I don't own these characters. They are the sole property of Stephenie Meyer. I only borrow them. No humans are permanently harmed through my actions, though I do confess to harassing, annoying, torturing, and exasperating them – just because it's fun. I make no money from my little stories, sad day. I only play in the sandbox, I didn't build it.
Author's Note: Yes, this update is early. But I told you, I don't have a very good track record at playing coy. :p
Chapter 10: Curiosity and the Queen
That night in our chamber, Isabella seemed distracted. As I kissed her, I began to worry. What if she found that being married to me was not as wonderful as she had thought it would be? What if she decided that making love to me was not pleasant? I had nothing on which to base these fears, but I was a man as well as a king.
"What troubles you, little love?" I finally asked, brushing back the dark silk of her hair.
To my surprise, she blushed brightly and hid her face in my chest. "Nothing I wish to speak of, Edward," she informed me in a tight voice.
"Now you have me curious," I said with a slight smile as I tilted up her chin so that I could stare into her expressive eyes. There was no subterfuge in Isabella in any way, but her eyes were particularly revealing.
"I do not wish to discuss it," she said firmly.
"Is it bad? Do you fear angering me?" I asked.
She shook her head abruptly and bit her lip. "No, Edward, nothing like that." The blush lit up her cheeks again and she looked pained. I grew more and more intrigued.
"Isabella..." I breathed as I kissed a path along her throat.
She moaned slightly and clutched at my shoulders. "Please, do not ask me again," she begged and the sound of her breathless plea got me so hard that I ached.
"I must," I said. "I find myself growing mad to know what secrets lurk in those beautiful brown eyes of yours."
"It is too embarrassing to speak of," she muttered.
I nipped at her earlobe and she gave a little yelp of surprise. "We are wed," I reminded her. "We are in our marriage bed," I added. "Here, more than anywhere else in the world, we should speak freely with each other." I leaned back to look at her. "Please, my love, do not torture me further."
She paused. "It is...it is about lovemaking," she finally whispered.
"My favorite topic of conversation," I told her.
She rolled her eyes at me. I was becoming quite familiar with the gesture. "Greedy wretch," she accused with a light tug on my hair. I liked it.
"Tell me," I commanded just before my mouth closed over her nipple. She arched against me and pulled at my hair some more. I still liked it. Curious. I hadn't known that I liked to have my hair yanked on like that.
Isabella groaned and turned her face away from me. "I cannot look at you while I say this, so if you really want to hear it, you must stay there...and let me look at the wall in my shame. I shall not be able to utter the words if I have to look at you while I do so."
I wanted to laugh, truly I did. But I sensed that she might never confess whatever it was that had her cheeks glowing like she had gotten too close to the fire. "Very well," I conceded graciously now that I was getting my way.
"Rosalie...said...something," Isabella finally whispered after a long pause. "Something that was quite interesting."
I watched as she swallowed hard.
"And I was wondering if what she said was true...and acceptable," Isabella said.
"What did she say, love?" I gently pushed.
"Oh gods!" Isabella screwed her eyes shut. "She said...she said that sometimes men and women kiss each other...down...there..."
Immediately, a flood of images inundated my feverish imagination and I groaned at the throbbing in my cock. "I'm sorry," Isabella muttered. "I shouldn't have-"
Forcefully, I turned her over to face me. I kissed her mouth and then her hot cheeks. "What Rosalie said?" Isabella nodded. I smiled. "It's both true and very, very acceptable," I told her softly. "In fact, it's much more than acceptable, it is...well, perhaps a little demonstration is in order?"
I half-expected her to refuse, but instead a look of curiosity came over her lovely features. "If you are sure it is proper," she finally murmured.
"We are married," I told her. "Anything we choose to do is proper. Did the gods not give us bodies that fit each other so well that we ache to put them together? Did the gods not give us passion to make the cold nights warmer and the getting of children a joy?" I kissed her again. "Oh Isabella, we honor the gods when we make good use of their gifts."
She laughed then. "I think the holy men might disagree," she teased.
"Then let's not tell them," I retorted and I began moving down her body. I kissed each breast and adorned each nipple with a slow lick. She murmured and arched and tried to keep me where I was, but I eluded her. I kissed my way down her belly, moving slowly toward my ultimate destination. When I reached the soft curls that guarded her most secret flesh, I gently blew my warm breath through them and Isabella shuddered. Tenderly, I parted her thighs further and pressed a soft kiss on each slim leg. In truth, I did not have much experience with this particular aspect of bed sport. Most women were, sadly, not as clean as Isabella and I was overly fastidious it seemed. Also, it seemed rather undignified for a monarch to have his face pressed between the thighs of a woman, even if she was sweetly scented. But with Isabella...
I licked at her and we both groaned at the sensation. She tasted like Isabella, that was the only way I could describe it. Her scent was intoxicating. I circled my tongue slowly over the nub that was the seat of her passion. Then I suckled at it and Isabella's thighs clamped down on my head, Gently, I eased them away a bit and continued moving my mouth on her. Her hands began tugging at my hair in earnest when my tongue slipped inside of her, imitating the motions we both enjoyed so much.
"Edward?" she finally gasped out. "What?"
I stopped just long enough to reassure her. "Let go, little love, 'tis just like when I am inside of you." Then I sucked at her again, letting my fingers take up the motion within that my tongue had abandoned.
I felt her clutching at my fingers and I circled and licked and sucked until she gave a sharp cry and trembled beneath me.
I held her for a long while and I thought she had fallen asleep, so still did she become. My cock throbbed and jerked but I knew that a gentleman and a king would let his wife sleep. Sometimes I wished I had not been so well brought up. Then she murmured contentedly and opened her eyes to look at me.
"Tell me, Edward..." She blushed but not as brightly as before.
"Yes, love?"
"That type of kissing... Can I kiss you the same way?" She could not quite meet my eyes but I was fairly certain that she saw me gulp since her eyes seemed locked on my throat.
"Yes," I answered carefully. "Is that something you would like to do...one day?"
She shook her head and I fought down my disappointment. Then Isabella laughed and wrapped her hand around my straining manhood. "No, Edward, I would like to do that tonight."
And then the little minx was sliding down my body, her movements far more assured and swift than my own had been earlier. She gave my belly one playful kiss and then brought her mouth close to the head of my cock. I could feel her breath on me, hot and tempting and oh so close. Then she gave it one tentative lick and I was grabbing the sheets and trying with all of my might not to grab her head and push her mouth down on me. "Oh gods!"
She laughed and then brought the head into her mouth and sucked. I was twisting and writhing as she explored me with a strange innocent curiosity. I could see that she liked my reaction to her efforts and I told her how good her mouth felt on me. Over and over again.
"Yes, Isabella...oh gods...your mouth is paradise, love...oh yes, just like that...you can suck harder...and yes, touch me there..."
Then I felt my orgasm begin to surge through me and I reached down and pulled her up the length of my body. I rolled and pinned her beneath me, pulling her hands up over her had and quieting her sweet protests with my mouth. "I wasn't done-" she told me breathlessly. I thrust inside of her and she moaned.
It was hard and frenzied, but lasted far longer than I had anticipated. I talked to her, telling her how good she felt around me, how warm and sweet she tasted, how much I loved the feel of her mouth on me. And with every naughty word that I whispered to her, I felt her getting wetter and wetter. My little love liked to hear my dirtiest thoughts.
I liked to tell them to her.
I came with a shout, Isabella having beaten me by two strokes. Neither of us complained.
~Duty~
Isabella assimilated into court life effortlessly. It helped that my courtiers had gotten to know her during our courtship process. Isabella immediately began consulting with Carlisle as to what charities with which she wanted to become involved. A large part of her duties was to serve the people directly, and it was a duty she took very seriously, to my joy. My mother and Isabella often could be found chatting quietly in a warm corner, Lady Renee at their side and Rosalie and the babies nearby. I found that the babies were rather amusing with their bright blue eyes and chubby fingers that were constantly reaching for items which had been forbidden to them.
A week after our wedding, Isabella's cycle with the moon came as expected but I was surprised to find that I was not disappointed. Lady Renee seemed pleased and when I asked her about it, she smiled slyly. "This way no one will make claims that the babe was conceived before the wedding, Sire," she explained. "We have a tendency to be brought to bed a little early and I had worried..."
I could see her point and was then doubly glad that it had worked out so well. A month after the wedding, her father came to me and told me that it was time for him and his wife to return to their holding. I knew it would make Isabella sad to see them go, but I also recognized the need for the northern barons to be at their posts. The husband in me was troubled, but the king appreciated Charles' dedication to duty. Before he left, I told him that I wanted to bestow a title on him. I had an earldom in mind. In truth, it was a small price to pay, an honor that would not cost the crown a thing.
"Sire...Edward," he added, letting me know that he wanted to speak to me as my wife's father and not my subject. "I am honored, truly, but I would not aspire so high. You took my daughter to wife, and that is an honor. But what truly honors me is that you made her happy. Verily, I must confess that if you had declared your desire for her hand but she had not been happy about it, I would have been tempted to create a betrothal and marry her off quickly. I like my children to be happy, and I realize that while that may not be a popular notion, I value their happiness above titles and riches." He paused. "Continue to make my daughter a happy woman, Sire, and I shall have all the honor I need."
I could only stare at him. I could not remember a single instance of a subject refusing a title. "What will your lady wife say about your refusal?" I asked. Lady Renee would have an opinion on the subject, of that I was sure.
"We have already discussed the possibility," Charles admitted. "There have been rumors." He shrugged. "I do not care for gossip, but a man hears what he hears."
I nodded. "I shall agree to your refusal," I said, knowing even as I spoke that my words were arrogant. But I was going to show Sir Charles that he could not expect to win every confrontation. "But..."
Sir Charles grimaced, recognizing my tone.
"Upon the birth of my first son, you shall be an earl, whether you want to be or not." I settled a stern and regal look upon him, daring him to argue the point with me. Even Sir Charles recognized defeat when it stared him in the face.
He inclined his head graciously. "On that, Sire, we may agree. If my grandson is going to sit on the throne one day, I agree that an earldom might be appropriate. But only then, Your Majesty," he added with a stern look of his own.
I laughed, also knowing when I had met my match. "I can only say, Sir Charles, that I am very glad that men of your ilk are guarding our northern borders. It makes my sleep easier at night."
"And we are proud to render our service." He paused. "My son Emmett and his Rose would like to stay for another few months if that suits you, Sire," Charles requested.
"They need not ask my permission," I said. "They will stay as Isabella's family, not courtiers. You and your family are always welcome here, no need to ask."
"I am grateful," Charles replied. Just then there was a knock on the door and I bade the guard to open it and Lady Renee walked in, giving me a quick curtsey before she moved to her husband's side and took his hand.
"Sire," she began hesitantly. "Before we leave, I would like to make a request."
I nodded for her to continue.
"When Isabella conceives, I would like your permission to send to court the family midwife. Old Nell delivered Charles and his brothers, as well as our own children," Lady Renee said.
I was a bit taken aback. There was a court midwife, of course. She attended the births of all the highest ranking ladies of the court. I was not sure that I trusted some ancient crone from the north country to deliver the future king of the realm. However, I also wanted to avoid insulting Isabella's mother. She must have seen my dilemma because she gave a short, impatient sigh. "Sire...Nell has safely delivered more than a dozen Swans alone. She has seen mothers through the most difficult of births. She is clean and knowledgeable. The mothers under her care do not develop childbed fever, and I am convinced that her scrupulous attention to cleanliness is the key. I do not want my daughter to be safely brought to bed of a son only to lose her to the fever. I do not think you want that either."
"Of course not," I agreed. "Still, there are protocols to be observed."
"Protocols are nothing compared to the health of your wife and child," Lady Renee pointed out.
"True," I murmured. "I understand your concerns; however, I must also be mindful of some traditions. Perhaps we could have your Nell here as well as the court midwife?"
Lady Renee hesitated.
"I do this for Isabella's sake as well, Lady Renee," I said quietly. "If we completely disregard the services of the official midwife, there will be those who ask what the queen has to hide that she will only use a family servant to deliver the heir. With both of them there, we can avoid such a situation. Your daughter will have the care of your Nell, and no one in my kingdom can question the legitimacy of our heir."
"Ah yes, the snarls of court life," Renee observed with a grimace. "I cannot say I miss such ways where we live in the shadow of the Mother Mountain." She sighed. "I understand and thank you for taking the time to explain your concerns to me." She gave me a wide smile. "It was very well done, Edward," she added in a laughing voice. "I think being married had soothed your rough edges."
"Edges?" I asked. But she was already giving me another curtsey and leaving the room. I turned to Charles. "What does she mean by rough edges?"
Charles shrugged, his mouth tugged up into a smile. "She is a woman, Sire, and as such will often say things that puzzle the male mind."
I grunted and sat back. "Rough edges indeed," I muttered.
For some reason, that made Charles laugh.
~Duty~
We celebrated Isabella's seventeenth Name Day just two days before her father and mother left. Emmett and Rosalie were staying at court for a few months. Jasper formally joined the guard and was doing quite well. Jacob had had the misfortune to get caught with a milkmaid who had two large brothers and was nursing two black eyes at the feast in Isabella's honor. The women of his family gave him no sympathy and even his father told him that if he wanted to play men's games, then he must be prepared to pay the price. I had a feeling that Jacob was going to be a bit more circumspect in the future. For a while anyway. He was returning home with his parents for the time being.
Her parents left and Isabella cried as they rode away. I had been touched to see the obvious love and care between Renee and Isabella. Even Emmett had submitted to Renee's fervent embraces and tearful farewells. Rosalie had promised to write often and at last Charles informed Renee that they had to leave sometime this century. She had rolled her eyes at him and suddenly I knew where Isabella got it.
Weeks after they left, Isabella was still teary and emotional. I was surprised because that did not seem in character. Then, a few mornings later, I was disturbed by Isabella bolting out of bed and hunching over the chamber pot. She was retching fit to die, and she told me so as soon as she could catch her breath. When she finally sat back and shakily wiped at her face, I was moved from my bemusement and quickly moistened a cloth and held it to her sweaty face.
"Isabella?" I asked. Hope beat hard in my chest, but it could have been a bit of bad beef from the night before.
She smiled and her eyes were alight with womanly secrets. "Well, my lord husband," she said quietly. "Unless all of the symptoms my mother explained to me are wrong, I think that there will soon be an occupant in that lavish nursery you had designed."
For once, all of my words abandoned me.
Another note: No, Edward hasn't told her that he loves her. There's a very good reason for that. He hasn't figured it out for himself yet. Our boy is rather dense when it comes to such matters. Have patience with him. He's only a man after all!
