Chapter 3: The Bargain
It was clear to the couple that a discussion needed to be had if they were to consummate their marriage tonight. Frollo hung up his robe, but kept his tunic and trousers on. Then he pulled a wooden chair near to the bed, sitting down to face his bride with crossed arms and a scowl.
"Alright then," the judge started with an irritated sigh. "Tell me what you are expecting."
Esmeralda realized she didn't know the specifics of what she wanted. She knew little about physical relations since she had no prior experience.
"I... will figure it out as I go." She replied.
Frollo let out a faint chuckle when he realized how unprepared the girl was.
"I will!" Esmeralda snapped. "No way am I letting you have all the fun!"
"Since you haven't made up your mind," Frollo said coldly. "Why don't we start with what you will do for me?"
The judge was met with a blank stare.
"Well?" Frollo prompted.
Esmeralda remained quiet.
"Surely you know how to pleasure a man!"
A look of embarrassment crossed Esmeralda's face. Frollo was suddenly surprised.
"Have you not been with a man?"
"Please, just stop this!"
Esmeralda buried her face in her hands, mortified. She hadn't wanted Frollo to know she was a virgin. A beast like him didn't deserve the pride he would inevitably feel if he knew he was taking her virginity.
Frollo couldn't hide his shock. He'd never expected a gypsy to be virtuous, let alone one as beautiful as Esmeralda. He would have thought she'd had many men and known everything about pleasing them.
"I must admit, I thought worse of you, gypsy."
Frollo's bride looked at him pleadingly.
"Don't do this to me!" She practically shouted. "Just tell me how! How does one pleasure a man?"
It was Frollo's turn to be quiet. Of course he knew of pleasurable things, but he wasn't intimately familiar with... intimacy. Much of his knowledge in that area came from listening to other men banter, and he often thought they were idiots.
"Wait a minute..." Esmeralda said with realization. "Don't tell me you haven't done it either!"
"What?!" Frollo snapped. "I mean... Of course I haven't! What do you expect? I'm not like other men. I am righteous! I've been celibate all my life to make myself a better servant to God!"
Because of the fire...
"Then why stop now?" Esmeralda challenged.
"BECAUSE OF YOU!" Frollo yelled.
The sudden raising of his voice stunned the girl. Frollo choked back his anger.
"Never mind that." He said to change the subject. "I will have you... try things, to determine what is most pleasurable."
"Then... I'll have you try things too." Esmeralda returned.
"We have a plan then."
Frollo stood up. He moved to put his arms around Esmeralda and began to undo the buttons of her dress.
"Wait." She interrupted.
"What now?" Frollo asked frustratedly.
"You first." The girl demanded. "You can see my chest if I can see yours."
Frollo was struck with a mild anxiety. He'd never actually intended to take his clothes off. He preferred the thought of Esmeralda naked and him clothed. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel equal to him, but it was too late for that. What mattered more was the scar. That awful scar... The real reason he'd avoided marrying... It would surely hurt his pride if she looked at his body with disgust.
"I don't think you want that." Frollo protested.
"I do." Esmeralda persisted. "I'll show you something if you show me something."
So this was how it would be. He'd get nothing from her without paying a price. Frollo partly urged to strip just to make her regret asking him to. That was what he would do. Closing his eyes, he slowly removed his tunic before throwing it on the floor. He opened his eyes to see a look of shock spread across Esmeralda's face. Frollo glared at her.
"There." He said. "Are you satisfied?"
The girl hesitated to answer, but she soon let out an unexpected "Yes..."
Frollo was suddenly more shocked than she was, and even more so when Esmeralda put her hands on him, gently moving from his waist up to his chest. She touched his scar. Frollo grunted in pain.
"Sorry." Esmeralda apologized, putting less pressure on the tender area.
She continued to touch him. Frollo realized something he'd never anticipated. Esmeralda was surprised by the scar, but there was no disgust in her eyes. She touched his disfigured flesh almost lovingly. His horribly damaged skin seemed to be a wonder to her.
It was. The scar revealed something to Esmeralda that she had nearly forgotten: As fearsome as he was, Claude Frollo was just a man. A bad man, and a cruel one, but a man nonetheless. A man who had been horribly burned. She wanted to know how this had happened to him, but it didn't seem like a good time to ask. Instead, she gave him what she'd promised. Esmeralda stood and lowered the sleeves of her dress until they came off her arms.
Frollo was taken off guard when he saw her exposed chest. Her full, attractive breasts met his expectations. What he hadn't expected was to see that she had a scar of her own. It was nothing like his, just a line that would have come from a cut. But it was very obvious, stretching across her left breast. That cut must have been severe. Frollo put his hands on his bride. He fondled her breasts eagerly. His fingers traced over the scar.
"Where did this come from?" He questioned.
"I'll tell you if you tell me about yours." Esmeralda replied.
"Later, then."
They stood there, hands moving around each other. The sensation tempted them both to feel more, so they leaned into one another and kissed.
The kiss brought back memories. The fire blazed in Frollo's mind.
There is no fire! He told himself. There is nothing to punish. Nothing sinful about a man kissing his wife.
He brushed it off. Finally, pleasure instead of pain.
Thanks to the person who reviewed! Traffic stats aren't showing any reads, so I didn't think this fic was reaching anyone. Reviews are much appreciated!
Chapter 4 is coming soon!
