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The Author's POV
"What are you saying?"
"Let's try something tomorrow Grandmother. I want to prove it to you. "
"What is it ?"
"I will inform the Emperor that you two are sick" she narrated. "I mean you and Queen Ariadne, we will see who he will invite first."
"There is no need argue that. You know that Sargon will come to me first" Grandmother started bragging. "If there is anyone Sargon loves in this world than me then it's his unborn child."
They laughed at her joke. It's means she was the only one he will loves. Queen Valeria was enjoying this , she was going to kill two birds with one stone. If the Emperor goes to his grandma tomorrow then she will tell Ariadne that he doesn't care about her like he said.
**
The emperor was surprised with the way I was acting this evening. But he did not stop me from unbuttoning my dress, rather he took a step further. I thought of going out of the room but Queen Valeria words held me back, "it will be better if we finish this today" I said to my self.
"Why are you doing this queen Ariadne?" He asked, his eyes were on my chest. Was he actually staring at my breasts?
"What I am doing is not wrong at all your highness" I said, losing the robe that was tied to my waist. Why was he acting like I was forcing him to do this now.
"Come let's sit and talk" he held my hand leading to the bed. I sat down quietly after him.
"Why do you want to lay with me now? I didn't say I love you. Why the offer now?" The Emperor reminded me of our discussion.
"If Grandmother finds out the truth. She is going to punish me, do you know that?" I asked him. He face dropped. It seemed he also forgot about that.
"I didn't remember that. I am sorry Queen Ariadne, nothing will go wrong."
"Queen Valeria is her favorite not me. I don't want to do anything that will upset Grandmother" I said, blinking my eyes for sometime. The tears in my eyes fought really hard before they came out.
"Do not cry my queen. You don't have to do this, if Grandmother asked we will tell her that you lay with me today" the Emperor said. Wait.. did he want to me to lie to his grandmother. Maybe I wanted to lay with him because I was not happy with what he said.
"What if she later finds out that we lie to her?" I asked.
"Do not worry yourself about that" he said, holding my right hand. "Unless you really want me to touch you today."
"You are my husband, it doesn't matter" I said politely. This was the new me! Why was I been so naïve this evening?
"I see. Then your wish is my command Queen Ariadne" the emperor gave me a naughty smile. He was happy that I was going my self to him. This was the day he was desperately waiting for.
He kissed my hand slowly. His soft lips tickled my neck as he went up. I wanted to tell the Emperor to stop but I guessed its was too late, we were already there. The zip of my dress moved down and I knew it was time for me to be submissive.
"How do you want it?" He whisper. The question was right yet it's sounded stupid. I was not experienced so I let out the words that came to my mind.
"Slow and pain free" I said, moving away from him. The Emperor noticed that I was scared of him already. He stood up from the bed and faced the wall.
"I haven't started yet and you are trembling queen Ariadne. If you want to change your mind please do. There is still time for that."
Maybe I should do as he said. There was still time to rectify this mistake I was about making.
"Do you love me your highness?" I asked. He was still facing the wall. His clothes were still on while I was half naked.
"I told you from the beginning that I don't have a heart to love, Queen Ariadne. I do not love you" the Emperor told. His words broke my heart. I have fallen for the wrong man. Why was my fate tied with him?
"That means I am just one of your numerous concubines" I said.
I was going to provoke him with my words but I didn't care.
"Don't say that my Queen" he turned his back and came to me. "You are different from all the women in my harem."
"How am I special or any different from them? You don't love any of us. We are just the instruments that you used for pleasure" I said. I knew that my words were going to land me in to trouble. He was the Emperor, and not just some random husband, he had the right to put me in the dungeon again.
I waited for a slap to hit my face. But its never came. The Emperor laughed instead. Wait ... Was he pretending or what? I never said anything that sounded funny here.
"Have you fallen for me Queen Ariadne?" He asked with a smile. His thin lips curved as he smiled. My heart suddenly jumped when he brought his face closed to mine.
"That's where the problem is. I love you and you don't love me! Love doesn't work that way your highness."
"I am forbidden to love Queen Ariadne but I swear to the creator that I care about you more than any one in this world" he sat closed and hugged me tightly. I felt the warmness that came from my body. The urge to kiss him made me restless.
I sighed. "More than Grandmother?" I asked.
"You are two different people in my life. She occupied a different position so do you."
"I understand your highness."
May be I didn't understand any thing that was going on this palace.
"I care about you the most in my harem. Believe me or not" He said, cuddling me. Anne told me that when ever men were in bed with their wives, they say all sort of sweet words that came to their mind. Now, I believed her.
"Promise me, you won't marry another woman again" I said.
"I won't my queen. I will try and keep to my promise though it can happen" he gave a smile. His eyes were closed and my lips stretched in an involuntary smile as he massaged my breast. The fire within me came to reality. I could feel sweat coming out of my body. A cold shiver went down my spine when the Emperor touched my laps.
"Allow me to remove your dress my lady" he said, in a quiet tone. I never knew he could be this gentle. He took off my dress. His eyes widened when it's met with my breasts. I shut my eyes to avoid further embarrassment. "I will off the lights, so that you can be comfortable" he said, coming down for the bed.
"That will be much better" I thought. The lights went off except for a candle, which was closer to the bed. He removed his shirt and walked to the bed. This man was indeed a fine man. His wrestler's chest cling to mine making my pulse to steadied .
"Is this your first?" The Emperor asked. His eyes darkened and I saw the heat there and who knew what else!
I didn't answer. When I wanted to say something, he set his index finger over my lips "do not fear, I will try my best to be gentle today."
I looked at him surprised. Almost without knowing what he was doing. He took my face in his hands and kissed me.
His hands went down my stomach to my legs and it's rested in between. "You looked more beautiful when you are naked, my queen."
Though I was listening my mind traveled far to the discussion I had with the other women and Anne. They said, their first experience with a man was painful. Queen Vida also told me that sex with the Emperor was more painful. I held the sheet tightly when I felt his wet groin rubbing on my mons.
He was slow, rhythmic, gentle , moving down my body , down …And I was nothing but my body. There was a sharp brief pain and then a sweet spasm went through me.
No more pain.
Just the sweetness. Then and then he kept panting. I thought we were done but the Emperor did not stop. Everything was changing all of a sudden, his grips became tight on the bed. His lips were no longer the pleasure I seek.
"You are hurting your highness" I told him. He didn't stop like I expected rather he drove faster and harder into me. This was no longer pleasure but torture. He kept on going as my voice died in his panting.
I looked in to his eyes and the image I saw the other day was there. His eyes were red and he didn't looked like a human.
I used all the energy with in me and I tried to stop him.. The Emperor was stronger than me, but lying down without doing nothing made me more angry. I fought with all I could and he remained still enjoying what ever he was doing …