AN: I know, I know. I suck with the updating. And I'm afraid I have no
excuses for it either. I'm sorry. I'm just lazy ya know? And I pretty much
keep myself preoccupied with anything else but this. I am trying though.
Ah.....never mind. Anyway, thank you to all you darling reviewers, you
really make me want to.....I don't know..... fly or something. No, not in
an airplane, although that would be nice and not where I would plummet to
my bloody doom and.....ah.....ok, shut up. Enjoy!
Chapter 8
"What did I tell you the last time you were in my room Vienna?" Endymion asked quietly as he noticed her sitting on his bed in a provocative manner. His anger was brimming below the surface. After trudging back towards his room from the Animal Wing, ignoring the curious stares of working servants this, he thought, was the last thing he needed. He stalked straight towards her fully intending to toss her out.
It must have been obvious in his features for Vienna instantly stood from the bed and held her hand out in front of her attempting to ward him off. "I simply came to talk to you."
"I care." He stated sarcastically reaching out to her throat.
Her hands immediately came up to defend herself, trying to stall his menace while gasping out, "You would not dare."
He smiled maliciously, "Try me, Vienna. Please."
His hand came up to grip her throat. Her eyes widened in panic and her hands came up, seizing his wrists. "I have news of the princess' marriage," She squeaked out desperately. "And who she shall marry should it not be you." She finished as his grip tightened.
He paused a while taking this into consideration, then pulled her face in close to his. "Make it quick." He said near to a whisper. He then pushed her onto the bed. She fell back helplessly, closing her eyes in relief. She then sat up once again, head held high in an attempt to retain her dignity. She watched as he lost all interest in her and walked around to the side of his bed, sitting down. He bent and started taking off his boots. "Well?" He ordered impatiently not looking at her.
Vienna turned to face him. "I overheard the Queen talking to your father when the two of you left." As she said this her features twisted into a scowl. "She was rambling on and on about all the suitors her dear daughter had purposely sent away. If you ask me -"
At this she was interrupted. "I'm not. Get to the point." Endymion said as he kicked his shoes away and sat back against his bed head, watching her boredly.
A small flush came up to her cheeks and she continued. "Well, she was explaining her intentions to announce the name of the princess' future husband on her sixteenth birthday.....well, I am sure you know all this." She said quickly, taking note of the prince's vast disinterest. "So she went on further, to say how should Serenity not choose you, nor anybody else, her husband will then be Prince Daemon of Xiatraeus." She finished watching for his reaction.
"Daemon?" Endymion repeated unsurely. At Vienna's shaky nod, he said, only louder this time with mounting vehemence, "Daemon." He clenched his fists in anger, his jaw locking in a need to curse the walls down.
"You know of him." The young queen said with baited curiosity.
"You could say that." He replied, lost in his dwelling thoughts. He did not even notice Vienna crawling up the bed beside him, getting closer. She obviously was pleased to be able to take advantage of the situation as she neared.
"Then you must know of his thirst for power. He is ruthless and uncaring, completely thoughtless to the lives of others and lives only to please himself. His craving for power is what makes him famous. Endymion, he is -"
"Exactly like me." The prince stated quietly. His thoughts were filled with the possible union between the young princess and this Daemon. His head clouded with a blinding rage. Serenity was his. He had made his claim and strove for possession. Nobody could, would take that away from him. Not if he had anything to say about it.
He thought back to the scene only, what seemed like moments ago. The feel of her smooth skin. Her thighs. Legs. In a hold, wrapped around his waist. Her silken strands brushing the sides of his face, bound in his clenched fist. Their mouths, fused together, locked in damp heat, tongues plunging for control. Lost. The strength of his desire, driving, searching her warmth. All a lingering instance within his mind.
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply at the memory. The mere thought of her was enough to make him hard. He looked down. Sure enough.
"Why Endy, is that for me?" Vienna purred in his ear, startling him out of his reverie, daring to stroke his chest and then going low, down to the physical reaction at his mind's view of the young princess. Endymion's eyes narrowed in anger and frustration due to his mind not being present enough to throw his father's wife over the balcony. Although he had to admit, she sure did have a way with her hands.
His own hands clenched the blankets beneath him, watching her, taking on the role of the impartial observer. He was curious to gauge his response. The response of an aroused man to an undesired woman. To the wrong woman.
"I have been waiting for this." She said huskily before smiling at him seductively and dipping down to take him into her mouth.
"Serenity, dear. Have we forgotten somebody?" Queen Selene said, sitting on her daughter's desk chair.
The princess came to a halt in the doorway at the sight of her mother. 'Great.'
"Ferinx?" She responded innocently.
"Did I or did I not make it specifically clear that you and Endymion were to return back to the castle together?" She asked tightly.
'Why do parents always ask questions they already know the answers to?' Serenity sighed, "Mother you do not understand. Something.....came up. We both had to be somewhere else. Separately. It is as simple as that." Serenity craved for it to be anything but what it was, and it definitely was not simple.
"Serenity I ask you to do this one task and you cannot even do it." The queen murmured in despair.
"Mother this situation is not as easy as you make it out to be." Serenity tried complacently.
"I wish to retire from this regency happily, daughter. Do you enjoy seeing me miserable?"
Serenity gasped at the queen's words. How could she say that to her? It was not like she purposely set out against her mother. In fact, anything of which she did was never aimed at her. Not maliciously anyway.
"Do you think I enjoy having this reluctance towards anybody with a penis?" She spat out crudely. "Do you think I enjoy princes walking in day and night with the intention to marry me for our kingdom? For my looks? To be forced to spend time with people I purely despise because of an age-old law? Do you think I enjoy the idea of being auctioned off to the nearest bidder just because I turned sixteen? Wake up Mum. You cannot even imagine my miserable life. As a princess." She finished strongly, aversion at her title shining in her eyes.
"Don't you dare talk to me about misery. Don't you dare. You cannot even begin to understand the meaning of the word. When your heart is shattered into tiny pieces because the one man you ever loved was slaughtered, then we can discuss misery equally. But only until then can you truly understand its very definition." Selene said vehemently, wiping a falling tear from her eye.
Serenity questioned quietly, "How can I know love when my heart is not even given the chance to discover it?"
Selene looked at her daughter sadly. She could see the pain at being a pawn of this barbaric marriage procedure, but there was nothing she could do about it. She must obey custom, tradition, law. A queen's duty.
"I am sorry my daughter. I am sorry that you feel this way but I am afraid it is for your own good." Serenity shook her head in disgust. "So I suggest you take this time to consider your options wisely, while you still have the chance." At that the queen turned and walked out of her room, shutting the door behind her.
The princess snorted in doubt. "What options?" Her whisper lost in the breeze.
Endymion squeezed his eyes closed at Vienna's skilled motions. He held no desire for her whatsoever and was therefore startled at the reaction of his body and at the way it was functioning. Though why should it surprise him? He had bedded many nameless woman, many forgotten, so he was an expert at disassociating his mind from his body.
He rested his head back. His fists were clenching the blankets beneath him as she employed her talented mouth to his member. She really did have a gift for it.
He was glad she did not kiss him. Kissing would have made it personal. If she had she might have swept away the memory of another kiss, one that he was unwilling to forget at the moment. He kept that kiss locked away in his head so that he may analyze it under closer inspection later, hoping it might solve his musings of why her kiss she be so unforgettable. Why her very embodiment could elude his thoughts, way warding the mind. He failed to discover the reason as to why the Princess Serenity was such a mystery to him, why she was imprinted into his hormones, and nobody else. Why her?
Now he let his mind go blank, disengaging himself from the act but allowing his body to respond. To enjoy the increasing thrill of pleasure racing through his body until it hit its climactic force spilling into her mouth. He did not touch her at all. Not even when he came. Instead his jaw locked and he squeezed his eyes shut, almost pulling the sheets from under the bed as his clenched hands tightened. Then, when it was over he calmly tucked himself inside his pants.
Vienna sat up with a knowing smirk on her face. A satisfied glint in her eye. "Mmm.....now I know that is what we both needed." She murmured huskily.
Endymion said nothing. She trailed her hand lightly passed his stomach and stroked his chest lovingly. "So shall we continue?" She asked beguilingly.
He looked at her and then closed his eyes in disgust. Yet he didn't know whether it was disgust at her or at himself. He was seriously dreading being in her company any time longer and that surprised him. Since when did he pass up the opportunity of a good, no strings attached rumble in the sheets. "We're done."
The young queen scoffed incredulously, "Like hell we are. I -"
"Did is exactly as you pleased. I didn't ask you. Now get out." Endymion interrupted evenly. He stood up and strode from the bed towards the balcony.
Vienna stood outraged. "You can not treat - "
She was interrupted once again, this time the prince glared at her with a spark of malice in his eye. He stalked slowly towards the frustrated redhead. "I went back on my promise before of snapping your little neck. If you do not leave my room in the next ten seconds, I shall happily enact my threat. Now leave." He stood there silently counting.
Vienna's eyes widened with a mixture of anger and fear. By the prince's expression and well-known reputation, she knew he spoke the truth. So with one last glare in his direction, she picked up her skirts and stormed out. The prince chuckled heartily and decided to take a shower.
Serenity lay on her bed, thinking gloomily of the day's events. Well, a portion of the day's events remained dominant in her mind. Hell, it was still early who knew what else could happen.
She had quite successfully made her mother absolutely angry with her, but then that was nothing new. There was never a day that passed where she did not fail to accomplish that small task. But this time, her reprimanding started taking effect. Only a few more weeks before she turned sixteen. Only a few more weeks after that where she would encounter doomsday. Otherwise known as marriage.
Yet, no matter how many princes Serenity happily chased away, she was still stuck with the inevitability that she would soon marry. And she hated it. She hated being given a time limit on love. She loathed this part of being a princess. Her intended marriage would obviously please others but what about her? What about what she wanted?
So it was true. The weighty title of a princess was pleasing enough until it came time to perform specific obligations, sacrificing her own emotions and executing any chance of true happiness. At times like this, she truly resented her life.
And what was resentment without its happy little helpers, specifically the one and only Prince Endymion. It seemed he was sent here purely on the basis to ratify her demise because, whether she liked it or not, he was initially stuck in her head. Ok, so maybe she liked him. BIG deal. She would get over it. She was obviously going through some hormonal meltdown, which contained the symptoms of manic psychosis and inability to function the brain. How else was she able to explain the incident earlier on?
It was not just the fact that they kissed which muddled her mind, but also the fact that she initiated their kiss this time. Not the other way around. In fact, he was practically giving her a way out of all this madness, but alas, her pride took the insult to heart and decided to prove itself. Stupid, stupid pride. And not only that, but she enjoyed it. She enjoyed it immensely.
She could still feel the imprint that his hand made on her thigh. The sweet thrill that raced down her spine at his mind numbing kisses and the amount of heat which unfurled within the bottom of her stomach when her legs wrapped around his waist and she pushed into his arousal. She closed her eyes at the remembrance of the growl of desire he made into her mouth. She could still feel it passing on the vibrations from his chest to hers. She could still taste him.
It was not like any other she had experienced before. It was far, far from the clumsy first kiss of her childhood friend Prince Kale when they were both twelve. And went beyond the limits of any other ridiculous seduction attempts made by the other princes. The chemistry between Prince Endymion and herself exceeded anything she had ever known. So she was forced to face the grim reality that she sadly and, as it appeared, helplessly and most definitely unpurposely, had a severe case of the hots. For Endymion.
"How humiliating."
"What's humiliating?" Mina asked as she walked into the princess' room.
Serenity started in embarrassment. "Oh, nothing. Just talking.....to myself. You know?"
"Uh-huh." Mina answered in confusion, lifting an eyebrow.
"So what's up?" Serenity asked, shaking the thoughts from her mind with a flick of the head.
Mina's mouth dropped open in shock. She then raised her eyebrows, "Well, I had originally come in here to discuss the ball format, but now, I am much more curious to find out what the hell that is on your neck!" She stated. Her voice rising with each word.
The princess frowned in confusion, and then, her eyes lighting up with horror ran to the mirror to discover there was indeed a red bruise forming on her neck. Otherwise known as a bloody hiki. Damn him! Like he could make my life anymore worse.
She quickly slapped a hand over it. "Umm..... a bite. BUG! A bug bite." She declared unconvincingly.
"Oh, it is a bite alright. But I am not so sure it is from a bug."
"HA! Do not be so sure."
"Serenity you had better tell me all the gory details. And fast! I can not believe you did not tell me you were getting it on with Endymion." Mina said crossly.
Serenity stamped her foot in frustration. "I am NOT getting it on with Endymion. And there are no gory details. It was just a little lapse of misjudgment, not to mention a large dose of insanity and this was the result. End of story." She finished self-righteously.
"Not end of story." Mina said evenly, storming towards the bewildered princess and making her sit down on the nearest chair. "Tell me what happened." She ordered, making herself comfortable in an opposite chair.
Serenity scowled in annoyance. "Honestly Mina, you make me out as some kind of wanton sex guru."
"Hey, it is the most sexual stimulation I will be getting anytime soon so spill."
"Well you obviously need to get out more. In fact, start now." She tried, unsuccessfully.
"No way are you slipping this passed me. You might as well tell me. I am not leaving until you tell me how exactly that little love bite came to be."
Serenity sighed in compliance. She sat back and then reluctantly began relaying the encounters between the prince and herself. Leaving out a few minor details of course, such as her bout of manic psychosis in her feelings for the prince.
"Wow!" Mina said once Serenity was finished.
"Yeah." She replied in turn. Watching as her friend shook her head in obvious shock.
She then gasped out, "So is he a good kisser?"
"Mina!" Serenity exclaimed in annoyance.
"What?"
"I relay to you the details of my unruly hormonal nightmare slash crisis and you ask me if he is a good kisser? I need some help here!" The princess cried out indignantly.
"What do you need help with? By the looks of things," she stated making an obvious glance in the direction of Serenity's neck, which was quickly covered up by her hand. "You have it all under control."
"No you're wrong. I don't have it under control. My hormones are going crazy. I know, deep within the recesses of my mind that I hate this male with a vengeance and yet, every time I see him all I want to do is jump him. What is wrong with me?" She wailed helplessly.
Mina bit her bottom lip trying to hold back her laugh. "Senni, nothing is wrong with you. So you are lusting after Endymion. So what? He is one incredibly gorgeous specimen. Nobody would blame you."
"I blame me. This is me we are talking about. I do not lose control just because some gorgeous man wants me to. I don't do that. Ever. It is not me."
"Senni, you are a fifteen, soon to be sixteen year old woman. If you did not like Endymion, then I would be seriously questioning your sexual preferences." Mina stated, reassuring the doubting princess who frowned in confusion at her sentence.
"Did you just call me a lesbian?"
Mina gave out a sigh of exasperation, "Therefore," she went on, ignoring the princess' comment, "It is purely natural, inevitable even, that you like Endymion. Nothing is wrong with you. Enjoy it. Live it up. Do you know how entirely ecstatic I am that you finally like somebody? I'm thrilled. It is about time."
Serenity eyed her in dismay. "Mina.....have you not listened to a word I have been saying?"
Mina snorted in incredulity. "Serenity, you like Endymion. Endymion obviously likes you. Experience these emotions. Do not run away from it. I promise you, when you let yourself really, truly endure these feelings, you will not only enjoy it, but you will want more of it."
Serenity stared at her with disbelief. Frowning while deep in thought about the words the blonde spoke. Ok, so fine. Maybe she would enjoy the pleasure that Endymion seemed to initiate within her. But since when in this lifetime has emotions ever been trustworthy?
"What about the harem of girls you said Endymion had? What? Do I just add my name to the list? You and I both know that if I let anything happen between him, and myself it would only lead to pain. Mine, specifically. And you are telling me to endure that? Do you have a fetish for suffering friends?" Serenity asked sarcastically.
"Well, alright, I admit Endymion can be a bit of a bastard when it comes to dabbling in the affairs of a woman's heart, but nevertheless, you are not going to fall in love with him are you?"
"What!?" Serenity exclaimed in horror. "Are you mad? Of course I am not going to bloody fall in love with him."
"Well good. Then what is the problem?"
"The problem IS, pride. And dignity. And respect for myself. I do not just want to be another notch on his bedpost."
"Then why can he not be a notch on yours?"
Serenity screwed up her face in confusion, shaking her head when she could not fathom a more appropriate response. "Huh?"
"Look," Mina started, leaning forward in her chair, pushing a golden strand of hair behind her ear, "The way I see it, if you are not going to fall in love with him then you will not get your heart broken. And better yet, you will get to sample, in as many servings as you like I take it, what it is to be Prince Endymion's lover."
Serenity remained silent as she thought about this. She couldn't possibly take this seriously.....could she?
Mina continued, "And think about it, this will be the only time you get to 'experience' with him. I mean, you are going to be married soon right? If you ask me, it is better to regret the things you have done, rather than the things you did not do. I forget who said that but I like to make that my motto.....most of the time. Am I right?"
It took a while for all this to process within Serenity's mind. Yes Mina was partially right, but she did not feel comfortable with just letting herself enjoy anything she could ever have with Endymion when she knew that it would all end badly. Their hearts included or not, one way or another somebody was bound to be hurt. You cannot have pleasure without its lingering partner pain.
"I do not know." Serenity said quietly.
"Well, take it from me, have fun. Live it up while you can. Otherwise you will only regret letting it slip through your fingers later. Lead with your instincts, ignore the mind. Follow your hormones." Mina said with a cheeky little grin.
"Ha, that is the last thing I should do."
"That is the ONLY thing you should do. If you ask me, you think too much. Just picture how good it would feel if you just had.....I don't know, meaningless, mind-blowing sex with him."
"Settle down. I am having serious doubts as to the two of us kissing let alone adding sex to the factor." The princess stated incredulously.
"Well fine. Start with kissing then and should you feel up to allowing anything else to enter the equation, then so be it. The main thing is you enjoy it. Damn the consequences." She finished with a nod of confirmation, ignoring the words 'you are a hypocrite' replaying themselves over and over in her head.
Serenity sat and stared at her blonde haired friend asking herself why she did not just keep her big mouth shut. That was most possibly the worst advice she had ever received. Summing it all up, it distinctly spelled out that she was to have sex with a self confessed bastard. And that did not seem too helpful to her.....at all!
Leaning forward in her chair and looking very serious, "Mina, the next time I ask you for advice, don't give it to me."
Chapter 8
"What did I tell you the last time you were in my room Vienna?" Endymion asked quietly as he noticed her sitting on his bed in a provocative manner. His anger was brimming below the surface. After trudging back towards his room from the Animal Wing, ignoring the curious stares of working servants this, he thought, was the last thing he needed. He stalked straight towards her fully intending to toss her out.
It must have been obvious in his features for Vienna instantly stood from the bed and held her hand out in front of her attempting to ward him off. "I simply came to talk to you."
"I care." He stated sarcastically reaching out to her throat.
Her hands immediately came up to defend herself, trying to stall his menace while gasping out, "You would not dare."
He smiled maliciously, "Try me, Vienna. Please."
His hand came up to grip her throat. Her eyes widened in panic and her hands came up, seizing his wrists. "I have news of the princess' marriage," She squeaked out desperately. "And who she shall marry should it not be you." She finished as his grip tightened.
He paused a while taking this into consideration, then pulled her face in close to his. "Make it quick." He said near to a whisper. He then pushed her onto the bed. She fell back helplessly, closing her eyes in relief. She then sat up once again, head held high in an attempt to retain her dignity. She watched as he lost all interest in her and walked around to the side of his bed, sitting down. He bent and started taking off his boots. "Well?" He ordered impatiently not looking at her.
Vienna turned to face him. "I overheard the Queen talking to your father when the two of you left." As she said this her features twisted into a scowl. "She was rambling on and on about all the suitors her dear daughter had purposely sent away. If you ask me -"
At this she was interrupted. "I'm not. Get to the point." Endymion said as he kicked his shoes away and sat back against his bed head, watching her boredly.
A small flush came up to her cheeks and she continued. "Well, she was explaining her intentions to announce the name of the princess' future husband on her sixteenth birthday.....well, I am sure you know all this." She said quickly, taking note of the prince's vast disinterest. "So she went on further, to say how should Serenity not choose you, nor anybody else, her husband will then be Prince Daemon of Xiatraeus." She finished watching for his reaction.
"Daemon?" Endymion repeated unsurely. At Vienna's shaky nod, he said, only louder this time with mounting vehemence, "Daemon." He clenched his fists in anger, his jaw locking in a need to curse the walls down.
"You know of him." The young queen said with baited curiosity.
"You could say that." He replied, lost in his dwelling thoughts. He did not even notice Vienna crawling up the bed beside him, getting closer. She obviously was pleased to be able to take advantage of the situation as she neared.
"Then you must know of his thirst for power. He is ruthless and uncaring, completely thoughtless to the lives of others and lives only to please himself. His craving for power is what makes him famous. Endymion, he is -"
"Exactly like me." The prince stated quietly. His thoughts were filled with the possible union between the young princess and this Daemon. His head clouded with a blinding rage. Serenity was his. He had made his claim and strove for possession. Nobody could, would take that away from him. Not if he had anything to say about it.
He thought back to the scene only, what seemed like moments ago. The feel of her smooth skin. Her thighs. Legs. In a hold, wrapped around his waist. Her silken strands brushing the sides of his face, bound in his clenched fist. Their mouths, fused together, locked in damp heat, tongues plunging for control. Lost. The strength of his desire, driving, searching her warmth. All a lingering instance within his mind.
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply at the memory. The mere thought of her was enough to make him hard. He looked down. Sure enough.
"Why Endy, is that for me?" Vienna purred in his ear, startling him out of his reverie, daring to stroke his chest and then going low, down to the physical reaction at his mind's view of the young princess. Endymion's eyes narrowed in anger and frustration due to his mind not being present enough to throw his father's wife over the balcony. Although he had to admit, she sure did have a way with her hands.
His own hands clenched the blankets beneath him, watching her, taking on the role of the impartial observer. He was curious to gauge his response. The response of an aroused man to an undesired woman. To the wrong woman.
"I have been waiting for this." She said huskily before smiling at him seductively and dipping down to take him into her mouth.
"Serenity, dear. Have we forgotten somebody?" Queen Selene said, sitting on her daughter's desk chair.
The princess came to a halt in the doorway at the sight of her mother. 'Great.'
"Ferinx?" She responded innocently.
"Did I or did I not make it specifically clear that you and Endymion were to return back to the castle together?" She asked tightly.
'Why do parents always ask questions they already know the answers to?' Serenity sighed, "Mother you do not understand. Something.....came up. We both had to be somewhere else. Separately. It is as simple as that." Serenity craved for it to be anything but what it was, and it definitely was not simple.
"Serenity I ask you to do this one task and you cannot even do it." The queen murmured in despair.
"Mother this situation is not as easy as you make it out to be." Serenity tried complacently.
"I wish to retire from this regency happily, daughter. Do you enjoy seeing me miserable?"
Serenity gasped at the queen's words. How could she say that to her? It was not like she purposely set out against her mother. In fact, anything of which she did was never aimed at her. Not maliciously anyway.
"Do you think I enjoy having this reluctance towards anybody with a penis?" She spat out crudely. "Do you think I enjoy princes walking in day and night with the intention to marry me for our kingdom? For my looks? To be forced to spend time with people I purely despise because of an age-old law? Do you think I enjoy the idea of being auctioned off to the nearest bidder just because I turned sixteen? Wake up Mum. You cannot even imagine my miserable life. As a princess." She finished strongly, aversion at her title shining in her eyes.
"Don't you dare talk to me about misery. Don't you dare. You cannot even begin to understand the meaning of the word. When your heart is shattered into tiny pieces because the one man you ever loved was slaughtered, then we can discuss misery equally. But only until then can you truly understand its very definition." Selene said vehemently, wiping a falling tear from her eye.
Serenity questioned quietly, "How can I know love when my heart is not even given the chance to discover it?"
Selene looked at her daughter sadly. She could see the pain at being a pawn of this barbaric marriage procedure, but there was nothing she could do about it. She must obey custom, tradition, law. A queen's duty.
"I am sorry my daughter. I am sorry that you feel this way but I am afraid it is for your own good." Serenity shook her head in disgust. "So I suggest you take this time to consider your options wisely, while you still have the chance." At that the queen turned and walked out of her room, shutting the door behind her.
The princess snorted in doubt. "What options?" Her whisper lost in the breeze.
Endymion squeezed his eyes closed at Vienna's skilled motions. He held no desire for her whatsoever and was therefore startled at the reaction of his body and at the way it was functioning. Though why should it surprise him? He had bedded many nameless woman, many forgotten, so he was an expert at disassociating his mind from his body.
He rested his head back. His fists were clenching the blankets beneath him as she employed her talented mouth to his member. She really did have a gift for it.
He was glad she did not kiss him. Kissing would have made it personal. If she had she might have swept away the memory of another kiss, one that he was unwilling to forget at the moment. He kept that kiss locked away in his head so that he may analyze it under closer inspection later, hoping it might solve his musings of why her kiss she be so unforgettable. Why her very embodiment could elude his thoughts, way warding the mind. He failed to discover the reason as to why the Princess Serenity was such a mystery to him, why she was imprinted into his hormones, and nobody else. Why her?
Now he let his mind go blank, disengaging himself from the act but allowing his body to respond. To enjoy the increasing thrill of pleasure racing through his body until it hit its climactic force spilling into her mouth. He did not touch her at all. Not even when he came. Instead his jaw locked and he squeezed his eyes shut, almost pulling the sheets from under the bed as his clenched hands tightened. Then, when it was over he calmly tucked himself inside his pants.
Vienna sat up with a knowing smirk on her face. A satisfied glint in her eye. "Mmm.....now I know that is what we both needed." She murmured huskily.
Endymion said nothing. She trailed her hand lightly passed his stomach and stroked his chest lovingly. "So shall we continue?" She asked beguilingly.
He looked at her and then closed his eyes in disgust. Yet he didn't know whether it was disgust at her or at himself. He was seriously dreading being in her company any time longer and that surprised him. Since when did he pass up the opportunity of a good, no strings attached rumble in the sheets. "We're done."
The young queen scoffed incredulously, "Like hell we are. I -"
"Did is exactly as you pleased. I didn't ask you. Now get out." Endymion interrupted evenly. He stood up and strode from the bed towards the balcony.
Vienna stood outraged. "You can not treat - "
She was interrupted once again, this time the prince glared at her with a spark of malice in his eye. He stalked slowly towards the frustrated redhead. "I went back on my promise before of snapping your little neck. If you do not leave my room in the next ten seconds, I shall happily enact my threat. Now leave." He stood there silently counting.
Vienna's eyes widened with a mixture of anger and fear. By the prince's expression and well-known reputation, she knew he spoke the truth. So with one last glare in his direction, she picked up her skirts and stormed out. The prince chuckled heartily and decided to take a shower.
Serenity lay on her bed, thinking gloomily of the day's events. Well, a portion of the day's events remained dominant in her mind. Hell, it was still early who knew what else could happen.
She had quite successfully made her mother absolutely angry with her, but then that was nothing new. There was never a day that passed where she did not fail to accomplish that small task. But this time, her reprimanding started taking effect. Only a few more weeks before she turned sixteen. Only a few more weeks after that where she would encounter doomsday. Otherwise known as marriage.
Yet, no matter how many princes Serenity happily chased away, she was still stuck with the inevitability that she would soon marry. And she hated it. She hated being given a time limit on love. She loathed this part of being a princess. Her intended marriage would obviously please others but what about her? What about what she wanted?
So it was true. The weighty title of a princess was pleasing enough until it came time to perform specific obligations, sacrificing her own emotions and executing any chance of true happiness. At times like this, she truly resented her life.
And what was resentment without its happy little helpers, specifically the one and only Prince Endymion. It seemed he was sent here purely on the basis to ratify her demise because, whether she liked it or not, he was initially stuck in her head. Ok, so maybe she liked him. BIG deal. She would get over it. She was obviously going through some hormonal meltdown, which contained the symptoms of manic psychosis and inability to function the brain. How else was she able to explain the incident earlier on?
It was not just the fact that they kissed which muddled her mind, but also the fact that she initiated their kiss this time. Not the other way around. In fact, he was practically giving her a way out of all this madness, but alas, her pride took the insult to heart and decided to prove itself. Stupid, stupid pride. And not only that, but she enjoyed it. She enjoyed it immensely.
She could still feel the imprint that his hand made on her thigh. The sweet thrill that raced down her spine at his mind numbing kisses and the amount of heat which unfurled within the bottom of her stomach when her legs wrapped around his waist and she pushed into his arousal. She closed her eyes at the remembrance of the growl of desire he made into her mouth. She could still feel it passing on the vibrations from his chest to hers. She could still taste him.
It was not like any other she had experienced before. It was far, far from the clumsy first kiss of her childhood friend Prince Kale when they were both twelve. And went beyond the limits of any other ridiculous seduction attempts made by the other princes. The chemistry between Prince Endymion and herself exceeded anything she had ever known. So she was forced to face the grim reality that she sadly and, as it appeared, helplessly and most definitely unpurposely, had a severe case of the hots. For Endymion.
"How humiliating."
"What's humiliating?" Mina asked as she walked into the princess' room.
Serenity started in embarrassment. "Oh, nothing. Just talking.....to myself. You know?"
"Uh-huh." Mina answered in confusion, lifting an eyebrow.
"So what's up?" Serenity asked, shaking the thoughts from her mind with a flick of the head.
Mina's mouth dropped open in shock. She then raised her eyebrows, "Well, I had originally come in here to discuss the ball format, but now, I am much more curious to find out what the hell that is on your neck!" She stated. Her voice rising with each word.
The princess frowned in confusion, and then, her eyes lighting up with horror ran to the mirror to discover there was indeed a red bruise forming on her neck. Otherwise known as a bloody hiki. Damn him! Like he could make my life anymore worse.
She quickly slapped a hand over it. "Umm..... a bite. BUG! A bug bite." She declared unconvincingly.
"Oh, it is a bite alright. But I am not so sure it is from a bug."
"HA! Do not be so sure."
"Serenity you had better tell me all the gory details. And fast! I can not believe you did not tell me you were getting it on with Endymion." Mina said crossly.
Serenity stamped her foot in frustration. "I am NOT getting it on with Endymion. And there are no gory details. It was just a little lapse of misjudgment, not to mention a large dose of insanity and this was the result. End of story." She finished self-righteously.
"Not end of story." Mina said evenly, storming towards the bewildered princess and making her sit down on the nearest chair. "Tell me what happened." She ordered, making herself comfortable in an opposite chair.
Serenity scowled in annoyance. "Honestly Mina, you make me out as some kind of wanton sex guru."
"Hey, it is the most sexual stimulation I will be getting anytime soon so spill."
"Well you obviously need to get out more. In fact, start now." She tried, unsuccessfully.
"No way are you slipping this passed me. You might as well tell me. I am not leaving until you tell me how exactly that little love bite came to be."
Serenity sighed in compliance. She sat back and then reluctantly began relaying the encounters between the prince and herself. Leaving out a few minor details of course, such as her bout of manic psychosis in her feelings for the prince.
"Wow!" Mina said once Serenity was finished.
"Yeah." She replied in turn. Watching as her friend shook her head in obvious shock.
She then gasped out, "So is he a good kisser?"
"Mina!" Serenity exclaimed in annoyance.
"What?"
"I relay to you the details of my unruly hormonal nightmare slash crisis and you ask me if he is a good kisser? I need some help here!" The princess cried out indignantly.
"What do you need help with? By the looks of things," she stated making an obvious glance in the direction of Serenity's neck, which was quickly covered up by her hand. "You have it all under control."
"No you're wrong. I don't have it under control. My hormones are going crazy. I know, deep within the recesses of my mind that I hate this male with a vengeance and yet, every time I see him all I want to do is jump him. What is wrong with me?" She wailed helplessly.
Mina bit her bottom lip trying to hold back her laugh. "Senni, nothing is wrong with you. So you are lusting after Endymion. So what? He is one incredibly gorgeous specimen. Nobody would blame you."
"I blame me. This is me we are talking about. I do not lose control just because some gorgeous man wants me to. I don't do that. Ever. It is not me."
"Senni, you are a fifteen, soon to be sixteen year old woman. If you did not like Endymion, then I would be seriously questioning your sexual preferences." Mina stated, reassuring the doubting princess who frowned in confusion at her sentence.
"Did you just call me a lesbian?"
Mina gave out a sigh of exasperation, "Therefore," she went on, ignoring the princess' comment, "It is purely natural, inevitable even, that you like Endymion. Nothing is wrong with you. Enjoy it. Live it up. Do you know how entirely ecstatic I am that you finally like somebody? I'm thrilled. It is about time."
Serenity eyed her in dismay. "Mina.....have you not listened to a word I have been saying?"
Mina snorted in incredulity. "Serenity, you like Endymion. Endymion obviously likes you. Experience these emotions. Do not run away from it. I promise you, when you let yourself really, truly endure these feelings, you will not only enjoy it, but you will want more of it."
Serenity stared at her with disbelief. Frowning while deep in thought about the words the blonde spoke. Ok, so fine. Maybe she would enjoy the pleasure that Endymion seemed to initiate within her. But since when in this lifetime has emotions ever been trustworthy?
"What about the harem of girls you said Endymion had? What? Do I just add my name to the list? You and I both know that if I let anything happen between him, and myself it would only lead to pain. Mine, specifically. And you are telling me to endure that? Do you have a fetish for suffering friends?" Serenity asked sarcastically.
"Well, alright, I admit Endymion can be a bit of a bastard when it comes to dabbling in the affairs of a woman's heart, but nevertheless, you are not going to fall in love with him are you?"
"What!?" Serenity exclaimed in horror. "Are you mad? Of course I am not going to bloody fall in love with him."
"Well good. Then what is the problem?"
"The problem IS, pride. And dignity. And respect for myself. I do not just want to be another notch on his bedpost."
"Then why can he not be a notch on yours?"
Serenity screwed up her face in confusion, shaking her head when she could not fathom a more appropriate response. "Huh?"
"Look," Mina started, leaning forward in her chair, pushing a golden strand of hair behind her ear, "The way I see it, if you are not going to fall in love with him then you will not get your heart broken. And better yet, you will get to sample, in as many servings as you like I take it, what it is to be Prince Endymion's lover."
Serenity remained silent as she thought about this. She couldn't possibly take this seriously.....could she?
Mina continued, "And think about it, this will be the only time you get to 'experience' with him. I mean, you are going to be married soon right? If you ask me, it is better to regret the things you have done, rather than the things you did not do. I forget who said that but I like to make that my motto.....most of the time. Am I right?"
It took a while for all this to process within Serenity's mind. Yes Mina was partially right, but she did not feel comfortable with just letting herself enjoy anything she could ever have with Endymion when she knew that it would all end badly. Their hearts included or not, one way or another somebody was bound to be hurt. You cannot have pleasure without its lingering partner pain.
"I do not know." Serenity said quietly.
"Well, take it from me, have fun. Live it up while you can. Otherwise you will only regret letting it slip through your fingers later. Lead with your instincts, ignore the mind. Follow your hormones." Mina said with a cheeky little grin.
"Ha, that is the last thing I should do."
"That is the ONLY thing you should do. If you ask me, you think too much. Just picture how good it would feel if you just had.....I don't know, meaningless, mind-blowing sex with him."
"Settle down. I am having serious doubts as to the two of us kissing let alone adding sex to the factor." The princess stated incredulously.
"Well fine. Start with kissing then and should you feel up to allowing anything else to enter the equation, then so be it. The main thing is you enjoy it. Damn the consequences." She finished with a nod of confirmation, ignoring the words 'you are a hypocrite' replaying themselves over and over in her head.
Serenity sat and stared at her blonde haired friend asking herself why she did not just keep her big mouth shut. That was most possibly the worst advice she had ever received. Summing it all up, it distinctly spelled out that she was to have sex with a self confessed bastard. And that did not seem too helpful to her.....at all!
Leaning forward in her chair and looking very serious, "Mina, the next time I ask you for advice, don't give it to me."