and she won’t make it to her coronation. If the Royal Houses were to discover you're intimate with her, they’ll still consider her tainted. Their sons won’t want her. They’ll say she’s sullied, unworthy of them, and unworthy of being trusted to be Queen.”
“There isn’t anything for them to discover. My private chambers are exactly that, private. As long as you’re not screaming to the palace that Matheas has defiled me. That is what is careless. I understand how much you love me and care about my future, and I understand that’s why you’re angry and scared, but I’m no longer scared. Matheas is the man I want. If I have to, I won’t choose any man to marry until Anauka believes me to be the ruler they anticipate. Once I fulfill their expectations, I’ll marry who I see fit.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Fiora. The Royal Houses won’t accept your decision not to marry one of their sons. They’ll call you eccentric and weak. Accuse you of being an unstable ruler. They’ll plant a seed of doubt in the Anaukin people. They’ll watch you closely and find reasons to nurture that seed. Then at the right moment, they’ll strike. They’ll use the fear and doubt of your people to dethrone you.” Taking my hand, her eyes plead with me. “I don’t hate that you love him. I hate how that love could threaten your life and your future.”
Wiping a tear from her eye, she turns to leave. Stopping, she speaks with her back to us.
“I’ll give an explanation to the arms men. After I walk out this door, I’m done trying to save you. Your decisions are yours to live with.”
The door slides and shuts behind her. Matheas takes me into his arms as tears escape my eyes.
“She’s right.” His hand soothes me, caressing over my hair and back. “I’m being selfish and careless with my love for you.” His pain seeps through his voice. “I’ll have Demerick guard you for the remaining days until your coronation.”
Holding my head against his chest, he kisses my forehead, his lips lingering. Reluctantly letting go of me, he walks to the door.
“Matheas, don’t go,” I beg, tears cascading down my cheeks. “I need you.”
Standing still, he briefly glances at me sideways, his voice filled with anguish. “I know. I’ve failed you. My first duty was to protect you, to train you to never need anyone. Now I’m risking your safety to satisfy our n
eeds. I won’t jeopardize your reign. I love you, Fiora, so much so, I know what I’m doing is right. It’s the only way to keep you safe and to fulfill my duty.”
When the door slides shut behind him, my heart shatters. Falling into my chair, I sob into my hands. I cry for too long before collecting myself and drawing a bath. Afterward, I dress in my usual riding gear, styling my hair in a simple over the shoulder braid. Headed to my usual pre-ride purity scan, I leave my room to find Demerick posted outside my door.
“Princess,” he nods politely, noticing my puffy, red eyes.
“I’m going riding. Please invite Kellan to ride with me this morning.”
“Of course. I’m here for anything else you need, day or night.”
“Thank you.”
Coming from the palace kitchen, I find Kellan already at the stables, a stableman preparing the horse of his choice, Profit—sweet disposition with fine dark brown hair, his build muscular, his body made for short, quick speed over agility. A smile tugs at my lips. I believe the rider often chooses a horse that is a match to their own personality and body type. Artax is chocolate brown, darker depending on the light. His body is muscular, and he’s gifted with speed and endurance. Like me, he’s curious, adventurous, and likes to be free to run and roam.
Kellan climbs atop Profit, waving to me as I approach. My stableman leads Artax next to Profit. I attach the satchel in my arms to the saddle, and with a thank you to my stableman, I take his reins and climb atop. Leaving the stables, I glance back to see Demerick and Sederick both riding a distance behind us. Leading them to Willow Winds, I let the cool breeze and the music of songbirds settle my emotions.
“Thank you for inviting me out. I needed it.”
“I did too.”
“You seem somber,” he observes, his voice gentle. “Want to talk to me about whatever is troubling you?”
“I do. Honestly, you’re the only friend I have to talk to. Matheas had always been my best friend and confidant, I never needed to confide in anyone else. Now, things are different. He wants to protect me, and in doing that, he feels it’s best to keep his distance from me. He doesn’t want the Royal Houses to suspect us of intimacy.”
Claimed Royalty: (Crowned and Claimed Series, Book 1) Page 15