Will sat in front of the small burning brazier, quietly reminiscing.
The wedding banquet had been wonderful. Even Arcavius, bless his old soul, had gotten slightly drunk and for the first time, Will had seen Arcavius genuinely smile with happiness.
Oh, but most of all, beautiful Elizabeta, whose wonderful joyous eyes had he had stared into when he kissed her after the priest had blessed them and declared them lawful husband and wife, who had playfully fed him from her plate with a knowing glance from Aemelia, who had grinned and laughed, her long, shimmering golden locks fanning out playfully as they had tried a dance together for the first time. Her beautiful blue eyes had glimmered with something more than friendship when she had stared into him and he had stared back.
Still, a small twinge of anxiety and worry buried in the back of his mind prodded him.
"Something wrong?" said Aemelia, who had seen his dark brooding.
"I'm worried that I won't...be enough for her tonight, Mia. What if she still bears me some grudge or suspicion? I've tried my very best to bring her nightmares to peace but that still pales to what horrors she has been through!" he confided.
"You've done more than anything for her, Will. You saved her from a life of torture, you've comforted her from her nightmares, treated her with respect and dignity as you do to everyone in this household, and most of all, brought her father's killer to justice. You've been perhaps the kindest, most caring master in all of Rome, Will. I would have been proud to consider you my son." Aemelia crooned, soothingly.
"Thank you, Aemelia." Will said, appreciatively.
"Now, go. She is waiting for you."
Gently gave him a slight nudge in the direction of the bedroom.
Took a few, uncertain steps, and at last broke into an anxious stride.
"And Will?"
He turned around.
"Do treat her gently tonight, alright?" Aemelia winked with a practiced old eye, wagging an old finger
Will instantly felt blood rush to his face unwillingly, but nodded in reply.
"I shall."
As he made his way down the darkened hallway towards their bedroom, his confidence wavered and his heart pounded furiously.. What if she found him insufficiently presentable? What if she disliked the room, disliked the bed? What if she did not accept him?
But at last, he clamped down on those doubts, and he gently rapped on the door.
"It's Will."
"Come inside, Will."
And thus, he opened the door to his – or rather, their – bedroom.
He carefully laid down the lamp on the small table near the bedside before he let his gaze rise to Elizabeta. His heart fluttered within him. How heartbreakingly beautiful she looked, absentmindedly facing towards the window, illuminated under the bright moonlight of the full moon and the flickering light of the candles! Her long blonde hair cascaded down in long golden waves over her perfect shoulders and onto the bedsheets. The white gossamer silk gown hugged her ample bosom, rolled down her perfect ivory skin and over the gentle rise of her hips. The delicate lace gently caressed her beautiful arms and slender, long legs. She looked so...gorgeous.
"Hello, Elizabeta." he said at last, the richness of his voice reverberating slightly.
"Hello, Will." she acknowledged, shifting to face him.
Will sat down on the soft bedsheets across from her.
"There is the custom of consummation in the night of the marriage"
he finally stated, running a hand through his hair, awkwardly.
She blushed and tilted her head slightly in acknowledgement.
"And many a Roman does not marry for love."
She recognized that all—too—familiar sadness that gathered in his eyes. He gently took her willing hands in his.
"However, I do not wish to be like them." he said.
"I love you. I love you more than anything else in the world. You stun me and enrapture me. Your beauty is like the rare wild rose, blooming among the weeds, or like the brightest star among the heavens. You are more elegant than the most elegant white swan."
He took in a shuddering breath, and continued.
"You entrance me with your deep intellect and knowledge, sometimes in places that I lack. I could live every year and every week and every day of my life with you, spending hours taking dinner with you, reading the great epics and various books by your side, writing with you. Living with you, being besides you makes me feel safe." he confessed, softly, his eyes shining. She gaped at him and felt a warm, fuzzy feeling rising within her.
"Yet, you are a strong, independent, powerful woman, the strongest I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Though nominally the Romans may call you slave, in my eyes, you are a free and independent person of this world."
He paused, to catch his breath once more.
"In truth, do not think for one moment that you are bound to me. You are not indebted to me or Aemelia nor anyone else in any kind of way. Just give your word and as of this moment, I will free you."
"I...I do..."
Will stuttered, his voice cracking up a bit.
"I...I do not want to force you to be bound to me. If you do not want to be kissed or touched, I give you my word on my own honor that I will not touch you. If you want to sleep in your bedroom instead of mine tonight, you can do so. I will not force you to do anything this night against your own will. I guess that all...all I wanted to say was that your choice will be purely your own." he finished, his arms hanging at his sides, sheepishly.
By the gods. She thought, and gazed deep into his handsome gold—speckled eyes, emotions bubbling deep inside her chest.
She knew even before, had known for a good time that his love was more than a simple, lustful yearning or a youthful declaration. She had already known that he would be willing to lay down his life for her.
But now, at that instance, she clearly saw just how true and honorable his love was. He was willing to give her everything for her happiness. What he was offering to her and proposing to her was his destiny, and the choice was hers.
Suddenly unbidden, overcome with emotion, she felt soft tears rise.
Will peered at her, his brow creased in worry.
"Have I offended you with my words?" said, looking at her in genuine concern.
"No, Will..."
"Will, I..."
She held his large, callused hands in her slender, delicate ones and met his deep mahogany eyes lovingly.
"I love you too, Will. More than anything in the world. You've been true and honest to me, more than any other Roman who I've met. You haven't tried to imprison me, leered at me, or hurt anyone I've held dear!"
"Will, you've treated me as an equal. No matter when or where, I love how you talk, smile, laugh, and listen. In truth, I love being by your side, because you are the only person I know who I can confide my fears in, all my nightmares and past memories with. I feel safe around you Will, because you understand me as a person and you've comforted me and listened to me when no one else has."
"If...if Father was alive right now, he would've given you his full consent and agreement." she smiled, her beautiful blue eyes glistening with happiness.
Her lip trembled with emotion and she felt the tears trickling down her face in earnest.
"I would be overjoyed to call you my husband.", she whispered, leaning towards him.
"And I would be blessed to call you my wife.", Will replied huskily, meeting her halfway as they embraced.
For a moment they simply held each other in deep reverie. Then, he gently raised his hand up and caressed her cheek, wiping away her tears.
They kissed, light, chaste kisses at first, lightly on the lips, before their tongues explored deeper and deeper, into the soft wonder of their mouths.
Elizabeta drew light, quick halting breaths as Will nibbled at her nape and gently traced kisses down her throat and down to her bosom. He gently pulled off the sheer fabric, exposing her breasts.
He gently massaged and touched her breasts with his hands and trailed teasing kisses...
"Oh...Oh!" she gasped, softly, as he lightly brushed lips on a hardening nipple before licking it with his tongue.
"Mmm..." she let out a breathy moan as he teased and licked the hard nub.
She briefly parted with him, her cheeks blushing red with arousal, only to slip off the small piece of fabric that still covered her intimates, letting it fall to the floor.
By the gods...
He drank it all in, running his eyes over her beautiful, nude form that lay before him on the bed in the flickering candlelight, perfectly enthralled. He nearly wanted to drop to his knees.
His goddess.
His wife.
Gently kissed her, and shifted back to face her. He saw an look, a need in sultry, lidded eyes that spoke to him.
I want to see you, too
Slowly removed the toga that covered his body, and then shrugged off his loincloth onto the floor, his gaze fixated on her all the while. She stared intently back, her eyes brimming with need, admiring his rippling muscles on his arms and chests, his tanned, hardened skin that glistened in the flickering light of the candles.
Gently, lovingly, he pressed on top of her, pushing her lush body down into the soft bed. His hot and hardened body pressed against her soft, tender flesh and her luscious curves as she felt herself yield and part to him, as he kissed her, touched her, caressed her.
She trembled with desire and with passion. The ache at her center yearned for him, burned for his touch, for him to enter her and make her whole. He gently shifted himself between her legs, his body on top of hers. She felt the head of his hardened manhood pushing against, teasing her entrance.
He gave her one last tender glance, a heartwarming look that asked her for confirmation, to become one.
"Yes." Elizabeta whispered, breathlessly, knowing that the first time would her and bit down on her lower lip, her eyes fluttering in anticipation.
He pushed his hardened member past her soft folds and into her opening as he thrust inside her. The pain was sharp and sudden as he tore her maidenhood, taking her virginity and she let out a breathy, pained gasp.
"Elizabeta?" whispered Will, looking at her, concerned.
"This pain is nothing." she whispered back, kissing him fiercely.
Gently pushed his member inside her, deeper and deeper and gently caressing her with loving, tender kisses until he was inside of her and now the initial pain was rapidly receding in place of a tireless, hungry ache at her center for more as the thick hardness filled her.
More. More.
They rocked back and forth together, pushing and taking, pulsing. Elizabeta moaned and whimpered at the pleasure, the passion that burned, twisted, flowed through her, filled her.
"Elizabeta!"
"Will!"
His thrusts became hard and passionate, going deep inside her and she bucked her hips against him in harmony and now she was crying his name, his love, him and he was groaning for her, for her and the essence of her and at the climax they came in unison, him spilling his seed inside her, taking her, shuddering against her, their hot bodies entangled, embracing each other as one.