Feeling his weight lean over her sent shivers down her spine. They'd never been together like this before. As teenagers they'd discovered each other, with soft touches and awkward courtships but this was different. They were adults now. Smiling at the tickle of En's beard, Hakuei thought back to the lanky, gangly boy he'd once been. Now several years on he was an unmoveable force, strong and powerful. He kissed liked that as well. Taking her lips with a contained force, she couldn't hold back the moan as sharp teeth nibbled at her bottom lip. His experience with woman far outweighed hers, from the age of fifteen he'd taken many lovers. And although his number of heirs was near legendary, his enthusiasm towards her was intoxicating.
"I have waited so long for this." His whispered confession heated her desire. His large hands roamed across her body, brushing over her breasts in feather light touches again and again until she arched up at the slightest touch. Threading her fingers through his loose hair, she tugged hard, pulling his head back before latching onto his throat. Sucking over his pulse Hakuei nipped gently, feeling his breath hitch as she bit down harder, marking him with a deep red love bite.
She was strong, he loved that about her, he always had. Of course she'd be a strong lover. The slick lick of her tongue after the sting of her bite went straight to his groin. She was fierce and powerful, a magical warrior and an impossible lover by any measure. And as a mother... Looking down at her flushed cheeks and shy smile, Kouen was certain she'd excel. Her nature was kind enough, especially after having looked after Hakuryuu for so many years. She would be a perfect mother.
Sealing his lips over hers he pushed at her mouth, invading her mouth with sharp, needy stabs of his tongue. Groaning as she rivalled his ferocity, the future King shrugged off his robe. Feeling small, calloused hands run down his chest. Short nails scored his flesh as they passed over the span of hard muscle and smooth skin.
Trailing her hands lower over his taunt abdomen, Hakuei blushed as her hand brushed over the hard jut, pressing against her stomach. Making a low rumbling sound in his chest at her touch, En took her lips in a deep, open mouthed kiss. All but tearing her remaining clothes off Hakuei wiggled naked against the sheets, waiting as En came down upon her. Parting her legs, Kouen's large hands came up to grip her thighs, forcing them impossibly wider. Blushing as she laid exposed before him, she couldn't muster the nerve to be ashamed, not with Kouen. His face heating as he hands run up the back of her knees, the prince felt his mouth water. She was his kin, his once betrothed, but she was also a grown woman.
Trying to be gentle as his hands touched her soft, intimate flesh, his couldn't help the blunt, bite of his fingers. He was too eager, too needy. Licking his lips, chest heaving as he listened to her cry out, he stilled his fingers.
"Hakuei"
"Don't stop." Pleased that he wasn't the only one unmoved, Kouen's mind raced as her legs soothed down his forearms, moving down to wrap around his waist and prompting him to move closer.
"What's the rush?" Moving up the bed, Hakuei pulled him down into a kiss, their hips finally meeting. Moaning as she rubbed against the blunt heat pressing at her core, En shuddered at the slick heat slide atop his cock. "Hakuei, slow down." Tossing her head back against the pillow and groaning Hakeui frowned.
"Kouen, please. I've had a such a troublesome day. I need this." Gyrating her hips against his, the prince touched a hand to her hip, stilling her.
"I know that. But please, lets take our time." He kissed the lines of frustration from her face. "I've waited for this for such a long time. Lets enjoy it." Twisting out of his grasp Hakuei grinned, kissing him quickly as she pushed up against his cock.
"We have all night En." Letting out a low groan as he pushed inside her, the princess lost her breath at the beautiful sensation of being filled so completely. Wincing at the aching burn that shot through her at being stretched to accommodate him, Hakuei moaned. Twinning her arms around his neck as he buried himself deep, she stole a kiss from his panting his lips before she lost her breath as he pulled back and pushed forward inside her. Forcing a bend in her knee and spreading her wider tore a groan from Kouen's chest as he plunged deeper. Her nails clawed as his back as he changed his thrusts, slow and swallow, designed to make her quiver and burn.
"More please." She sounded desperate and aroused, everything he'd wanted to provoke in her. Kissing her hard, he suddenly pushed hard inside her, watching her eyes widened at his powerful thrusts. Arching beneath him in a sumptuous roll of her hips, she welcomed his long, deep strokes. Sliding in and out slow but deep, each stroke claiming her mouth as he moved in closer. The shivers and shocks coursing through her body pinned her to the bed, Kouen's weight above her felt like nothing as she came apart. Thrashing against the pillow, her hair tussled and sweaty, face screwed up in ecstasy, she looked every inch as beautiful as he'd imagined she would.
For so many years he'd longed to hold her, to take her and make love to her as man and woman. And now he was. The feeling was indescribable, powerful and addicting. Every single movement and sensation shattered his conscious. The scrape of her nails down his back, the sound of her panting breaths, the power and radiance of her being. He loved her and had for so many years and now he had her. This was far better then anything he'd ever expected.
Riding her through the final waves of her pleasure, his hand squeezed and shaped the generous mounds of her breasts as he suckled kisses down the line of her throat. His free hand fisting in the dark silk of her hair. Her body feeling hot, heavy and erotically used, Hakuei's hand felt out his shoulder, threading her fingers through his thick, red hair. Tucking his face into the nook of her neck, Hakuei held him close as the final waves of euphoric pleasure broke over them. Feeling him shudder and spill his seed inside her in hard, liquid pluses. Hakuei could barely hear own her voice calling out his name over and over again.
"I have waited for that for so long." Panting Kouen's held her close, rolling them both over and wrapping them up in a blanket. Giggling breathlessly Hakuei nodded, her hand soothing over his chest. Following a harsh, red scratch that ran up over his shoulder, she pushed at his side until he rolled over. Inhaling a sharp breath through her teeth at the messy criss crosses of red marks along his back, Hakuei blushed.
"Don't worry." Rolling back over, a smirk on his face, En kissed her quick. "It's the mark of a job well." Grinning as she kissed him, Hakuei leant up on her elbows to stare down at him.
"The job isn't finished yet."
Hakuei was impatience, she knew that. So the long wait as the months trickled by drove her nearly insane. Worse was Kouen. Anyone would have thought her pregnancy was already confirmed with the way he treated her. Fussing around her when she was in their quarters and then once they were free of the confides of her very nice prison, he still worried. By the lack of her third moontime she was convinced she was with child.
Pleased as the date passed without incident, the princess was in the company of Seisyun as they wandered the palace in search of Kouen. If she was lucky she could surprise him at the training grounds, and maybe get some light training done while she was there. Passing through the empty training grounds, she sighed unhappily. She missed her training, the outdoors and the freedom of the ride. Perhaps now that her pregnancy was confirmed she could get back to some kind of fitness routine. If he wasn't at the training grounds her next best bet was the archives. Climbing the stairs down to the catacombs, Hakuei paused as she heard a string of voice coming up the stairs towards her. Stopping as she distinguished the voice of her mother, the princess looked to her assistant. Trying to narrow in on a place to hide.
"Hakuei my dear, is that you?" Gulping, she squared her shoulders and continued down the stairs. Fake smile plastered on her features as her mother's uncomfortably similar features rounded the corner.
"Hello mother, how are you.?" Leaning in for a soft, brief kiss on each cheek, Hakuei almost gagged at the smell of her mother's thick perfume.
"My dear. Look at you. Have you been sleeping well? I haven't seen you in months. Come. We must have tea." Looking towards a nervous Seisyun, Hakuei returned her mother's sickly sweet smile.
"Of course. Yes, I've been occupied."
Taking their time leaving the catacombs, Gyokuen's trail of priests following, the women made their way to the small courtyard outside of Gyokuen's quarters. Watching as a small group of slaves scattered around setting up their tea, Gyokuen took her daughter's hand.
"Kouen must be keeping you busy my dear. Locking you away in there." She giggled, the gleam in her eye making Hakuei squirm. "What have you been doing Hakuei?" Answering as vaguely and distant as possible, the princess was hyper aware of her mother inching closer on the bench.
"Have you been feeling well my dear?" Stirring her tea aimlessly Hakuei couldn't help but suddenly tense. A sensation running hot and cold flushed over her, not meeting her mother's eye she nodded slowly.
"I'm feeling fine mother. Never better. The mornings are getting colder I swear." Narrowing her eyes ever so slightly, Gyokuen squeezed her daughter's hand.
"Now now Hakuei, you should know that mothers know everything. Any morning sickness? Sore joints? The cravings should be kicking in soon. Heavens I remember when I was with Hakuren. I just wanted to drink melon juice constantly. I thought the empire would run out." Laughing into her daughter's shocked face, Gyokuen hid her smile behind her hand.
"Oh sweetheart. How lucky am I? Grandchildren. How wonderful." The dangerous gleam in her eye made Hakuei uneasy, especially as her mother's hand hovered over her stomach. "Who's the father?" Her cheeks blushing, Hakuei looked away, unwilling to meet her eye.
"T-that's not important." The dark overcast that come over Gyokuen was instantaneous, her smiling face turned upside down as she slowly removed her hand.
"Really? Now Hakuei you know you can tell me anything." Her stomach rolled, palms sweating she looked to Seisyun for help. But the small man looked as stonewalled as she did.
"I don't know who the father is" lying was her best bet. If her mother confirmed her union with En it would likely spell disaster for the future king. Gyokuen was likely to make a law stating he couldn't take the throne if he'd sired a noble bastard or something just as ludicrous. Lying would buy them the time, at least to think of a plan of action.
Gyokuen's frown deepened, her eyes becoming cold and dark.
"Now now Hakuei, it isn't nice to lie."
"I'm not lying." Tears. Tears and crying where always a good last resort. Sobbing into her hands, Hakuei let her tears fall freely. Feeling them run down her cheeks as her mother watched her coldly.
"Well my dear. This is most disturbing news. I thought I'd raised you better." Shaking her head in disgust, Gyokuen looked away, clucking her tongue.
"One of your savage horsemen? En? Mei even?" Shaking her head Hakuei refused to speak, instead letting her mother's dramatic disapproval reign over her.
"Really Hakuei how could you be so foolish? I taught you better then this. I let you have this choice and you throw it back in my face." Casting a hand over over eyes, Gyokuen's scowl didn't weaver as Hakuei continued to weep. The princess doubted her mother was really buying her story, but with their current company she was putting up a good show.
"Kougyoku!" Springing to life suddenly, Gyokuen almost leap across the tea table to pull her daughter into a hug. "We'll use Kougyoku. She needs a child for the Badladd kingdom." Looking up Hakuei almost choked on her sobbing.
"What?" Patting her head, the Empress pressed a kiss to her head.
"We'll use Kougyoku as a scapegoat. Keep you out of the public eye until the birth and then send the child to Kougyoku. She'll do what she's told. Don't worry dear, we'll handle this." Jaw slack, Hakuei shook her head, her mind racing.
"No. No mother no." Nodding enthusiastically Gyokuen went on ahead.
"Believe me Hakuei, noble families to this all the time. We'll give Kougyoku the baby and hide you until the birth. Make something up about you dealing with conflicts on the Western front. It'll save your honour and future husband prospect." Shaking her head, the tears in her eyes falling for real, Hakuei felt her chest clench.
"Mother no. This is my mistake. I will not involve Kougyoku or her new husband and his kingdom. The risk is too large. I bare my brand." Gyokuen's hand rubbed her back, catching her daughter's eye as she frowned.
"No man will have spoiled goods my love. It's not worth it." Levelling her gaze with her mother, Hakuei set her jaw. Regardless of her tear stained face and quivering lips, the princess would not be moved.
"I will keep my child mother."
Returning straight to Kouen's quarters Hakuei felt sick to her stomach. Curse her mother and the woman's all seeing gaze. Could nothing in Kou be kept a secret from that woman?
"Hakuei-sama, are you feeling alright?" Smiling at her assistant as she collapsed on a high stack of pillows, Hakuei sighed.
"I'm fine Seisyun." Watching the man's worried expression, Hakuei fluffed the pillows behind her.
"She was right." Watching his surprised, she continued without missing a beat. "I am expecting a child." Overwhelmed the silver haired man knelt at her side, bowing his head.
"This is most joyous of news milady." He paused, looking up at her, eyes bright with happiness.
"When will you tell prince Kouen? He will be most pleased." The surprised on her face must have been very easy to read as Seisyun scoffed.
"It's all right milady. Your secret is safe with me."
"How did you know?" Blushing Seisyun, looked away, biting his bottom lip.
"There is only one bed in Kouen-dono's quarters." Laughing at his embarrassed face, Hakuei put on a hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you, for keeping my secret. Hopefully it won't be a secret for too much longer."
Kouen arrived just passed dinner. Picking at her food, Seisyun had forced her to eat until her bowl was clean.
"You're eating for two now, perhaps we should start doubling your meals." Brushing him off Hakuei heaved a sigh, sitting back as he cleaned up the table.
"I don't think that's how it works. But thank you." As Seisyun left, Kouen arrived. Striding through the door of his inner quarters with tired purpose. Shedding his heavy robes and shoulder plate, the tall redhead zoned in on Hakuei. Finding her sitting comfortably at the low laying table, sipping her after meal tea.
"Good evening." Taking a seat beside her and kissing her quick, Kouen poured himself a small cup of tea. "Your mother paid me a visit today. Meddling old hag." Putting down her cup Hakuei shuffled uncomfortably.
"You and I both." She paused watching him raise an eyebrow at her. Shaking her head, she reached out for his hand.
"But that's not important."
"No?" He sounded confused. Unable to hold back her smile, Hakuei pushed back the memory of the meeting with her mother as she pulled Kouen forward.
"Not right now. I have good news. We have good news." Setting his hand atop her flat stomach the princess couldn't smile wide enough. "I'm with child." En's stern face softened as his hand rubbed her stomach gently.
"Really? Are you sure?" Laughing at the soft tone in his voice, Hakuei nodded. The gentle hand rubbing her middle soothing her anxious nerves.
"I've missed three moontimes. And Gyokuen confirmed it." His face twisting in his anger, Kouen shifted closer, pulling her into his lap.
"She knows then?" Nodding Hakuei curled up into his warmth, resting her head against his chest.
"Yes, she cornered me after leaving you in the archives. She just seemed to know." Growling Kouen kissed the top of her head, his hand unmoving from her stomach.
"She always does. Doubtless she'll find a way to use it against us." Humming Hakuei pushed her face against his chest, her words muffled as she spoke.
"But that's not the worst of it." Sighing En leant back in the pillows.
"Go on."
"I lied to her. I didn't say it was yours. But now she's convinced a plan to have Kougyoku fake a pregnancy and to take the child once it's born." Shaking his head Kouen felt his head begin to throb. The witch's meddling was just getting worse, especially since Hakuei had come under his protection.
"Nonsense, such nonsense. Kougyoku won't agree to that, nor Alibaba for that matter. She has no right to push that offer on you."
"I know." Looking down, Kouen tipped her chin up. Studying her face, the prince almost kicked himself as he noticed her puffy eyes, red and tired.
"Don't worry. She won't be allowed near our baby." His words sounded honest enough, but it did little to comfort her.
"I know. But-" she stopped the words dying on her lips.
"Once your mother leaves her moral form we'll be married." Kissing her gently Kouen held her gaze, refusing to let her drop it. "You will be the mother of my child, my wife and my Queen. Don't let her poison words concern you." Leaning up, Hakuei slipped her hands around his neck. Pulling him close to deepen their kiss.
"She won't. I'm just so happy." Grinning against her lips, En nodded.
"Me too."
