It wasn’t her amusement with him so much as the little movements of her ears that drew the smile out of him. They twitched and moved or pinned down with each change in her mood and the timbre of their conversation. How curious. He wouldn’t dare admit to her that he found them rather attractive. He was left wondering how soft they were, what they’d feel like between his fingertips or against his mouth.
His smile curved into a smirk when she offered to take him to the market. “I should enjoy the occasion to observe the variety of women Veridian has to offer me.” He folded his hands behind his back as they continued to walk. “And fruit, of course.” He added in afterthought.
He would have offered her a handkerchief for the syrup that dribbled onto her hands from the fruit, but she was content to lick her own fingers. Such behavior of a woman would normally be considered rather crude and at the very least highly impolite and out of the realm of acceptable public displays. Especially for a noble woman. And much less a monarch. Owen stared at the display. In awe of her lack of shame before him. It felt like an intimate thing to watch slim fingers dip one by one between supple lips. He was gripped by a sudden fantasy to have his own fingers in her mouth. Though he wouldn't have been as gentle about it.
Had he been a bashful man the action and flight of thought it provoked would have made him blush. Quite the opposite though, something between his legs twitched privately in tight leathers in response. Apparently he was becoming aroused. He picked up his pace somewhat and luckily she was content to lag behind him a little while he gathered himself.
“Perhaps I will take you to the encampment of my battle maidens so you can see the variety.” He playfully tossed back to her the very words she’d offered to him.
He wasn’t aware that she didn’t know about what he considered to be the infamous battle maidens. An all women battalion recruited exclusively from temples to the Eskran war goddess, Desdemona. Though the Eskran women, on average, were smaller than Eskran men, his battle maidens were almost universally feared for their ruthlessness and skill on the battlefield. A rumor had started among the men in the Emperor’s army that he had assembled the battle maidens for bed stock. A ready supply of beautiful women to bed after battle. Though the emperor had certainly enjoyed several of his battle maidens and that was no secret, they’d long since earned their respect as more than just pretty accessories to the rest of the army comprised solely of men.
He’d gathered himself enough to half turn towards her and offered her his elbow to be escorted. Now that they had established a more at-ease rapport with one another he found it expedient to begin his courtship of her. Perhaps it was his recent arousal that had finalized his decision to court the queen - whether she was available or not.
It didn’t bother him.
Conquerors never worried about taking things that didn't belong to them.
They delighted in it.
“So, this Harvest Faire…” He began eyeing her somewhat mischievously. “Will you accept me as your humble escort, Your Grace?” He bowed his head in humility that didn’t suit him. Blonde locks of hair fell forward over his forehead before he righted himself. When his face was revealed to her again, his eyebrow was arched in a playful manner. “Or would that violate the treaty with Delanveaux and the delicate sensibilities of your tardy prince?”
Maeve was so very obviously uncomfortable with the deadly feline lounging on the bed. Holland for all his brains and know-how didn’t need to think hard to know this. She had retreated and begun pacing nervously. He closed the door on the tiger and turned back to the handmaiden.
Holland reached for Maeve’s arm to stop her pacing. He let his hand run soothingly along her shoulder. His fingertips trailed down her bicep, forearm, to her fingers and he coaxed her hand into his. Pressing her hand, he fixed his face into a pleading yet comforting sort of expression. Eye brows pinned together in concern, eyes serious with emotion.
“Lady Maeve, I beg your pardon. I did not mean to frighten you with the animal.” He started bringing her fingers to his lips. He pressed a series of apology kisses against her knuckles. Just the slightest brushing of his lips over her skin. “I beg your leniency. Just this one exception. She’s quite a safe animal and the Emperor loves her so.”
Nevermind that he’d violated any space he had to ask for leniency by forging an invitation and marching an army of men to the Veridian Queen’s castle.
“What can I do to put you at ease?” Holland released her hand as he made the inquiry.
Lady Maeve was proving a rather obstinate obstacle to his plans for the Emperor in Veridian. Fighting him and asking probing questions at every turn. He’d settled on charming her, romantically that is, to gain her trust. He had certainly done it with much success before. He could do it again.
His smile curved into a smirk when she offered to take him to the market. “I should enjoy the occasion to observe the variety of women Veridian has to offer me.” He folded his hands behind his back as they continued to walk. “And fruit, of course.” He added in afterthought.
He would have offered her a handkerchief for the syrup that dribbled onto her hands from the fruit, but she was content to lick her own fingers. Such behavior of a woman would normally be considered rather crude and at the very least highly impolite and out of the realm of acceptable public displays. Especially for a noble woman. And much less a monarch. Owen stared at the display. In awe of her lack of shame before him. It felt like an intimate thing to watch slim fingers dip one by one between supple lips. He was gripped by a sudden fantasy to have his own fingers in her mouth. Though he wouldn't have been as gentle about it.
Had he been a bashful man the action and flight of thought it provoked would have made him blush. Quite the opposite though, something between his legs twitched privately in tight leathers in response. Apparently he was becoming aroused. He picked up his pace somewhat and luckily she was content to lag behind him a little while he gathered himself.
“Perhaps I will take you to the encampment of my battle maidens so you can see the variety.” He playfully tossed back to her the very words she’d offered to him.
He wasn’t aware that she didn’t know about what he considered to be the infamous battle maidens. An all women battalion recruited exclusively from temples to the Eskran war goddess, Desdemona. Though the Eskran women, on average, were smaller than Eskran men, his battle maidens were almost universally feared for their ruthlessness and skill on the battlefield. A rumor had started among the men in the Emperor’s army that he had assembled the battle maidens for bed stock. A ready supply of beautiful women to bed after battle. Though the emperor had certainly enjoyed several of his battle maidens and that was no secret, they’d long since earned their respect as more than just pretty accessories to the rest of the army comprised solely of men.
He’d gathered himself enough to half turn towards her and offered her his elbow to be escorted. Now that they had established a more at-ease rapport with one another he found it expedient to begin his courtship of her. Perhaps it was his recent arousal that had finalized his decision to court the queen - whether she was available or not.
It didn’t bother him.
Conquerors never worried about taking things that didn't belong to them.
They delighted in it.
“So, this Harvest Faire…” He began eyeing her somewhat mischievously. “Will you accept me as your humble escort, Your Grace?” He bowed his head in humility that didn’t suit him. Blonde locks of hair fell forward over his forehead before he righted himself. When his face was revealed to her again, his eyebrow was arched in a playful manner. “Or would that violate the treaty with Delanveaux and the delicate sensibilities of your tardy prince?”
____
Maeve was so very obviously uncomfortable with the deadly feline lounging on the bed. Holland for all his brains and know-how didn’t need to think hard to know this. She had retreated and begun pacing nervously. He closed the door on the tiger and turned back to the handmaiden.
Holland reached for Maeve’s arm to stop her pacing. He let his hand run soothingly along her shoulder. His fingertips trailed down her bicep, forearm, to her fingers and he coaxed her hand into his. Pressing her hand, he fixed his face into a pleading yet comforting sort of expression. Eye brows pinned together in concern, eyes serious with emotion.
“Lady Maeve, I beg your pardon. I did not mean to frighten you with the animal.” He started bringing her fingers to his lips. He pressed a series of apology kisses against her knuckles. Just the slightest brushing of his lips over her skin. “I beg your leniency. Just this one exception. She’s quite a safe animal and the Emperor loves her so.”
Nevermind that he’d violated any space he had to ask for leniency by forging an invitation and marching an army of men to the Veridian Queen’s castle.
“What can I do to put you at ease?” Holland released her hand as he made the inquiry.
Lady Maeve was proving a rather obstinate obstacle to his plans for the Emperor in Veridian. Fighting him and asking probing questions at every turn. He’d settled on charming her, romantically that is, to gain her trust. He had certainly done it with much success before. He could do it again.
Bitch, I'm limited edition.
The following 1 user Likes saronym's post: megs
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Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-16-2016, 02:18 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-18-2016, 04:25 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-23-2016, 08:42 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 06:58 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-24-2016, 03:04 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 04:01 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-24-2016, 05:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 05:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-26-2016, 01:17 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-26-2016, 03:15 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-27-2016, 02:41 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-27-2016, 04:15 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-27-2016, 07:49 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-27-2016, 08:40 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-28-2016, 08:29 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-28-2016, 08:51 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-01-2017, 05:23 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-02-2017, 11:48 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-05-2017, 10:16 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-07-2017, 02:21 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-11-2017, 03:46 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-12-2017, 11:36 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-16-2017, 09:41 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-17-2017, 11:16 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-17-2017, 10:39 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-18-2017, 10:06 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-19-2017, 09:08 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-20-2017, 02:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-14-2017, 09:10 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-18-2017, 11:30 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 04-12-2017, 08:40 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 05-01-2017, 05:59 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 05-07-2017, 01:59 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 05-07-2017, 09:28 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 05-10-2017, 11:49 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 05-15-2017, 06:25 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 05-30-2017, 08:25 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-12-2017, 08:55 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-20-2017, 07:46 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-22-2017, 09:00 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-22-2017, 10:37 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-24-2017, 05:36 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-24-2017, 07:29 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-25-2017, 09:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-25-2017, 09:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-25-2017, 10:18 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-26-2017, 10:29 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-26-2017, 08:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-27-2017, 11:32 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-30-2017, 06:01 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 07-17-2017, 07:45 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-07-2017, 07:37 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 09-10-2017, 11:21 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-14-2017, 11:42 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 10-17-2017, 04:18 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 11-02-2017, 06:36 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 11-29-2017, 02:14 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 11-30-2017, 04:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-03-2018, 09:47 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 10-14-2018, 04:46 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 11-13-2018, 01:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-24-2019, 10:57 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 08-26-2019, 12:19 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-26-2019, 03:55 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 08-27-2019, 01:28 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-27-2019, 02:34 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 09-04-2019, 05:21 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-05-2019, 04:40 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-17-2019, 01:33 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-17-2019, 05:29 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-28-2019, 08:44 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-12-2020, 07:10 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-14-2020, 07:14 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-29-2019, 02:17 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-14-2020, 06:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-17-2020, 02:35 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-17-2020, 05:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-31-2020, 06:36 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-06-2020, 06:24 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-21-2020, 05:59 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-20-2020, 04:42 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-01-2020, 02:51 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-07-2020, 02:26 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-21-2020, 09:46 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 03-01-2020, 05:47 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 03-10-2020, 07:28 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 07-04-2020, 12:48 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 07-25-2020, 12:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 03-02-2020, 11:19 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 03-14-2020, 12:34 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 07-23-2020, 09:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-25-2020, 11:02 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 09-12-2020, 01:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-25-2020, 01:11 PM