The Broken Bed

'How the hell does this come out?'

'I don't know', she sighed,whimpering as he tugged a particularly tangled strand.

'Ah, sorry. How can you put up with this, I already feel like just having long hair is enough of a hassle. It's-so-heavy!'

He made a low strained sound as he wrenched out a long jeweled clip that had been clasped around six twisted plaits. The hair was all the more unyielding due to their activities the night before. A naughty smile inched across her face-to think of all they had done- one would have thought the hairstyle would have come apart! It was good work.

'It is frustrating sometimes. We'll figure it out though, and if not, we can call a maid.'

'No! No, I can do it', he insisted, unwilling to let her leave him.

She giggled, feeling his naked body press against hers as he yanked her back further onto the bed. 'Come here.'

She leant back, enjoying his ministrations, which were on the whole far more gentle than any woman's had ever been. She supposed only men really enjoyed women's clothes and apparel coming off, women were always hell-bent on layering themselves into impossible confections that were then more inescapable than finger-traps.

A small pile of sparkling gold metal and jewels was forming as he worked, perched on top of a blanket tangle like some palatial turret. Finally, he dropped the last ornament on the heap, running his hands through the unraveling locks. It stung and warmed her at the same time.

She began to rub her temples and roots, which were quite sore.

'Mmmn…' she softly whimpered, 'I can't believe I slept in this! So painful!'

She gave up on taming the bedhead as her scalp ached. Lowering her eyelids slightly, she turned to look at him.

Her head must have looked a fright, but he eyed her infatuatedly- all of it was wild, some of it curled from the crushed plaits, some fanning from her head in waves. It suited her. And there was something very pleasing in that he had been complicit in creating that mess.

So often he had had to play the authoritative role with her- but last night had proven there was another side that had been waiting in the shade- one that had revealed itself upon utterly giving himself up to the force of nature she was as they broke in their wedding bed. Not only did he enjoy being wild with Mulan, but he was much more than able. He could give her as good as he got.

And today he felt radiant.

She looked at him from half-lidded eyes before gliding down onto the bed with a sigh, her hair cascading over clouds of red silk sheets, her back arching to emphasize delectable rounded breasts. Relaxing, she was very content beholding the garlands tied to the ceiling, leaving her new husband on the bed next to her to enjoy the view.

She didn't even care that the room was golden with morning light.

Lin had been right. This new erotic side of marriage was fun.

All of a sudden, Shang was nervous again. He didn't know why. Maybe it came with her being so spontaneous. She had just given him the most arousing of looks before flumping backwards on the bed, her feet almost touching the pillows near the headboard. Her eyes were shut too.

What should he do?

It was stupid, but now of all times, with her splayed out like that, a sexual daydream in the flesh, his mind was at a halt. Was it a challenge? Or was she tired? They hadn't slept for more than a few hours…

His thoughts were interrupted by a hand on his knee and a gently murmured request:

'Shang…C' mere.'

He must have been sitting there like an idiot, mulling this over. But when he made it over to her on the bed's edge her eyes were fighting sleep, waiting for him before succumbing.

Putting his weight on his arm's side, he got close enough to stroke her cheek.

'Tired?'

Her lips tugged at a smile. 'A little blissed out', she breathed.

He smiled and moved sideways to gently rest his upper body on top of her, elated by the perfect feel of his chest on hers, her warm and supple skin. Even if she had noticed his tentativeness, it didn't matter. They trusted each other. Her smiles and kisses restored the confidence he needed. He loved her so much for that.

She stretched her arms around his neck, smiling at him, and he bent down to cover her lips with hot kisses.

The effect/combi of being perfectly relaxed and exhausted while he kissed her was exquisite. She luxuriated happily as they went on, pulling him closer to her and running her fingers through his hair.

'Your hair is a little destroyed too, Marshal.'

He grinned, kissing her nose.

'Alright if I kiss you elsewhere?'

A mischievous smile crossed her face. 'If you want…'

He began with her neck, working his way down. She stretched happily.

His mouth had come to her breasts and was trailing down her stomach as she shifted, softly crying out from time to time as she got more aroused.

Where was he…? He wasn't thinking of down…

His hands clamped down on her thighs and…

'Aiiii!'

The head maid heard all kinds of mad screams, moans and laughter coming from the marriage bed that late morning, and upon entering came across the newlyweds propped up happily under the covers, the bride resting sideways on her husband's chest as they pored over a large manuscript held in his hands, orange peel and sweets littering an absolutely wrecked bed, linens and cushions jumbled onto the floor.

They both looked up guiltily at the intrusion, stifling smiles.

'Very sorry to disturb, but I have been sent to inform you- it is time to visit the family temple this morning. There was a little rain, which is why it has been postponed till now, but you are expected there at midday. I will have baths drawn now.'

She bowed primly and left.

They looked at each other. She was blushing a little, the first time he had seen it on her since they had spoken last night. Embarrassed, she made to rest her head on his shoulder again but he shifted it as he took her face in his hands and kissed her slowly, tenderly. She was smiling when he broke the kiss, leaning her nose against his.

'Everything ok?'

'Mm,' she said, pressing the hand over her cheek to her lips. 'This is still so crazy to me, though. And they all know what we've been up to now, I imagine.'

He chuckled. 'Well, we haven't exactly tried to hide it. But that's fine, they were goading us all the way here. They can't act surprised now. It is a truly odd tradition', he mused.

They both surveyed before them the landscape of strewn red linen in which they sat, bolsters and cushions tumbled about as though by a small hurricane.

'I still find it quite wrong that they find it suitable to demand such things from people,' she voiced. It was curious how all these concerns were behind her now. They had seemed insurmountable just last night.

'And the teasing is so bad,' she continued. 'They make you feel like you have no say in the matter, that it's all been decided ahead of time, by them, by society.'

He pulled her in front of him, stretching his legs out on either side of her and putting both hands on her hips. His voice was low in her ear as he delicately raised her hair up and to the side.

'Well…what I just did to you earlier wasn't for them. Not for consummation of wedding vows, or children, or duty. That was just for you, Mulan. They'll never know about that, or the things we do while they sleep…'

He kissed the back of her neck tauntingly. She felt the hair there raise itself.

'Mmm, Shang, we're never going to leave if you talk to me like that…'

That got his pulse up again.

'Fine with me.'

'Can we come right back to bed after the temple visit?'

'No, I imagine there will be about a thousand more wedding traditions to fulfill, our day is pretty much under their control, I'm afraid'.

'Then maybe we can ask them to pour just one big bath for us, what do you think?'

His eyebrows went up. He bear hugged her from behind, delighted with her train of thought.

He growled and kissed her ear, as she turned to him, smiling.

'I think that, my love, is an excellent idea.'