“Oh. Okay. Very good,” he replied, swaying slightly. “Carry on.”
The two women walked away and he could hear them giggling. Wondering if it had something to do with Mariselle, and hoping that they were treating her with respect, he decided to check on her.
When Griffin arrived at Mariselle’s chamber, he raised his hand to knock and that’s when he though he heard her whimpering inside. Concerned that she was upset about something, and would try to deny it, he quietly opened the door and stepped inside. That’s when he saw her lying naked in the tub, her eyes closed and her face flushed. Realizing that she was pleasuring herself, he stared, transfixed as her fleshy, breasts bobbed in the water with each movement.
“Griffin,” she moaned, biting her lower lip.
His cock lurched in response and his blood roared hot.
Her hand moved faster. “Yes…. I’m… oh… God…”
He watched as she came and something snapped inside of him. He was hungry for her in ways he couldn’t even describe. He wanted to possess and claim every part of her but knew that going to her was wrong. He wasn’t supposed to be there.
With all of the strength he could muster, Griffin quietly slipped out of her chamber and went to his own. Blind with lust, he pulled his throbbing cock out, spit into his palm, and imagined he was in her chamber, pulling her out of the bath, and throwing her onto the bed. As his hand moved, his mind raced with images of her slippery, wet body under his. Grunting, he thought about his mouth on her breasts and what it would be like to take that tight, virgin pussy and make it his. Within seconds he was gasping and spilling his hot seed into the palm of his hand, wishing that things were different and he wasn’t married to the shrew from Baristara.
31
MARISELLE HEARD WHAT sounded like the door closing. She gasped in horror.
Mortified that someone had walked in on her, she quickly finished up her bath, dried herself, and dressed in one of the new tunics Griffin had purchased. Grabbing a comb, she ran it through her wet hair, thoroughly embarrassed that someone had caught her in the act of touching herself. She guessed it to be one of the attendants and didn’t know how she would be able to look either of them in the face.
Finishing up with her hair, she sat down on the bed just as someone knocked on the door, startling her. Feeling her cheeks heat up again, she cleared her throat. “Yes?”
“It’s just us,” June said, peeking her head in. “Oh, darn. You’re already dressed.”
“Yes,” she replied nervously.
“We have a surprise for you,” June said, her voice filled with excitement.
Curious, Mariselle stood up. “Really?”
“Yes, you’re going to love it,” the woman replied. “Bring it in, Shawna.”
The younger woman stepped inside, holding a gown. “King Aiden sent this over. Isn’t it beautiful?”
Mariselle’s eyes widened as she brought the dress closer. It was dark green and made of velvet and silk. Turning it around, she noticed that it laced up the back. “It’s gorgeous,” she replied breathlessly, touching the elegant, soft material.
June’s eyes twinkled. “You’re to wear it for supper. Now, get undressed and we’ll help you put the gown on.”
“We’ll braid your hair, too,” Shawna tilting her head and staring at it. “You have gorgeous curls, Milady. I’m sure you hear it all the time.”
“No, but thank you and… call me Mariselle. Please,” she said.
“Yes, Milady. I mean…” She giggled. “Mariselle.”
AN HOUR LATER, she felt beautiful in the curve-hugging, gorgeous gown. The two attendants had also fussed with her hair, braiding it into one long rope that went over her shoulder. They’d also added colorful green and white ribbons through the strands.
“You look like royalty,” Shawna said, tucking in a loose ribbon.
“Like a true queen,” added June.
She smiled demurely. “You’re both much too kind.”
“Goodness,” June said, her eyes widening. “It’s about that time. I believe King Aiden mentioned something about collecting you for dinner himself. He should be arriving any minute.”
As soon as she said the words, there was a sharp rap at the door.
“Speak of the devil,” Shawna said, winking.
“Yes, you’d better watch out for that one,” June whispered. “He has a voracious appetite and I’m not just talking about food.”
Mariselle smiled. “Thanks for the warning,” she said softly before calling out, “Come in”.
King Aiden entered the chamber and his eyes lit up when he saw her. “My goodness, Mariselle. I didn’t think you could look more beautiful, but I was terribly mistaken. You look … ravishing.”
She lowered her lashes and thanked him. “You look very fetching yourself, Your Majesty,” she replied, seeing that he was now wearing a fur-trimmed burgundy robe with a dark blue tunic underneath. His beard had also been cleaned up and his hair combed neatly.
He held out his arm. “Thank you, Milady. I aim to please.”
“So, I’ve heard,” she said, smiling mischievously as he led her out of the chamber.
Looking down at her, his green eyes twinkled. “You’ve heard? What exactly have you heard, Beautiful?”
“That you’re one to watch out for. A bit of a scoundrel, when it comes to the ladies.”
“For once I must admit, the rumors are correct. Your virtue is safe with me, however,” he replied, leading her once again down the corridor. “Although, I have to admit, seeing you in that dress makes it hard to be a gentleman.”
His words puzzled her. “Did you speak to Griffin as to why I’m here?”
“As a matter of fact, I did. We’re still trying to work out the… details,” he replied. “You see, he’s married and I’m… a bit of scoundrel, just like you said. I wouldn’t want to break your heart. Truthfully,” his face grew serious, “I don’t think I could live with myself.”
“I see,” she replied, looking away. “I honestly wouldn’t want to break your heart either. And I’m afraid that I might.”
He laughed. “Really? Does your heart already belong to another?”
“It might. I’m still trying to decide if it’s love or simply just… pure lust,” she replied, smiling at him sideways.
His eyebrows shot up. “Lust?”
She nodded.
“And what do you know of that?” he mused.
“That it can keep you awake at night. Especially when you need and want something you can’t have.”
LISTENING TO MARISELLE talk about lust was strangely exciting. He’d always thought of her as young and innocent. But now, he felt like he was seeing her for the first time.
“Hmm,” he said, looking ahead as they walked. “I must admit, I don’t have that problem. I usually get what I want, when I want it.”
She looked up at him. “So, there are no challenges for you?”
“No, I guess not.”
“That must get kind of boring. Maybe you should set your standards higher?”
He threw his head back and laughed heartily.
She raised her eyebrow. “Why is that so funny?”
“Because, for someone so young, you have a lot of wisdom, Mariselle. In fact, just the other night,” he lowered his voice, “I hate to admit this because it makes me sound like a pig, but I had four beauties in my bed.”
“Four? Is that all?” she replied dryly.
“Yes and I actually found myself yawning after a while.” He smirked. “Maybe that’s the problem… four wasn’t enough.”
“Maybe you should focus on quality and not quantity.”
“They were all very comely,” he said, looking at her again. It was then that he realized that if he was being honest with himself, the four he’d been sharing his bed with lately couldn’t really hold a candle to Mariselle.
“What is it?” she asked, noticing that he’d gone quiet.
“Nothing,” he replied, patting her hand. “You’ve just given me some things to think about.”
She smiled. “Upstairs or downstairs?”
He laughed again. “Where do you get these things?”
“You bring out the joker in me I guess,” she replied.
Aiden found her words were ironic, since she was beginning to bring things out in him as well. He adjusted himself nonchalantly and asked if she was hungry.