Chapter 20
-Later that evening: just after dark-
Byakuya sent Tamor to bring Myssa to the glade. He didn't think she would come to meet him if he only sent her a written invitation.
The glade was a decorated exactly how he wanted it. Omija and her helpers had outdone themselves. A large soft blanket was spread out on the ground. Mountains of pillows, shades of purple from lavender to deep plum, sizes from small to large were arranged on three sides along with posts at the four corners with gauzy fabrics draped in a lovely design. Oval lanterns were hanging in the trees, suffusing the area with soft light. The gentle sound of the waterfall was better than any background music. The air was filled with the light perfume of the flowers that were scattered around the water's edge. It was cozy and romantic. It was perfect.
He was a little nervous. Was it too soon for all this? What if she said 'no'? Thoughts were tumbling. He took a deep breath to calm himself. One thought emerged above all the others: he loved her – nothing else mattered right now.
Byakuya heard Myssa's voice through the shrubs. "Tam, have you been in the dragon nip again? The last time you dragged me out here you were high and convinced that Rygar was keeping a mermaid in the glade." Byakuya chuckled a bit and shook his head.
"Princess, I assure you, the gentleman that asked me to bring you here has something most important to tell you." Tamor replied.
"Wait, you said that one of the scullery maids was upset about her lover jilting her. Tam, what are you up to?" She spilled out of the bushes and into the clearing. She saw Byakuya and froze. Tamor flew away, back toward the palace.
For a split second, Byakuya thought Myssa was going to turn and run. She had the look of cornered prey. Then, her eyes travelled over him. He'd chosen to dress casual but nice – black jeans, a white shirt open a bit to reveal the center contours of his chest muscles, and a black vest, also open. As always, he looked so achingly handsome. Myssa felt her heart squeeze and fought back a sob. She wanted him so damn bad.
Byakuya was fighting the urge to snatch her into his arms and crush her mouth under his. She was so beautiful in the soft light, like some vision of a forest goddess that had just stumbled upon him. The crème colored skirt she wore hugged her hips, a slit up to her mid-thigh drew his eyes like a moth to a flame. And, oh, how he wanted her to burn him. A gold filigree band around her thigh sparkled in the light. The matching lacy top hugged her upper body in all the right ways, leaving her bare at the waist with a belly chain catching the light – a golden invitation to put his hands there. Her hair was styled with gold accents and cascading down her back. He finally managed to speak, "You are so very beautiful, Myssa."
Her face started to crumble just a bit. "Byakuya, we can't do this." She started to leave but he closed the distance to her, stopping her with a hand on her arm.
No time for anything less than direct, "I am not marrying Keiko."
"I saw the wedding plans."
"You saw the wedding plans for Keiko and Yushiro Shihoin."
Myssa's eyes widened. "But, I thought…" Byakuya went down on one knee at her feet. "Byakuya, why are you kneeling?" The titter in her voice made it skip.
"There are only two reasons I will ever kneel to you. The first will only happen now. The other I will show you – later." He paused to take her hand in his. "Myssa, what I feel for you is unlike anything I have ever felt in my life." His gray eyes held her green ones.
She spoke softly, but it seemed to carry in the glade, "'Love' seems like too small a word to describe it."
"Yes, it does. But, it is the only word that I have. I love you with every fiber of my being. Only you hold my heart, do you understand?"
A single tear escaped…she knew exactly what he was referring to. "Hisana…"
"Is my past. I clung to her memory in grief as much as the ideal and standard to which I would hold all women in any personal relationship since her death." He paused to swallow the emotion clawing at this throat. "You shattered all of that, showed me a different way. You were a bolt of lighting into my life and I have been forever changed. You are my future, Myssa." A bit of sleight of hand and a ring was offered up to her, "Will you be my wife?"
Another tear escaped, quickly slipping down her cheek and falling onto the ground. He truly loved her, only her. He'd come for her, endured pain for her, fought and killed for her. She needed no more proof. Her face lit up with a smile that he would remember always, "Yes, Byakuya, with all my heart, yes!"
He slipped the ring on her finger and stood. One hand went to her waist, the other to cup her face, "I have wanted to do this for a very long time." And before she could say a word, his lips molded to hers. He wanted to devour her, but there was no way he was going to settle for anything less than the perfect kiss. This was their first deep kiss, their engagement kiss, and he was going to brand her with it.
He kissed her upper lip, lingering just a bit. He kissed her lower lip. It was full and soft; he paused to nibble at it, run his tongue over it. His hand moved to the back of her neck, gently anchoring her against him. Her lips parted, one hand threading into his hair. A tempting invitation, but he was waiting for something. He pulled at her bottom lip with his, teasing…until he heard a whimper of need in the back of her throat. That was when he swept in, tongue laying sensual siege to her senses.
She had been kissed before, but never like this – every pass of his tongue across hers and across the roof of her mouth stoked a fire in her. The heat was racing from the nape of her neck, down her spine, and snaking its way between her thighs. She melted into him, enjoying the hard physique a lifetime of training had given him. When her tongue mirrored his rhythm, she was instantly rewarded with a masculine growl of pleasure that sent a rush of primal lust skating along all her nerve endings. It was as if her entire body burned for his touch. His hand slid from her waist down over the curve of her butt and she moaned low.
Myssa's sounds of need were beating at the walls of his control, chipping them away like a jackhammer. He went from soft to hungry in the span of one echoed moan in his mouth. His mouth slanted over hers again and again, his teeth scraping her lower lip, his tongue soothing right after. The way she was kissing him, the raw passion between them – he had to stop before he couldn't. He sealed the kiss. Myssa made a sound of disappointment. He looked into her eyes, now glassy with desire, and smiled at her. His thumb gently stroked her lower lip. "Are you hungry?"
She huffed a little laugh, "That's a loaded question."
He chuckled a bit, "Forgive me, my segues are rusty."
"Your kissing skills damn sure aren't."
He grinned and lifted her hand to his lips, pressed a kiss in her palm, "Omija made dinner for us." He led her over to the blanket where they kicked off their shoes and sat down on pillows. She sat down cross-legged, easing her skirt up a bit for comfort. When she stuffed a pillow in her lap, he quirked a brow, "Problem?"
Her grin was bit impish, "No panties." He had been reaching for the picnic basket and shot her a look of shock. "What?!" She barked then fidgeted, "I can't wear them with this skirt, they show through the material."
"Well, I suppose it would be awkward to walk around showing everyone your purple butterflies." He began pulling food out of the basket. She had no idea how difficult the rest of the night was going to be for him. Knowing that she wasn't wearing panties was going to drive him crazy.
Myssa admired her ring, "How did you find such a beautiful ring?" The setting was vintage filigree, the stone 3 carats with just the faintest hint of light blue, oval cut, and she couldn't stop staring at it.
"I had it made for you by the royal jeweler. Abby gave me the stone from her hoard." He was dishing out food. "She said it is called a dragon's tear diamond. That stone is the only one known to exist." He smiled at her, "Singular in all of creation, just like you."
She smiled back, "It's perfect. Thank you." She watched him pour a cup of wine for her. "Ooo, I better not."
He handed the cup to her, "One cup with dinner is not going to transform you into a feral she-beast." He was teasing her.
She took the cup, "I'm really sorry about that night. I said some awful things. I was a complete mess."
"Yes, you were." His playful side was in the driver's seat. "I was disappointed I did not get to see you bite Shunsui."
She laughed that musical sound that he loved so much, "It was just a nip. It's not like I took his hand off at the wrist."
They ate their delicious dinner. Byakuya wanted to hear Myssa's memories of living in the palace. He had heard so many memories from her family and from others that he wanted to see some of it through her eyes.
Once they finished eating, they both cleared away the dishes. He pulled her into the pillows with him reclining together to sit face-to-face and talk. He had missed her so much, missed the sound of her voice, missed the way her mind worked.
She took the last sip of her wine, then settled down to face him across the pillow. "Did Abby tell you about the engagement customs?"
"She did." He laced his fingers with hers, needing to have a connection to her physically. "I am looking forward to the challenges."
"Of course you are, you're competitive just like all of us."
"I am merely confident in my abilities." He kissed her fingers. "What I am looking forward to the most is your dance."
She quirked a brow, "And what did Abby tell you about the dance?"
"Just that it would please me."
She snickered, "Oh, it'll do that, alright. It's called the 'enticement' dance for a reason."
"'Enticement', as in – " he began.
She supplied some definition. "Let's use the word 'sensual'."
His brows furrowed. A memory of Xander on a throne making her dance rose up. "I do not like the idea of you performing something like that in front of everyone."
"Byakuya, I'm not going to be swinging from a pole or removing my clothes. The dance is a tradition that has been going on for thousands of years. Even commoners uphold the tradition." She smiled. "Trust me, you will enjoy it."
He couldn't resist leaning close and capturing her lips. Now that he didn't have to hold back anymore, all he wanted to do was kiss her over and over. She moved into his arms like a magnet drawn to steel, fitting against him as if she were made just for him. He kissed her jaw before tilting her chin. Her whole body trembled when the warmth of his mouth settled on the tender flesh of her neck. Her hand in his hair, nails lightly scraping his scalp sent chills down his spine. It had been so long since he'd touched someone like this, now that the flood gates were open he didn't want to stop.
She was melting. The heat from Byakuya's body, from his mouth, from his hands. She was melting. The more he kissed and stroked her, the more she wanted. Her thoughts were tumbling, lost in sensation. She growled softly in dragonspeak, "Stars help me, I never knew I could love someone so much."
Byakuya looked into her eyes, stroked her cheek, and replied in dragonspeak, "Neither did I, sweet princess, until I fell in love with you."
Myssa's eyes flew wide. "When did you learn dragonspeak?"
"It came with the birthright."
She shifted back a bit to give them some space to talk. "How much did my father teach you about your birthright?"
"Mostly combat. He explained a few things as they cropped up." He said. "The first month was the worst. Between the awakening and the constant struggle to control the power…"
"You felt like you were on slow burn from the inside out."
He nodded. "Yes, that is exactly how I felt."
She fidgeted, looked at his lips to avoid his eyes, "Y'know, my brothers bragged about their awakenings – about all the women they bedded."
The statement hung in the air. He let it, knowing how bad she wanted to know how many women he had sex with. She didn't want to ask, didn't want to say the words. He was trying not to snicker, "And?"
She fidgeted more. "Well, I – I wondered…"
His finger under her chin lifted just enough to make her eyes meet his. "Ask me what you want to know, Myssa. I do not want any secrets between us."
She set her jaw. "How many women did you bed?"
He didn't blink, "None. Your father offered women to me and I refused. I only want to be that intimate with you, no one else."
"But, the awakening – how did you…?"
A smile played at his lips, "I did what you did during yours."
"You broke two massaging shower heads?"
The look of innocent seriousness on her face was too much for Byakuya, he started laughing. "I handled my needs myself."
"Oh." She paused to wait for him to stop snickering so much. "I – I need to tell you something – about me and I'm worried that you'll be disappointed."
He was all calm attention in a flash. "What is it?"
Myssa squeezed her eyes shut, took a deep breath, then blurted, "I'm a – virgin." When Byakuya said nothing, she opened one eye to peek at his face. She was looking for disappointment, but instead found him grinning so she opened the other eye.
"I already know that." He told her.
"How did –?" realization dawned, "My father told you, didn't he?"
Byakuya gave a slight nod. "I asked how many men you had during your awakening. That's when he told me about the royal purity law."
She visibly cringed, "I'm sorry."
"What are you apologizing for?"
She toyed with the edge of his vest, a distraction from the discomfort of the statement that followed. "For my lack of experience. My brothers and my father have often talked of their conquests. They always spoke of how much they appreciated what the women did. Never have I heard anything about enjoying a virgin."
He drew her body back against him. "I am not like your father or brothers." His eyes held hers, "When I take you to our bed and make love to you for the first time, your purity is going to be a gift I will forever treasure."
The smile that started to crease her lips was interrupted by his mouth on hers. He deepened the kiss instantly. Her hands buried in his hair, enjoying the feel of the silky strands sliding between her fingers. He hugged her close, mouth slanting over hers again and again. One hand slid up her thigh through the slit in her skirt. She lifted that leg over his, allowing him easier access to gain hold on her butt cheek.
The sound of something crashing through the bushes ended their kiss. Byakuya had just enough time to hang on to Myssa and roll out of the way as a naked man staggered through to splash into the pool. Close behind was a giggling naked woman who tripped and fell next to them. She scrambled up and into the water with a snorting giggle.
Byakuya looked puzzled, "Was that Rygar?"
"Yep. And that wasn't his wife."
"You were right, your brothers are maniacs."
She snickered. Suddenly the sounds of drunk sex echoed through the glade. Rygar grunting while the woman squealed like little mouse. Byakuya scowled and looked to Rygar was on the far bank. "Is the infidelity of the men in you family a normal way of life?"
"I wouldn't say it's a normal way of life. I think it's tolerated. Royals tend to do what they want whenever they want. It's not an exclusive trait to my family. The four kingdoms are always rife with sex scandals. As the realm royal family over all of them, the Starjaxes are the most scrutinized." She looked over to see Rygar's naked butt pumping furiously. "I saw you kiss another woman's hand and it made me physically ill. If you'd had sex with her, it probably would have killed me."
He turned her to face him, "Infidelity is one problem you will never have to face."
"I know." She gave him a soft kiss then rubbed his cheek with her thumb, "I trust you."
He knew what those three words cost her, how important they were. "I will never betray that trust."
The sound of Rygar's climax rang out. Myssa looked a bit perplexed, "I know I'm lacking in the experience department, but wasn't that really quick?"
"Embarrassingly so." He bent over to grab her shoes. "We should go share our good news with your family." He held her shoes as she slipped them on before slipping his on too. He tucked her arm in his and led her back to the palace.
