A Maid of the Royal Family
A ColdHiddenBlade Oneshot
I have become an avid reader of web novels and Manhwa's related to reincarnation lately (this has always been a genre I enjoy writing myself), and I couldn't help but write a hot little piece of my favourite one.
Irra leaned back on the window frame of her room, she slept in a lonely room on the first level of the Emerald Palace near the stairs that led up towards Athanasia's level.
As one of two (if you include Lilian) personal maids to Athanasia, she was upgraded to her own room that was attached to a bell into Athanasia's room. Only three rooms were still connected to the princess' quarters after Claude had the palace refurbished for his daughter. Irra's, Lilian's, and the kitchens.
Irra hummed to a tune from her old world while swinging one leg off the window edge and reading one of Athanasia's many raunchy romance books that the fourteen (mentally in the thirties) girl enjoyed in secret.
Romance wasn't really Irra's preferred genre, but the girl highly recommended it. And she had to admit, beneath the many detailed sex scenes there was quite a beautiful story of political intrigue and war amongst humans and demons.
A cold gust of wind brushed through her straight black hair and chilled her to the bone, Irra shivered and glanced into her room as she wondered whether to grab a thick woollen shawl or just ignore it. The air couldn't decide whether it wanted to be cold or warm.
The strong smell of ink and tea suddenly invaded her nose, and the feeling of someone's body heat beside her made Irra tense and whip her head around. Her charcoal eyes widened only slightly when she met a drowsy pair of jewelled cyan eyes underneath an overgrown golden fringe.
"Oh... blessings and glory to..."
"What are you?" He interrupted her with a cold voice, his eyelids seemed to lower slightly as he gave her a sharp stare.
"I'm sorry?" Irra realized she hadn't managed to school her face into her usual smile, but it was too late to cover up her clear confusion at the Emperor's strange question. She was reminded of the time Lucas asked the same question shortly after Athanasia collapsed 'What are you? You're empty…' had been his words in front of Felix and Claude (causing the two to eye her in confusion and suspicion), "What am I?"
"Was the question too difficult for you?" His eyes seemed to turn dark and deadly, he glared at Irra openly making the woman's hands tighten around the leather cover of the book. Did he think she was trying to avoid the question?
"I am... a maid... to the royal family?" She started in a confused voice while feeling uncomfortable as Claude stood so close to her, one hand rested on the window frame caging her hanging leg underneath. His other almost touched the crown of her head as Claude leaned against the frame with his forearm trapping locks of her hair, his handsome and emotionless face was barely inches from hers.
"A maid to the royal family..." He echoed with a low hum from his chest and slit his eyes eyes, he appeared to like the answer somewhat but also gave off the feeling like it wasn't what he was wanting to hear at first, "Your loyalty is to me as well as the princess?"
It felt like he was playing along with her, and if she made one wrong comment or move, he would slay her as easily as he slaughtered everyone in the Ruby Palace when Athanasia was born…
"Yes... I may be the Princess' personal maid, but I also am property of you. As all servants to the Royal Palace are." She slowly spoke while keeping her voice neutral and silently thanked her acting career for being able to stay calm as she tried not to anger the unpredictable man. She had to step carefully. His temper could switch so fast with no signs that it would give her ancestors whiplash.
The wind pulled at her hair, the pitch black framed around Claude's head and seemed to tunnel them in, the outside world shrunk until it felt like it was only them. Without a change in his emotionless eyes Claude reached out with his large hand (freeing her leg) and brushed her hair back behind her ear, he held her head for a moment to try and keep her tangle of hair from getting into his eyes as the wind continued to cause trouble, and only moved his hand back to the window frame when it died down.
Slowly he looked down, barely pausing at her revealed throat and collarbones thanks her low neckline sleeping gown to land on the book in her hands, he read only a few lines before realizing what kind of novel it was.
"I did not think you enjoyed such hobbies." He said in a lazy drawl. Not sounding surprised at all.
"Ah... it was recommended by some of the girls." Irra shot the book a mental glare of annoyance, "Not really my kind of story... but I was told I was going to get a quiz about it."
Her annoyed tone seemed to amuse him slightly, his slit eyes relaxed while he continued to read making her feel very self-conscious. It was a very saucy page.
"...and his hands ran down her legs, never going near the place she so wished him to touch. Teasing her with his fiery touch as he kissed her throat." He mumbled in a deep voice, his breath brushed against her ear and Irra couldn't help but blush. Was the Emperor really reading it out loud? God give her mercy.
"Um..." Irra looked away from his focused face and stared at the opposite wall in her room while her hands fought the urge to shut the book, "You don't have to read it your majesty... please!"
Her voice squeaked slightly and Claude rolled his glimmering eyes upwards slowly to look at her face, he seemed very mildly surprised to see her ears and cheeks red beneath the warm glow of the candle by her bed. He had grown used to seeing her keeping her face controlled under a smiling mask all these years.
It tempted him to look at the book again.
"His teeth found her undergarments and slowly pulled them away from her dripping core..." Snap!
Claude blinked when Irra slammed the book shut and leapt away from the window and tried to flee him, only to freeze with a small pained squeak. Her back was frozen towards him.
"Oh?" He leaned forward and smirked, "Trying to run away? Why did you stop?" His tone was almost snide.
"My hair..."
At her whimpered words, Claude glanced towards his forearm and noticed the strained locks he had pinned there. Even as his brain ran through scenarios, the Emperor's face was as ever cold and emotionless. He reached forward with his other hand once more and wrapped it around Irra's wrist, so frail and small... he tugged her roughly backwards causing her to drop the book with a loud thud and twist around.
Her eyes were wide and her mouth gasped in surprise as she found herself tumbling towards him. Quickly she saved herself from falling onto him by gripping the window frame and everything (including her breath) froze when her nose brushed Claude's and she had a very close look of his cool eyes. Has anyone besides the princess even been this close to his face?
"I haven't dismissed you, Irra." She shivered as he finally spoke her name in a dangerous voice. It was the first time. He has only called her 'maid' despite Athanasia's complaints.
"My... apologies your majesty." Irra swallowed nervously, she could see his hair ripple in her breath and she prayed it didn't smell. Oral hygiene wasn't as unkept here as her old world, but she tried to do her best. Claude's hand twitched around her wrist, before releasing her. The woman obviously had a strong desire to flee, but her hair was still caught and by his cold stare she knew he might hunt her down if she tried again.
His hand almost caged the entirety of the back of her head, his fingers were long and slender but also strong.
"Your majesty?" Gasp!
Irra's eyes quaked in surprise as Claude pulled her the last inch forward and captured her lips. She was too stunned that it wasn't until he deepened it and pushed a hot tongue into her mouth that she reacted. Her hand fisted into the hem of his open robe and held firm for dear life as the Emperor took her breath away.
Claude's eyes did not leave her wide ones as he straightened up and wrapped his second hand around her throat to pull her closer so that there was barely any distance between them, there was the slightest challenge in his eyes.
Nervously, Irra returned the kiss but she kept weary when meeting his tongue with her own. Claude hummed into her mouth and seemed to smirk with his eyes as he grew aggressive with both his hands and mouth. His hand around her throat descended to fondle a breast through her thin dress roughly.
Not expecting it, Irra let out a startled moan and struggled to keep her eyes open. Claude broke the kiss but didn't move far away as his mouth found her neck.
"Your majesty? What..."
"Don't speak." He ordered in a quite tone against her skin and Irra snapped her mouth shut and moaned. His fingers found her nipple through the fabric and he pinched it until it grew pert. He seemed emotionless, but his eyes flickered cunningly.
Just as suddenly as he started, Claude removed his hands from her body and slammed them onto the window frame making Irra jump and her hazy eyes clear.
He pushed up on the frame smoothly and swung his legs inside without stumbling on his loose robes. The sudden fact that he was now standing inside her room with nothing between them had Irra feel like there were danger flags. She backed up as Claude stepped closer, and he closed the window behind him with a slow click of the lock. The outside world was blocked from sight when he ripped the curtains across carelessly, "Lock the door."
Dutifully, Irra crosses the room to lock her room and she hesitated here. God, she wanted to run. The Emperor could do anything to her now, and nobody would be the wiser…
"Come here, Irra." He almost purred her name again and Irra took small steps towards him while lowering her eyes dutifully. What was this situation?
Even though she wasn't looking at him, she still saw his slender hands loosen his long robe so that it parted to show the hem of his pants.
When she was in arms reach, the Emperor once more grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward. Irra gasped when her chest hit his with a solid thump that pushed the air from her lungs and blinked when he forced her face to look up, he didn't wait for her to take a breath before pulling her into a rough kiss.
Irra's eyes shut tight when she couldn't bring herself to hold his again (her heart couldn't handle it), the man grabbed her by the hips so that his fingers caged her behind and pulled her close towards the lump beneath his pants.
He wasn't hard yet, but as he rolled their hips slowly together, he seemed to twitch and swell to life. If his intentions weren't clear beforehand, they were now crystal clear. Irra flushed brilliantly and her hands trembled as she gripped at his loose robe.
"Good girl." He hummed with no changes to his voice as he finally separated from the kiss for a moment. He took up fists of her sleeping gown and pulled it up over her head in one fell motion leaving the woman completely naked before she could catch up.
The cold air on her skin was a shock to the system, but the man was fiery hot and Irra found herself subconsciously moving closer just to stay warm. His eyes glint as he wrapped her in both his arms and the loose robe so that only the back of her bare shoulders was still uncovered.
"You know what I intend to do?" He licked his lips sensually.
"I think I am getting the gist of it..." Irra stared at his chiselled chest nervously while her voice squeaked out, "Are you sure?"
"Hm?" Claude didn't seem offended that she was questioning him and tilted his head in curiosity.
"I-I am just a maid... a-and as precious as Athy is, I don't have any c-c-counters for a..."
"Calling the princess by her pet name, are we?" His voice was cold and it had a chill that was icier than the air running down her naked spine. That was a mistake…
"Ah... the Princess likes being called her nickname... I apologise your majesty." Irra shivered as the energy seeping from Claude seemed to suffocate her. She was abruptly lifted and Irra instinctively reached out with her hands and moved her legs when she was hit with a surge of vertigo. She looked down at Claude as he held her up in his arms, his eyes were dark with swirling emotions that he kept beneath the surface as he carried her towards the four-poster bed. He almost slammed her back against one of the solid posts making her gasp.
Irra held onto his shoulders as the man caressed his hands down the back of her thighs where she had wrapped her legs around his waist without realising and his mouth created a wet road between her collarbones. His mouth lowered towards a breast and Irra's breath grew unsteady as he breathed hot air against the sensitive mound, right before taking it between his teeth and teased the nipple with his tongue.
"A-ah..." Irra jolted and arched at the sensation, one of her hands instinctively grabbed the back of Claude's head and she flinched when she felt him tense as he felt his hair pull slightly at the roots. Did she just grab the Emperors head?
A taciturn chuckle came from the man's chest and his jewelled eyes raised to stare up at Irra's startled ones from his place against her breast, "Forgetting who you are with?" He breathed hotly against her sensitive skin. His eyes burned like cold flames…
"I-I am sorry, your majesty." She loosened her grip from his golden hair, "I haven't forgotten..."
Her answer seemed to please him more than he let on, he straightened and gave her an almost lazy kiss while holding her eyes.
"Good, don't forget." He kicked his lips as he pulled back slightly and carefully carried the last few steps to the bed (closer to the head), he rolled his shoulders making his muscles ripple under her hand and the robe to slip silently to the ground. He kicked off his grey shoes (slippers?) and sat down on the edge of the bed without losing grip on the woman. With Irra always straddling his hips, Claude shuffled her pillows around before lying down so that his back was supported semi-upright, and returned his hands to her hips to slowly grind her forward against his groin. "I can tell you are ready..."
That was true. Her body was reacting beautifully even though her mind was in chaos, and she blushed with embarrassment when he brought attention to it. She could tell his pants were growing damp against his manhood and the friction against the hardening lump wasn't helping.
"Yes..." She didn't deny.
"You said you are property of the royal family... meaning it is your job to care for our health, correct?" He spoke slowly and coolly. His words had Irra frowning slightly in confusion to where this was going and he continued when she gave a nod of agreement, "I can't sleep."
He appeared to smirk as his words clicked in her mind like gear work.
"Your majesty..." Irra examined him quickly. It was true and not just an excuse he was making up, he was sickly pale and the skin around his eyes seemed a little grey. He probably hasn't slept for a couple of days already.
She played along, "How could a lowly maid like me help you sleep?"
Pleased. Claude's hands jerked her forward making her give a gasping moan and braced herself upwards with her hands on his... god his abs were like stone... "You can start with a massage." His tone implied that he didn't want JUST any old massage.
Ok, don't think that he is the Emperor... don't think, don't think. Slowly Irra ran her hands up his abs, feeling the taunt definitions. How did he stay so fit if all he did was sleep, desk work, and drink tea with the princess? She wanted to know his secret!
"Do you have anywhere I should avoid touching, your majesty?" She asked in a slow, almost clinical voice.
Claude leaned back into the pillows and watched her with lidded eyes, "I have nothing to hide."
She guessed he also meant he wasn't ticklish either?
With alert eyes, Irra followed the lines of his body upwards towards his chest while putting pressure into her palms in a half massage, half touching aimlessly. Claude's cold, jewelled eyes seemed to examine her collarbone and face as he watched her focus on him, he didn't stop moving her hips against his and he felt sweat drip down the back of his neck as he felt the strain of holding back.
It had been a while since he had a woman, after killing the many courtesans in the Ruby Palace he hadn't taken in any more. He now fought his insomnia with alcohol alone.
There was once a courtesan with long black hair like Irra's, but her eyes had been completely black rather than the charcoal grey. She had been good friends of Diana's and stayed by the dancer's side during her labour. Claude flinched making Irra pause.
Finding his face blocked of emotion and no voiced complaints, she guessed he wasn't reacting because of her touches but something on his mind. Carefully Irra flattened her hands on his chest and shuffled her legs into a more comfortable position, a faint groan broke past Claude's lips as she now gave him a more direct route to her core and he felt the bulge in his pants part her lower lips with each roll.
His pants were almost soaked from how much the woman dripped for him, and he hadn't even touched her dripping slit yet. Thinking about it, Claude twisted one of his hands inwards so that his thumb could slide down and hit her bundle. Irra's reaction was instant as he pressed down.
Her eyes widened down at him and her body tightened, a strangled sound broke from her chest before she blushed. The redness creeped down her chest and she covered half her face with the back of her hand, and looked away with mortification.
Claude gave a low chuckle, one that seemed devoid of humour, while grabbing a hold of her hand. He pulled it away from her face and continued to pull until she was leaning close to him. He latched his teeth around her bottom lip and chewed it gently so that it just went pink, he wasn't cruel enough to leave a visible mark.
As Claude pulled her into a needy kiss, Irra ran her free hand upwards and to the back of his neck without taking it off him. She kissed him back with just as much need as his thumb worked her bundle. "Ah!"
Claude moved his hand again and pushed two long fingers inside her with no resistance, he curled them and slowly fucked her with them. Controlled and calm in comparison to the kiss. Her walls twitched as something pooled in her stomach.
"Your majesty... ah..." Irra backed from the kiss and hissed as she felt her end rapidly catching up to her, the Emperor's eyes were almost glowing as he examined her face. He finally pushed a third finger inside and yet it still felt like she wasn't full enough.
"Already close to your end?" He held her chin in a firm grip and kept it still as he sped up his fingers, the sound of her wet core being 'abused' bounced off the walls had even the stoic man flushing slightly. His manhood was straining painfully against his pants. "I am still wearing my pants and you are like this..."
Claude focused on Irra's face as he brought her to her breaking point. He felt his member twitch when he watched her fall apart to his fingers alone and felt the way she twitched around them. It was a lovely sight to see the usually controlled woman show such an intimate, raw expression.
Tears in her eyes, lips wet with drool, and eyes struggling to stay open.
Claude felt the woman's body shiver weakly, but he had to congratulate her for not collapsing entirely. "I still am in my pants, Irra." He muttered lowly.
Irra moaned in understanding and ran her trembling hands down his toned front to the hem of his damp pants. She lifted herself up enough to tug his pants down over his hips.
"Hn!" Claude hissed as his manhood's weeping tip rubbed against her slit before bouncing against his stomach as he was freed of the confining fabric, before Irra could move to completely remove his pants Claude grabbed her hips and pulled her forward so that she was sitting on his stomach. He latched his mouth to one of her breasts and sucked across the mound until it was dotted with red welts for their eyes only.
He gave the same attention to the other one, as well as her chest up to her throat where the collar of her maid uniform would cover. Claude dug his nails into the woman's plumb ass and his emotionless mask staggered slightly as he felt her wet slick coat his swollen tip.
Slowly, he lifted his hips and pushed hers backwards. "Hm! Ah." They moaned together as his manhood slid inside her to the base smoothly. The woman encased him in welcoming, wet warmth and Claude felt his sensibility slipping away as sweat began to dot his face and his hair stuck to his face. He felt every nerve twitch and fought the urge to flip the woman over and fuck her like a mewling whore until he had his fill.
"Don't disappoint, Irra." He hummed and leaned his cheek on one of his knuckles as he stared at the woman calmly. One golden brow rose when he felt the woman twitch around him but he made no comment.
Groaning with need, Irra tested the perilous waters by rolling her hips slowly. Claude's facial expression flinched slightly, and urged her to be bold.
Using her hands on his stomach and her legs, Irra raised her body until Claude's tip was the only thing inside before sliding back down to the hilt. The man's hands twitched and a bead of sweat rolled down his flawless face. This was clearly driving him crazy beneath his cool expression.
Irra repeated the motion while slowly picking up her speed, her breasts bounced each time and seemed to hypnotize the Emperor as she rode him but he resisted touching her and just focused on watching her do the work. His hand bruised her hip with the strain as his manhood was engulfed over and over by the woman's quivering core.
Said woman arched with a broken moan as she felt him touching something inside, he was long and thick and was filling her up so nicely unlike his fingers, hitting all the right nerves to light up her body. After already coming she was hypersensitive to the feeling and knew it won't take long for the stimulation to bring her to another release.
"Irra." Claude's voice lowered to a deep rumble from his chest, "Find your release again without me again, and I will make certain you can't serve my daughter with a straight face tomorrow."
Having the most powerful man in the empire purr out her name when buried inside her body intimately had Irra break out in both a nervous and turned on sweat. She could feel her sensitive walls twitching and her heart pounded against her rib cage in desperation.
If she didn't have him coming too, she was certain he would live up to his threats and make sure she couldn't walk in the morning. Both a frightening and exciting thing to imagine.
Irra moved her hands to grip the pillow either side of Claude's head and leaned forward to change the angle, subsequently bring her face closer to his. It seemed to shock the man into removing his hand under his cheek to grab her waist to support her, he ran the warm hand down her side to mirror his hand on her hip. He groaned and frowned as Irra bounced onto him at this new angle.
His breath painted across her face as he felt his manhood swell, and clenched his teeth to try keeping some control in his court.
Irra gave a long moan and pressed her brow against his shoulder, to stifle her needy noises she began to kiss his skin and she grew daring when Claude groaned in an urging tone. His cyan eyes almost closed and his head tilted back as she eagerly mouthed his throat as he had done to her, and smirked when he flinched with a startled moan when she grazed the skin with her teeth.
"S-Shit..." He swore so quietly Irra almost didn't hear him as she felt his Adam's apple move under her lips, his hands started to massage her backside slowly. He pulled them up and pushed down in time with her motions, making his manhood pierce into her to the base each time. His breath was haggard and huffed from his mouth as his body quaked beneath her. It was clear he wanted to take her himself but was resisting.
"That's it..." His voice broke slightly as he felt the woman twitch around him, "I'm almost there."
The Emperor whispered something unintelligible into her ear, his words almost meant nothing as Irra tried focusing on riding and kissing his throat to make him come before she did.
"Hn.." Claude shivered and lowered his head back onto the pillows giving the woman more access to his throat (a big thing of 'trust' coming from an Emperor). His brow creased as he felt ready to explode, he was going to come. "I'm..."
He broke off with a sharp intake of air and gripped Irra's hips with bone-crushing pressure. He slammed her down while thrusting upwards with loud slap of skin on skin as his balls hit her backside, a loud sharp sound that echoed off the walls. His manhood swelled and his body quivered as he came with a low grunt.
Knock knock! "Irra are you awake? I had a bad dream..."
Irra felt like icy water was poured on her (souring her own release right before she came) as the small voice whispered in fluent Korean past the door, she covered her mouth to muffle her whimpers as she felt Claude coming inside her hotly while her high sunk to a dull throb, his swollen shaft twitched with each burst and his hands flinched against her ass. His glowing jewelled eyes turned frosty and flashed to the door; his body grew tense as he watched the handle jiggle for a moment.
A frown formed on his face as he didn't recognize the language his daughter spoke in and looked down at the dark crown of Irra's head with suspicion as she planted her mortified face against his chest.
"I guess you are asleep for once... good night." Athanasia sighed sadly, it was unusual for Irra to be asleep at this time, she was a night owl. Her small feet stepped away as both Irra and Claude seemed to hold their breath and listen.
After a few rapid heartbeats, Claude brushed an almost threatening hand through the woman's damp hair and hummed darkly. "I didn't realize my daughter gave you nightly visits and had a secret language, you both must be close..."
His tone sent a shiver down Irra's spine, and she covered her face with her hands and seemed to sink further against his chest. God... if they hadn't locked the door the girl would have come in... "We wouldn't have heard the end of it..."
Chuckle... the small laugh that broke from Claude was a surprising one. It sounded like it was in agreement, "The princess favours you..."
"Are you kidding? It's you that she would have gotten defensive over." Irra looked up and blinked when Claude seemed to look a little surprised at her words, "Don't you know how much she wants to protect you?"
"I don't need it." His reply was rapid and cool, he looked away. Years of observing his small expressions, Irra knew he was happy.
"That may be true, but it doesn't change the fact that she would not have forgiven me for this easily..."
"Enough, I don't want to be talking about my daughter when I am still inside you." Claude's cold eyes slit while thrusting his hips upwards as if reminding her that she still had one very hard pole inside her, "I believe you didn't find your release."
Irra gawked as the Emperor shifted to roll her onto her back without pulling out, some of his seed dripped out of her body as he moved them. He managed to shuffle a pillow beneath her shoulders and kick off his pants. He then lifted her legs by her thighs so that she spread wide for him.
There was nothing slow or controlled, Claude thrusted forward at a rapid pace making Irra arch and open her mouth in a strangled sound as she felt her high rear up. Claude watched her with his unchanging gaze as he fucked her hard into the bed. Beneath his mask of indifference, he secretly enjoyed the expression she was currently making.
He waited until he knew she was going to come and suddenly leaned forward. One hand moved at the speed of light to cover her mouth firmly while his teeth broke the skin of her throat.
"Hm!" Irra gave a muffled scream, tears welled up in her eyes from both pain and pleasure as she felt her body explode. The man continued to fuck her through her orgasm and all the woman could do was wrap her legs around his waist and tremble as her body was aflame. Every move the Emperor made was felt as her body was overstimulated from pleasure.
Claude hissed as he tasted the iron of her blood and he ran his tongue eagerly across the pierced skin to stop the bleeding. Each thrust had the woman's slick walls quivering around him and sweat began to roll down his back and fall onto the woman when he felt a second wave about to hit.
Thump thump, ah hm, thump!
Even though they tried so hard to stay quiet, the sounds of Claude thrusting into her slit and their muffled moans, still filled the room loudly.
Abruptly Claude groaned and pinned Irra's hands down on the bed, his lips hungrily devoured hers in place of his hand as he raced them towards another explosion of pleasure. They moaned together, Irra's walls tightened and Claude twitched as he filled her womb once more. His hips jerked with each release sending jolts through them.
Panting, Claude pulled away from Irra and quickly examined her with hazy eyes. His eyes seemed to dull from exhaustion as he joined the red dots with his gaze down her throat and chest. It was a thrilling sight.
"Well done, Irra." He licked their mixed saliva from his lips while looked back at the woman's blissful face, she seemed almost far away as she slowly came down from the high. "Hm, look at you..." He tilted his head and pushed back his wet hair as he leaned back to fully appreciate the marks he left behind on the woman. He traced two fingers across the bite mark and used his magic to disinfect and close it enough that it wouldn't bleed again, "I see you enjoy serving the royal family."
"Of course, your majesty." Irra gave a faint smile and breathless laugh. She watched through her dark lashes as the Emperor ran his hands down her body with his palms humming with magic. He pulled out of her body and watched with cold eyes as his seed bubbled out of her body, he had filled her up quite a bit. Slowly he ran his palm against her swollen, used core and removed the escaping fluids before they could stain the sheets more (which he also removed) then he pulled the pillows around so that he could settle down on his back with a sigh.
Exhaustion hit him in waves as he stared at the plain canopy of the bed and his eyes slowly began to droop drowsily.
Realizing he wasn't going anywhere any time soon, Irra rolled over and sat up with a pained groan. Claude watched her sleepily through his lashes as she weakly got to her feet and walked over to her dresser to grab the jug of water. With trembling hands, she pulled out a thin cotton shirt from the top drawer and soaked the fabric. Often squeezing out the excess she returned to the bed and dabbed the cool fabric against Claude's face. He sighed in relief and let his eyes shut completely as the cool fabric soothed his scorched skin, his breathing eased out as Irra gently patted down his body while being careful around his spent manhood. Politely she averted her eyes.
She would be dead if she was caught ogling the Emperor's... blushing, the woman pushed the thoughts away as she pulled the thin sheets up over his waist to give him some modesty.
When she was finished cleaning down Claude, she dipped the shirt in the jug again and wiped herself down swiftly. As she hung the cloth over the back of a chair a voice whispered lightly, "Come here."
At his sleepy command, Irra obediently returned to her bed and settled down beside the man. One strong arm snaked around her waist and pulled her against his side. Claude rolled his head to the side as Irra nervously pulled the sheets higher to cover her own waist and rested his nose against the crown of her head.
Slowly he fell asleep while keeping the woman pinned to his side with no chance of escape.
Unsure of what to do with her arms, Irra wrapped them around his body (while praying that he would not be offended by it in the morning) and relaxed her head against his shoulder. Without disturbing the sleeping Emperor, Irra reached for the lantern beside him and used the tip of her fingers to turn the small dial down so that the candle died out. The room fell to darkness.
And Irra lay staring into the nothingness as she felt each breath the man beside her made.
