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For a minute or so, they lay in silence. A comfortable drowsiness was beginning to take hold and he’d closed his eyes as she nuzzled against him. Her voice slipped into the quiet, asking him what his favorite food and color was. “Hmm?” Opening his eyes, he found her looking at him. “I don’t know,” he said truthfully as she finally raised up and shifted her hips off of his, unlinking them.
As she curled back up at his side, he thought about her question. “Maybe….” He thought about it. Some people he knew had a real affinity for sweet things. Sometimes they’d eat the honeycomb itself if they could get their hands on it. But he wasn’t much for that sort of thing. “Lamb...I guess…” he considered but turned over so that he was facing her. “I like wine better, though. But it’s not a food.”
As far as color? He didn’t have one. It was something he’d literally never thought about. “I don’t really have favorite things,” he said as he traced the planes of her face with his fingertip. “I have things that are available to me...and things that aren’t. I suppose when I was young I disliked a certain fish. But when I was fifteen, I went to Colchis and that fish was the only thing we ate. For days. And I learned to like it.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Why? What is your favorite food? Or color? Since you seem to have preferences.”
The last part was said a bit teasingly because she clearly did have strong preferences. Something he wouldn’t have assumed she did, considering how obedient she was with whatever he asked or wanted. Aikaterine was a bit of an oddity to him. If Pia didn’t like something, she made good and sure to tell him. It was the same with most women of the court. With Aikaterine, he couldn’t tell what she liked and what she didn’t...until tonight. But that was only with regards to her hair, and even that she probably would have let him do if her associations with the act weren’t so powerful.
He shifted so that he was sitting up. His eyes traveled the room until they landed on what he was after. Leaving the bed, he walked over to where a clay jar sat. There was one cup beside it, which he also took, and then returned to the bed. Though this time he sat with his back against the headboard and poured himself a glass, draining it, and then filling it for her.
“Here,” he said. “Drink.” He did not plan to get entirely drunk tonight. But a little bit never hurt. Especially to sleep. He was tired but staying asleep had become a bit of a problem. And when she left, he would be alone with his thoughts. The plan was to get just enough that he didn’t have to think anymore. She could do the same.
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For a minute or so, they lay in silence. A comfortable drowsiness was beginning to take hold and he’d closed his eyes as she nuzzled against him. Her voice slipped into the quiet, asking him what his favorite food and color was. “Hmm?” Opening his eyes, he found her looking at him. “I don’t know,” he said truthfully as she finally raised up and shifted her hips off of his, unlinking them.
As she curled back up at his side, he thought about her question. “Maybe….” He thought about it. Some people he knew had a real affinity for sweet things. Sometimes they’d eat the honeycomb itself if they could get their hands on it. But he wasn’t much for that sort of thing. “Lamb...I guess…” he considered but turned over so that he was facing her. “I like wine better, though. But it’s not a food.”
As far as color? He didn’t have one. It was something he’d literally never thought about. “I don’t really have favorite things,” he said as he traced the planes of her face with his fingertip. “I have things that are available to me...and things that aren’t. I suppose when I was young I disliked a certain fish. But when I was fifteen, I went to Colchis and that fish was the only thing we ate. For days. And I learned to like it.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Why? What is your favorite food? Or color? Since you seem to have preferences.”
The last part was said a bit teasingly because she clearly did have strong preferences. Something he wouldn’t have assumed she did, considering how obedient she was with whatever he asked or wanted. Aikaterine was a bit of an oddity to him. If Pia didn’t like something, she made good and sure to tell him. It was the same with most women of the court. With Aikaterine, he couldn’t tell what she liked and what she didn’t...until tonight. But that was only with regards to her hair, and even that she probably would have let him do if her associations with the act weren’t so powerful.
He shifted so that he was sitting up. His eyes traveled the room until they landed on what he was after. Leaving the bed, he walked over to where a clay jar sat. There was one cup beside it, which he also took, and then returned to the bed. Though this time he sat with his back against the headboard and poured himself a glass, draining it, and then filling it for her.
“Here,” he said. “Drink.” He did not plan to get entirely drunk tonight. But a little bit never hurt. Especially to sleep. He was tired but staying asleep had become a bit of a problem. And when she left, he would be alone with his thoughts. The plan was to get just enough that he didn’t have to think anymore. She could do the same.
For a minute or so, they lay in silence. A comfortable drowsiness was beginning to take hold and he’d closed his eyes as she nuzzled against him. Her voice slipped into the quiet, asking him what his favorite food and color was. “Hmm?” Opening his eyes, he found her looking at him. “I don’t know,” he said truthfully as she finally raised up and shifted her hips off of his, unlinking them.
As she curled back up at his side, he thought about her question. “Maybe….” He thought about it. Some people he knew had a real affinity for sweet things. Sometimes they’d eat the honeycomb itself if they could get their hands on it. But he wasn’t much for that sort of thing. “Lamb...I guess…” he considered but turned over so that he was facing her. “I like wine better, though. But it’s not a food.”
As far as color? He didn’t have one. It was something he’d literally never thought about. “I don’t really have favorite things,” he said as he traced the planes of her face with his fingertip. “I have things that are available to me...and things that aren’t. I suppose when I was young I disliked a certain fish. But when I was fifteen, I went to Colchis and that fish was the only thing we ate. For days. And I learned to like it.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Why? What is your favorite food? Or color? Since you seem to have preferences.”
The last part was said a bit teasingly because she clearly did have strong preferences. Something he wouldn’t have assumed she did, considering how obedient she was with whatever he asked or wanted. Aikaterine was a bit of an oddity to him. If Pia didn’t like something, she made good and sure to tell him. It was the same with most women of the court. With Aikaterine, he couldn’t tell what she liked and what she didn’t...until tonight. But that was only with regards to her hair, and even that she probably would have let him do if her associations with the act weren’t so powerful.
He shifted so that he was sitting up. His eyes traveled the room until they landed on what he was after. Leaving the bed, he walked over to where a clay jar sat. There was one cup beside it, which he also took, and then returned to the bed. Though this time he sat with his back against the headboard and poured himself a glass, draining it, and then filling it for her.
“Here,” he said. “Drink.” He did not plan to get entirely drunk tonight. But a little bit never hurt. Especially to sleep. He was tired but staying asleep had become a bit of a problem. And when she left, he would be alone with his thoughts. The plan was to get just enough that he didn’t have to think anymore. She could do the same.
He would choose lamb. Aikaterine had thought that she could put together some small snack to leave him for when he returned. He would have to see her and whatever else it was that he needed to do that would take him days to call for her once again. She certainly could not come up with an excuse to cook a leg of lamb in the kitchen or leave it on a table in his room. Her plush lips twisted as she just nodded and approved of the wine replacement. It was nourishment enough.
She remained quiet as she listened to him tell another story from his childhood. Aikaterine didn’t expect such, but she enjoyed finding out more about it. There were so many differences. At fifteen she was married and forced to live at her husband’s home. A place where he never let her leave. Not even for festivals, sales, or a fun ride further than the province of Meganea had to offer. And Stephanos had been going all the way to Colchis. She was almost lost in the difference when he had reciprocated the questioning.
”Oh, uhm.” Brows moved as she thought through. She had always been unable to hide her state of mind. It was plain on her face that she was curious of the sentence he had added on the end. How was she so set to have preferences? She couldn’t give away why she had asked and that meant she would have to reveal her own favorites. ”I enjoy honey. I always lobbied to have a beehive, but it never happened.” She had to suffer to have the treat only when a hive was found the natural way - despite the technology existing to keep her very own hive. Maybe it was boring to have such a typical favorite, but it suited her just fine. She hadn’t been in the habit of having.
Her fingers brushed against the soft covers of the bed. ”I had always been partial to purple… however, I’m becoming quite fond of blue as of late.” She mentioned his eyes. Maybe he would get it or maybe he wouldn’t, it didn’t matter. She may have been getting more and bolder. Her gaze followed him as he left without a word of what he was doing, but it was obvious by the time he had turned to return. Her hands opened when it was her turn to take the glass and take her own drink. She drank it up fast to match him. Not exactly her style, but it was almost like a game.
”You are unpredictable. Here I would have thought you would have easily gone prideful of the red and yellow… or is it gold?” Aikaterine mentioned the easy choices of that were on the Mikaelidas banner. She held onto the glass with eyes to a motion to pour it with a mischievous grin.
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He would choose lamb. Aikaterine had thought that she could put together some small snack to leave him for when he returned. He would have to see her and whatever else it was that he needed to do that would take him days to call for her once again. She certainly could not come up with an excuse to cook a leg of lamb in the kitchen or leave it on a table in his room. Her plush lips twisted as she just nodded and approved of the wine replacement. It was nourishment enough.
She remained quiet as she listened to him tell another story from his childhood. Aikaterine didn’t expect such, but she enjoyed finding out more about it. There were so many differences. At fifteen she was married and forced to live at her husband’s home. A place where he never let her leave. Not even for festivals, sales, or a fun ride further than the province of Meganea had to offer. And Stephanos had been going all the way to Colchis. She was almost lost in the difference when he had reciprocated the questioning.
”Oh, uhm.” Brows moved as she thought through. She had always been unable to hide her state of mind. It was plain on her face that she was curious of the sentence he had added on the end. How was she so set to have preferences? She couldn’t give away why she had asked and that meant she would have to reveal her own favorites. ”I enjoy honey. I always lobbied to have a beehive, but it never happened.” She had to suffer to have the treat only when a hive was found the natural way - despite the technology existing to keep her very own hive. Maybe it was boring to have such a typical favorite, but it suited her just fine. She hadn’t been in the habit of having.
Her fingers brushed against the soft covers of the bed. ”I had always been partial to purple… however, I’m becoming quite fond of blue as of late.” She mentioned his eyes. Maybe he would get it or maybe he wouldn’t, it didn’t matter. She may have been getting more and bolder. Her gaze followed him as he left without a word of what he was doing, but it was obvious by the time he had turned to return. Her hands opened when it was her turn to take the glass and take her own drink. She drank it up fast to match him. Not exactly her style, but it was almost like a game.
”You are unpredictable. Here I would have thought you would have easily gone prideful of the red and yellow… or is it gold?” Aikaterine mentioned the easy choices of that were on the Mikaelidas banner. She held onto the glass with eyes to a motion to pour it with a mischievous grin.
He would choose lamb. Aikaterine had thought that she could put together some small snack to leave him for when he returned. He would have to see her and whatever else it was that he needed to do that would take him days to call for her once again. She certainly could not come up with an excuse to cook a leg of lamb in the kitchen or leave it on a table in his room. Her plush lips twisted as she just nodded and approved of the wine replacement. It was nourishment enough.
She remained quiet as she listened to him tell another story from his childhood. Aikaterine didn’t expect such, but she enjoyed finding out more about it. There were so many differences. At fifteen she was married and forced to live at her husband’s home. A place where he never let her leave. Not even for festivals, sales, or a fun ride further than the province of Meganea had to offer. And Stephanos had been going all the way to Colchis. She was almost lost in the difference when he had reciprocated the questioning.
”Oh, uhm.” Brows moved as she thought through. She had always been unable to hide her state of mind. It was plain on her face that she was curious of the sentence he had added on the end. How was she so set to have preferences? She couldn’t give away why she had asked and that meant she would have to reveal her own favorites. ”I enjoy honey. I always lobbied to have a beehive, but it never happened.” She had to suffer to have the treat only when a hive was found the natural way - despite the technology existing to keep her very own hive. Maybe it was boring to have such a typical favorite, but it suited her just fine. She hadn’t been in the habit of having.
Her fingers brushed against the soft covers of the bed. ”I had always been partial to purple… however, I’m becoming quite fond of blue as of late.” She mentioned his eyes. Maybe he would get it or maybe he wouldn’t, it didn’t matter. She may have been getting more and bolder. Her gaze followed him as he left without a word of what he was doing, but it was obvious by the time he had turned to return. Her hands opened when it was her turn to take the glass and take her own drink. She drank it up fast to match him. Not exactly her style, but it was almost like a game.
”You are unpredictable. Here I would have thought you would have easily gone prideful of the red and yellow… or is it gold?” Aikaterine mentioned the easy choices of that were on the Mikaelidas banner. She held onto the glass with eyes to a motion to pour it with a mischievous grin.
At her comment that he was unpredictable, he smirked. “So I’ve been told.” He knew perfectly well what his reputation at court; unpredictable. Likely to cause damage. Keep your daughters under lock and key. Things that had not really mattered until lately. It was interesting to hear someone say it to his face, though. Someone so wholly unconnected with anyone who would have whispered rumors in her ear. Well. Pia’s other ladies, once she got more, were sure to tell Aikaterine everything they knew. Women were like that.
“Here I would have thought you would have easily gone prideful of the red and yellow… or is it gold?”
“Gold,” he corrected on reflex and realized a second too late that she was joking. “Aikaterine,” he sighed her name in almost a whisper as he noted her impish grin. Her eyes flicked from the wine jug to her cup and back to him in a clear indication that he was to pour more. “Ah, ah,” he said, plucking it out of her grip. “That’s not how this works. It’s my turn. And you may pour for me.”
He held her gaze as she refilled the cup and he sat back, drinking it a bit slower this time, considering her from over the rim of the glass. The way the fire caught her eyes made them entrancing. They were bright and her lips were curved in such a way that he was sure something a bit depraved would come out next. It was terrible but he liked to see the change that happened when someone innocent began to see things a little differently.
“All these questions,” he mused. “Why don’t you tell me something? Like…” he glanced away, thinking. His mind landed immediately on his wife. “How is Olympia treating you?”
The two of them were sitting on the bed, still completely naked. The night was getting darker and later, breeding cooler winds, rather than the warm ones that circled during the day. But he wasn’t ready to get dressed quite yet and if he had his way, she never would be.
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At her comment that he was unpredictable, he smirked. “So I’ve been told.” He knew perfectly well what his reputation at court; unpredictable. Likely to cause damage. Keep your daughters under lock and key. Things that had not really mattered until lately. It was interesting to hear someone say it to his face, though. Someone so wholly unconnected with anyone who would have whispered rumors in her ear. Well. Pia’s other ladies, once she got more, were sure to tell Aikaterine everything they knew. Women were like that.
“Here I would have thought you would have easily gone prideful of the red and yellow… or is it gold?”
“Gold,” he corrected on reflex and realized a second too late that she was joking. “Aikaterine,” he sighed her name in almost a whisper as he noted her impish grin. Her eyes flicked from the wine jug to her cup and back to him in a clear indication that he was to pour more. “Ah, ah,” he said, plucking it out of her grip. “That’s not how this works. It’s my turn. And you may pour for me.”
He held her gaze as she refilled the cup and he sat back, drinking it a bit slower this time, considering her from over the rim of the glass. The way the fire caught her eyes made them entrancing. They were bright and her lips were curved in such a way that he was sure something a bit depraved would come out next. It was terrible but he liked to see the change that happened when someone innocent began to see things a little differently.
“All these questions,” he mused. “Why don’t you tell me something? Like…” he glanced away, thinking. His mind landed immediately on his wife. “How is Olympia treating you?”
The two of them were sitting on the bed, still completely naked. The night was getting darker and later, breeding cooler winds, rather than the warm ones that circled during the day. But he wasn’t ready to get dressed quite yet and if he had his way, she never would be.
At her comment that he was unpredictable, he smirked. “So I’ve been told.” He knew perfectly well what his reputation at court; unpredictable. Likely to cause damage. Keep your daughters under lock and key. Things that had not really mattered until lately. It was interesting to hear someone say it to his face, though. Someone so wholly unconnected with anyone who would have whispered rumors in her ear. Well. Pia’s other ladies, once she got more, were sure to tell Aikaterine everything they knew. Women were like that.
“Here I would have thought you would have easily gone prideful of the red and yellow… or is it gold?”
“Gold,” he corrected on reflex and realized a second too late that she was joking. “Aikaterine,” he sighed her name in almost a whisper as he noted her impish grin. Her eyes flicked from the wine jug to her cup and back to him in a clear indication that he was to pour more. “Ah, ah,” he said, plucking it out of her grip. “That’s not how this works. It’s my turn. And you may pour for me.”
He held her gaze as she refilled the cup and he sat back, drinking it a bit slower this time, considering her from over the rim of the glass. The way the fire caught her eyes made them entrancing. They were bright and her lips were curved in such a way that he was sure something a bit depraved would come out next. It was terrible but he liked to see the change that happened when someone innocent began to see things a little differently.
“All these questions,” he mused. “Why don’t you tell me something? Like…” he glanced away, thinking. His mind landed immediately on his wife. “How is Olympia treating you?”
The two of them were sitting on the bed, still completely naked. The night was getting darker and later, breeding cooler winds, rather than the warm ones that circled during the day. But he wasn’t ready to get dressed quite yet and if he had his way, she never would be.
Her brow twitched upward and eyes became rather doey as she gave that innocent look she knew so well when he sighed out her name. She could listen to him say that all the time. They wouldn’t have to even have a conversation if he would just call out her name. His name she responded in the same breathy tones within the confines of her mind. A silent confrontation to his teasing that it wasn’t the way that it worked. ”Oh, yes, your majesty.” She stated aloud instead. She tipped the decanter and poured out a rather full glass for him to enjoy. Being obedient came naturally.
Eyes narrowed playfully as she noticed the way he drank slower this time. Questions were the only way to find more. She had found herself avoiding the ways of the court. She could have easily asked anything she wanted to know about the King from the others. But, she assumed they had colored answers. Information from those who only saw him one way or another and not all of it positive. Not that he had to be perfect. But, he had been more than enough to her.
”Her highness is tolerating my attempts at learning the tasks of the station.” There was an attempt to keep her face pleasant. There was nothing wrong with how Olympia was treating her. Perhaps it was even to be expected when she had already been wronged by the King before. Even Aikaterine knew how the jealousy could make one a monster. But, a wife didn’t have a choice on what her husband chose to do. It was the only thing that kept her free of guilt lying nude beside him. If this was what he wanted, he got it. And she would enjoy the ride - thoroughly.
”About as paranoid as you are.”Kat spoke up adding to her original statement. The first meeting of the queen held many, many questions. Though she thought it smart to add on to the statement. He had been protective of her when he had first assigned her to the post. Aikaterine was expendable. She just didn’t realize how so considering her lack of knowledge concerning his bedding patterns of the past. “ Being royalty must mean targets on one’s back at all times.” A realization she should have noted long ago. Especially with the idea of spies around every corner and down every hall.
Her long fingers reached for the glass as she shifted towards him on the bed. ”My turn?” Aikaterine pulled on it brushed her grip against his. But, she wasn’t only talking about the wine. Maybe it was the small amount of wine she had already consumed or just her innate curiosity getting the best of her, but she was more bold than she had ever been. ”Am I the only one... now?” She obviously meant in addition the wife that he protected. ”I won’t care.” She would and she was a terrible liar. ”Just… you would tell me?” He didn’t have to. She just hoped that at least he would be honest with her in all their secrecy.
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This post was created by our staff team.
Please contact us with your queries and questions.
Her brow twitched upward and eyes became rather doey as she gave that innocent look she knew so well when he sighed out her name. She could listen to him say that all the time. They wouldn’t have to even have a conversation if he would just call out her name. His name she responded in the same breathy tones within the confines of her mind. A silent confrontation to his teasing that it wasn’t the way that it worked. ”Oh, yes, your majesty.” She stated aloud instead. She tipped the decanter and poured out a rather full glass for him to enjoy. Being obedient came naturally.
Eyes narrowed playfully as she noticed the way he drank slower this time. Questions were the only way to find more. She had found herself avoiding the ways of the court. She could have easily asked anything she wanted to know about the King from the others. But, she assumed they had colored answers. Information from those who only saw him one way or another and not all of it positive. Not that he had to be perfect. But, he had been more than enough to her.
”Her highness is tolerating my attempts at learning the tasks of the station.” There was an attempt to keep her face pleasant. There was nothing wrong with how Olympia was treating her. Perhaps it was even to be expected when she had already been wronged by the King before. Even Aikaterine knew how the jealousy could make one a monster. But, a wife didn’t have a choice on what her husband chose to do. It was the only thing that kept her free of guilt lying nude beside him. If this was what he wanted, he got it. And she would enjoy the ride - thoroughly.
”About as paranoid as you are.”Kat spoke up adding to her original statement. The first meeting of the queen held many, many questions. Though she thought it smart to add on to the statement. He had been protective of her when he had first assigned her to the post. Aikaterine was expendable. She just didn’t realize how so considering her lack of knowledge concerning his bedding patterns of the past. “ Being royalty must mean targets on one’s back at all times.” A realization she should have noted long ago. Especially with the idea of spies around every corner and down every hall.
Her long fingers reached for the glass as she shifted towards him on the bed. ”My turn?” Aikaterine pulled on it brushed her grip against his. But, she wasn’t only talking about the wine. Maybe it was the small amount of wine she had already consumed or just her innate curiosity getting the best of her, but she was more bold than she had ever been. ”Am I the only one... now?” She obviously meant in addition the wife that he protected. ”I won’t care.” She would and she was a terrible liar. ”Just… you would tell me?” He didn’t have to. She just hoped that at least he would be honest with her in all their secrecy.
Her brow twitched upward and eyes became rather doey as she gave that innocent look she knew so well when he sighed out her name. She could listen to him say that all the time. They wouldn’t have to even have a conversation if he would just call out her name. His name she responded in the same breathy tones within the confines of her mind. A silent confrontation to his teasing that it wasn’t the way that it worked. ”Oh, yes, your majesty.” She stated aloud instead. She tipped the decanter and poured out a rather full glass for him to enjoy. Being obedient came naturally.
Eyes narrowed playfully as she noticed the way he drank slower this time. Questions were the only way to find more. She had found herself avoiding the ways of the court. She could have easily asked anything she wanted to know about the King from the others. But, she assumed they had colored answers. Information from those who only saw him one way or another and not all of it positive. Not that he had to be perfect. But, he had been more than enough to her.
”Her highness is tolerating my attempts at learning the tasks of the station.” There was an attempt to keep her face pleasant. There was nothing wrong with how Olympia was treating her. Perhaps it was even to be expected when she had already been wronged by the King before. Even Aikaterine knew how the jealousy could make one a monster. But, a wife didn’t have a choice on what her husband chose to do. It was the only thing that kept her free of guilt lying nude beside him. If this was what he wanted, he got it. And she would enjoy the ride - thoroughly.
”About as paranoid as you are.”Kat spoke up adding to her original statement. The first meeting of the queen held many, many questions. Though she thought it smart to add on to the statement. He had been protective of her when he had first assigned her to the post. Aikaterine was expendable. She just didn’t realize how so considering her lack of knowledge concerning his bedding patterns of the past. “ Being royalty must mean targets on one’s back at all times.” A realization she should have noted long ago. Especially with the idea of spies around every corner and down every hall.
Her long fingers reached for the glass as she shifted towards him on the bed. ”My turn?” Aikaterine pulled on it brushed her grip against his. But, she wasn’t only talking about the wine. Maybe it was the small amount of wine she had already consumed or just her innate curiosity getting the best of her, but she was more bold than she had ever been. ”Am I the only one... now?” She obviously meant in addition the wife that he protected. ”I won’t care.” She would and she was a terrible liar. ”Just… you would tell me?” He didn’t have to. She just hoped that at least he would be honest with her in all their secrecy.
”Her highness is tolerating my attempts at learning the tasks of the station.”
The way she said it made Pia seem as though she was being cold. Which was something he should have anticipated. Of course his wife would be mistrustful of a woman that he, of all people, sent her way. Perhaps if Aikaterine was ugly and old, like Desma, Pia would have thought nothing of it. But Aikaterine was young and beautiful. Quite different to when she first came.
He wasn’t a vain person but there was no way he’d have allowed anyone, including Desma, to wander around the palati wearing what she’d brought with her. It was too...below her station. Now that she had clothes that befitted her, Aikaterine was someone difficult to ignore. At least for him.
”About as paranoid as you are.” She added when he didn’t say anything.
“Yes, well,” he looked back down at the cup before drinking deeply from it. “It’s not all paranoia.” His father had been taken from inside the palati walls. They hadn’t yet found where exactly he’d been killed. If they could do that, likely they’d find his brother. Personally, he felt that they were all being a little cavalier now, considering that the threat wasn’t even gone. And had taken up residence outside the city. For the first few weeks after the tragedy, he hadn’t slept alone once. Pia was always with him. Slowly, though, that particular fear had gone away, once he’d figured out his uncle wasn’t going to come for them in the night.
That was when they’d started to sleep apart sometimes. When he would stay up all night trying to get ahead of Irakles in matters of state. He’d send Pia to her rooms so that she at least would sleep without having to be constantly bothered by his pacing or ruffling of papers. And she certainly wouldn’t have appreciated being there when he forced this advisor or that to stay with him to discuss things.
Then he got used to her not being constantly with him. And that was where the trouble had begun. She was busy with her family….he was not…………….
“Being royalty must mean targets on one’s back at all times.”
“It does now,” he said, draining the last of the wine. A comfortable warmth eased into him and he didn’t put up any sort of show when she tugged the cup from his fingers. She shifted toward him on the bed, coming closer. They were touching now and he leaned down to get the decanter from the floor to refill her glass as she asked her question.
For a moment, he said nothing and merely poured the crimson liquid into the cup before setting it back on the ground.
”I won’t care. Just… you would tell me?”
He smiled softly and ran the backs of his fingers down the length of her bare arm. Wouldn’t she care? She was not practiced in this sort of dance. Probably she would care very much, if she didn’t already. His pride liked that she cared. His experience told him she definitely would before too long. She was too sweet not to.
“Drink your wine,” he sat forward, holding her gaze.
What did she think? He wondered. Did she assume he had hosts of women, paraded through his room? One right after the other? When he’d been a teenager, he’d bounced from one bed to the next frequently. But that stopped once he figured out that keeping the same woman for the span of months or years was much more fun than one night’s random escapades. Which wasn’t to say that he never did those anymore either. He had the night before the coronation.
But she was asking about now. And he knew as well as she did that she wasn't asking about Pia. But she was smart. She'd never ask him to make such a choice.
“There’s only you.” His eyes searched hers and slowly, he took the drink from her fingers to hold it out of the way as he kissed her.
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”Her highness is tolerating my attempts at learning the tasks of the station.”
The way she said it made Pia seem as though she was being cold. Which was something he should have anticipated. Of course his wife would be mistrustful of a woman that he, of all people, sent her way. Perhaps if Aikaterine was ugly and old, like Desma, Pia would have thought nothing of it. But Aikaterine was young and beautiful. Quite different to when she first came.
He wasn’t a vain person but there was no way he’d have allowed anyone, including Desma, to wander around the palati wearing what she’d brought with her. It was too...below her station. Now that she had clothes that befitted her, Aikaterine was someone difficult to ignore. At least for him.
”About as paranoid as you are.” She added when he didn’t say anything.
“Yes, well,” he looked back down at the cup before drinking deeply from it. “It’s not all paranoia.” His father had been taken from inside the palati walls. They hadn’t yet found where exactly he’d been killed. If they could do that, likely they’d find his brother. Personally, he felt that they were all being a little cavalier now, considering that the threat wasn’t even gone. And had taken up residence outside the city. For the first few weeks after the tragedy, he hadn’t slept alone once. Pia was always with him. Slowly, though, that particular fear had gone away, once he’d figured out his uncle wasn’t going to come for them in the night.
That was when they’d started to sleep apart sometimes. When he would stay up all night trying to get ahead of Irakles in matters of state. He’d send Pia to her rooms so that she at least would sleep without having to be constantly bothered by his pacing or ruffling of papers. And she certainly wouldn’t have appreciated being there when he forced this advisor or that to stay with him to discuss things.
Then he got used to her not being constantly with him. And that was where the trouble had begun. She was busy with her family….he was not…………….
“Being royalty must mean targets on one’s back at all times.”
“It does now,” he said, draining the last of the wine. A comfortable warmth eased into him and he didn’t put up any sort of show when she tugged the cup from his fingers. She shifted toward him on the bed, coming closer. They were touching now and he leaned down to get the decanter from the floor to refill her glass as she asked her question.
For a moment, he said nothing and merely poured the crimson liquid into the cup before setting it back on the ground.
”I won’t care. Just… you would tell me?”
He smiled softly and ran the backs of his fingers down the length of her bare arm. Wouldn’t she care? She was not practiced in this sort of dance. Probably she would care very much, if she didn’t already. His pride liked that she cared. His experience told him she definitely would before too long. She was too sweet not to.
“Drink your wine,” he sat forward, holding her gaze.
What did she think? He wondered. Did she assume he had hosts of women, paraded through his room? One right after the other? When he’d been a teenager, he’d bounced from one bed to the next frequently. But that stopped once he figured out that keeping the same woman for the span of months or years was much more fun than one night’s random escapades. Which wasn’t to say that he never did those anymore either. He had the night before the coronation.
But she was asking about now. And he knew as well as she did that she wasn't asking about Pia. But she was smart. She'd never ask him to make such a choice.
“There’s only you.” His eyes searched hers and slowly, he took the drink from her fingers to hold it out of the way as he kissed her.
”Her highness is tolerating my attempts at learning the tasks of the station.”
The way she said it made Pia seem as though she was being cold. Which was something he should have anticipated. Of course his wife would be mistrustful of a woman that he, of all people, sent her way. Perhaps if Aikaterine was ugly and old, like Desma, Pia would have thought nothing of it. But Aikaterine was young and beautiful. Quite different to when she first came.
He wasn’t a vain person but there was no way he’d have allowed anyone, including Desma, to wander around the palati wearing what she’d brought with her. It was too...below her station. Now that she had clothes that befitted her, Aikaterine was someone difficult to ignore. At least for him.
”About as paranoid as you are.” She added when he didn’t say anything.
“Yes, well,” he looked back down at the cup before drinking deeply from it. “It’s not all paranoia.” His father had been taken from inside the palati walls. They hadn’t yet found where exactly he’d been killed. If they could do that, likely they’d find his brother. Personally, he felt that they were all being a little cavalier now, considering that the threat wasn’t even gone. And had taken up residence outside the city. For the first few weeks after the tragedy, he hadn’t slept alone once. Pia was always with him. Slowly, though, that particular fear had gone away, once he’d figured out his uncle wasn’t going to come for them in the night.
That was when they’d started to sleep apart sometimes. When he would stay up all night trying to get ahead of Irakles in matters of state. He’d send Pia to her rooms so that she at least would sleep without having to be constantly bothered by his pacing or ruffling of papers. And she certainly wouldn’t have appreciated being there when he forced this advisor or that to stay with him to discuss things.
Then he got used to her not being constantly with him. And that was where the trouble had begun. She was busy with her family….he was not…………….
“Being royalty must mean targets on one’s back at all times.”
“It does now,” he said, draining the last of the wine. A comfortable warmth eased into him and he didn’t put up any sort of show when she tugged the cup from his fingers. She shifted toward him on the bed, coming closer. They were touching now and he leaned down to get the decanter from the floor to refill her glass as she asked her question.
For a moment, he said nothing and merely poured the crimson liquid into the cup before setting it back on the ground.
”I won’t care. Just… you would tell me?”
He smiled softly and ran the backs of his fingers down the length of her bare arm. Wouldn’t she care? She was not practiced in this sort of dance. Probably she would care very much, if she didn’t already. His pride liked that she cared. His experience told him she definitely would before too long. She was too sweet not to.
“Drink your wine,” he sat forward, holding her gaze.
What did she think? He wondered. Did she assume he had hosts of women, paraded through his room? One right after the other? When he’d been a teenager, he’d bounced from one bed to the next frequently. But that stopped once he figured out that keeping the same woman for the span of months or years was much more fun than one night’s random escapades. Which wasn’t to say that he never did those anymore either. He had the night before the coronation.
But she was asking about now. And he knew as well as she did that she wasn't asking about Pia. But she was smart. She'd never ask him to make such a choice.
“There’s only you.” His eyes searched hers and slowly, he took the drink from her fingers to hold it out of the way as he kissed her.
Someday the line would be uncontested and Stephanos would be able to live a long life of peace. It wasn’t today. Right now, he had to look over his shoulder as she always did. It was a feeling she knew all too well when moving through a home that was supposed to be a safe haven. A place to create joyous memories and grow. However, there were too many evils around them that stole all that away. Life could never be simple or straight forward. However, she did not have much to complain about as she ended up where she was. Here where he might have had to worry about an uncle, she was able to not worry about the shadows or being alone in a bed at night. No one would harm her here.
And perhaps that was part of what had fueled her question. She wanted to feel as though it might last more than as some short whim. Aikaterine needed it selfishly to last long enough to impress a husband to present to Cretheus. Long enough to trail the Queen and appear important, beautiful, and stir interest in herself. It was a greedy question that merely seemed to be a means to an end. At the moment she questioned.
Then he paused. He paused long enough to begin doubting saying anything at all. The sound of the wine pouring into the glass was little distraction from the fact that he wasn’t giving her an answer right away. She had been too bold, too curious. And soon asked to just drink the wine. Pushed back down where she belonged and reminded that it wasn’t knowledge that she needed to be privy to. It was then that there was a spark of something else. Something less than just the necessity to be away from the brother-in-law.
So, she drank just as she had been told to do. But, after one sip he had caressed the cup out of the way. Aikaterine had jumped to a conclusion and allowed her mind to set up a response of her own before allowing him the time to properly answer. She did care. Her feelings betrayed her mission as she had somehow allowed to get too comfortable. This only made worse when he said what he did next. Only You. Even as a secret, she could boast in her head that she was the lone one called to his bed for extramarital needs. And sealed with a kiss. A kiss she gladly reciprocated, it was just the answer she wanted to hear.
The cup of wine was emptied down her throat. The red wine washing down anything that she might say and regret. She didn’t need a husband tomorrow. She didn’t want to move. ”Just a few moments longer?” Her words begged to savor the warmth between their bare skin as she put the cup aside coupling against him. An arm draped across his chest and head rested on his shoulder. The combination of wine coursing in her veins and the exhaustion of earlier activities lead only to the closing of her lids. Protesting the sleep, they flit open and shut a few times before finding it easy to dream beside him.
It was only a few hours until the bright sun of dawn crested through the open concept windows of his majesty’s chambers. The time had gotten away and her moments had turned into so much more. There were moments she should have left. Times when she should have slipped into the cool night air to gather her robe and moved back down to her bed. She didn’t. It was an error that she would pay for. The light woke her easily a hand raising to shield her eyes and then press to a temple. What kind of wine was that? Her attention darted from one place in the room to another before landing squarely on the king. The realization then hitting.
”Ste… majesty.” She corrected herself even in the groggy state as she moved to her feet uneasy walking on the bed and hopping over him rather unladylike. Aikaterine was rocky as she found the robe she wore pooled on the floor. Her fingers fumbled with the mixture of anxiety and fatigue creating chaos through her senses. The linen was pulled loosely around her figure before she leaned back to the bed to kiss Stephanos one last time. He was going to go and this was the last time she would get to do anything - for days. Forever if it didn’t go as planned. ”It is a great plan. I will see you again.” Her optimism hoping to make it true. This couldn't be the end, not rushed like this.
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Someday the line would be uncontested and Stephanos would be able to live a long life of peace. It wasn’t today. Right now, he had to look over his shoulder as she always did. It was a feeling she knew all too well when moving through a home that was supposed to be a safe haven. A place to create joyous memories and grow. However, there were too many evils around them that stole all that away. Life could never be simple or straight forward. However, she did not have much to complain about as she ended up where she was. Here where he might have had to worry about an uncle, she was able to not worry about the shadows or being alone in a bed at night. No one would harm her here.
And perhaps that was part of what had fueled her question. She wanted to feel as though it might last more than as some short whim. Aikaterine needed it selfishly to last long enough to impress a husband to present to Cretheus. Long enough to trail the Queen and appear important, beautiful, and stir interest in herself. It was a greedy question that merely seemed to be a means to an end. At the moment she questioned.
Then he paused. He paused long enough to begin doubting saying anything at all. The sound of the wine pouring into the glass was little distraction from the fact that he wasn’t giving her an answer right away. She had been too bold, too curious. And soon asked to just drink the wine. Pushed back down where she belonged and reminded that it wasn’t knowledge that she needed to be privy to. It was then that there was a spark of something else. Something less than just the necessity to be away from the brother-in-law.
So, she drank just as she had been told to do. But, after one sip he had caressed the cup out of the way. Aikaterine had jumped to a conclusion and allowed her mind to set up a response of her own before allowing him the time to properly answer. She did care. Her feelings betrayed her mission as she had somehow allowed to get too comfortable. This only made worse when he said what he did next. Only You. Even as a secret, she could boast in her head that she was the lone one called to his bed for extramarital needs. And sealed with a kiss. A kiss she gladly reciprocated, it was just the answer she wanted to hear.
The cup of wine was emptied down her throat. The red wine washing down anything that she might say and regret. She didn’t need a husband tomorrow. She didn’t want to move. ”Just a few moments longer?” Her words begged to savor the warmth between their bare skin as she put the cup aside coupling against him. An arm draped across his chest and head rested on his shoulder. The combination of wine coursing in her veins and the exhaustion of earlier activities lead only to the closing of her lids. Protesting the sleep, they flit open and shut a few times before finding it easy to dream beside him.
It was only a few hours until the bright sun of dawn crested through the open concept windows of his majesty’s chambers. The time had gotten away and her moments had turned into so much more. There were moments she should have left. Times when she should have slipped into the cool night air to gather her robe and moved back down to her bed. She didn’t. It was an error that she would pay for. The light woke her easily a hand raising to shield her eyes and then press to a temple. What kind of wine was that? Her attention darted from one place in the room to another before landing squarely on the king. The realization then hitting.
”Ste… majesty.” She corrected herself even in the groggy state as she moved to her feet uneasy walking on the bed and hopping over him rather unladylike. Aikaterine was rocky as she found the robe she wore pooled on the floor. Her fingers fumbled with the mixture of anxiety and fatigue creating chaos through her senses. The linen was pulled loosely around her figure before she leaned back to the bed to kiss Stephanos one last time. He was going to go and this was the last time she would get to do anything - for days. Forever if it didn’t go as planned. ”It is a great plan. I will see you again.” Her optimism hoping to make it true. This couldn't be the end, not rushed like this.
Someday the line would be uncontested and Stephanos would be able to live a long life of peace. It wasn’t today. Right now, he had to look over his shoulder as she always did. It was a feeling she knew all too well when moving through a home that was supposed to be a safe haven. A place to create joyous memories and grow. However, there were too many evils around them that stole all that away. Life could never be simple or straight forward. However, she did not have much to complain about as she ended up where she was. Here where he might have had to worry about an uncle, she was able to not worry about the shadows or being alone in a bed at night. No one would harm her here.
And perhaps that was part of what had fueled her question. She wanted to feel as though it might last more than as some short whim. Aikaterine needed it selfishly to last long enough to impress a husband to present to Cretheus. Long enough to trail the Queen and appear important, beautiful, and stir interest in herself. It was a greedy question that merely seemed to be a means to an end. At the moment she questioned.
Then he paused. He paused long enough to begin doubting saying anything at all. The sound of the wine pouring into the glass was little distraction from the fact that he wasn’t giving her an answer right away. She had been too bold, too curious. And soon asked to just drink the wine. Pushed back down where she belonged and reminded that it wasn’t knowledge that she needed to be privy to. It was then that there was a spark of something else. Something less than just the necessity to be away from the brother-in-law.
So, she drank just as she had been told to do. But, after one sip he had caressed the cup out of the way. Aikaterine had jumped to a conclusion and allowed her mind to set up a response of her own before allowing him the time to properly answer. She did care. Her feelings betrayed her mission as she had somehow allowed to get too comfortable. This only made worse when he said what he did next. Only You. Even as a secret, she could boast in her head that she was the lone one called to his bed for extramarital needs. And sealed with a kiss. A kiss she gladly reciprocated, it was just the answer she wanted to hear.
The cup of wine was emptied down her throat. The red wine washing down anything that she might say and regret. She didn’t need a husband tomorrow. She didn’t want to move. ”Just a few moments longer?” Her words begged to savor the warmth between their bare skin as she put the cup aside coupling against him. An arm draped across his chest and head rested on his shoulder. The combination of wine coursing in her veins and the exhaustion of earlier activities lead only to the closing of her lids. Protesting the sleep, they flit open and shut a few times before finding it easy to dream beside him.
It was only a few hours until the bright sun of dawn crested through the open concept windows of his majesty’s chambers. The time had gotten away and her moments had turned into so much more. There were moments she should have left. Times when she should have slipped into the cool night air to gather her robe and moved back down to her bed. She didn’t. It was an error that she would pay for. The light woke her easily a hand raising to shield her eyes and then press to a temple. What kind of wine was that? Her attention darted from one place in the room to another before landing squarely on the king. The realization then hitting.
”Ste… majesty.” She corrected herself even in the groggy state as she moved to her feet uneasy walking on the bed and hopping over him rather unladylike. Aikaterine was rocky as she found the robe she wore pooled on the floor. Her fingers fumbled with the mixture of anxiety and fatigue creating chaos through her senses. The linen was pulled loosely around her figure before she leaned back to the bed to kiss Stephanos one last time. He was going to go and this was the last time she would get to do anything - for days. Forever if it didn’t go as planned. ”It is a great plan. I will see you again.” Her optimism hoping to make it true. This couldn't be the end, not rushed like this.
The words weren’t lies and the kiss was not a vow. But it was exactly what she’d wanted and he knew it. No one wanted the whole truth, where he was concerned. They wanted to believe that whatever they had with him was good or pure or eternal. But he was none of those things.
The night of the coronation, he’d slept with an ignorant little golden haired beauty for about a week. It was all he could stand of her. Typically his attention wasn’t as short as that but both his wife and his own sense of dignity would not let it continue past that time. But Aikaterine wasn’t asking about anything recent. She was asking if he went to anyone but her or Pia at the moment.
The truth of the whole matter was there wasn’t even supposed to be a ‘her’. With Pia’s precarious position and tendency to stress, he’d decided to do what she asked. There would be no mistresses at all. But they were distant at the moment and he was unused to sleeping alone.
And if he was honest, completely honest? Women really were a weakness. The right woman, the right circumstances...he couldn’t say no. Unfortunately the fates had aligned and Aikaterine had shown up at the exact right moment in exactly the right way. If she’d been able to disguise her attraction better, he would have ignored her. But her eyes had been too full of need and her lips...he’d wanted to know what they felt like. What she tasted like.
It had been the same with Pia, when they’d first met.
She’d wanted him. He’d wanted her...and into the bed they’d fallen.
The kiss wasn’t long and together they finished the entirety of the wine that he’d not planned to do when he’d brought it over. But eventually they found themselves laying down in the bed, covered in blankets, with him on the precipice of sleep. The whole of the day and the days leading up to it were terrible. Night, so long as he had distractions, was the only time he was in any way peaceful.
With her soft body pressed against him, and her plea in his ear to be able to stay a little bit longer, in his free, no-consequences state, he might have said yes. Or maybe he’d only made a sound. He wasn’t sure. The wine coursing through him and still in the comfortable state after their escapades, he’d likely have agreed to almost anything.
He slipped dreamlessly off into a deep sleep. Her shifting during the night did not wake him, nor did the sun filtering through the gauzy white curtains that had been drawn across his balcony at some point during the night. When she spoke, he groaned and turned over onto his stomach, burying himself in his arms and the pillow. Her padding around the room went wholly unnoticed until she came back to him and spoke again.
”It is a great plan. I will see you again.”
“Mmm?” through the haze of sleep, he wondered why Pia’s voice sounded different. And why she was in his room talking about plans. Long hair tickled the side of his face. Lips were against his temple. And all at once, he realized what had happened.
In one swift motion, he turned with his arm up and caught her about the waist. She was light and it was easy to swoop her back onto the bed and pin her there beneath him. He was mostly awake now and staring at her. “Aikaterine…” he rubbed one eye with the back of his hand. “Not that last night wasn’t amazing...but what are you doing here?”
This was not good. He glanced away from her to the balcony and groaned again, resting his forehead on her shoulder. His voice came out muffled against her neck. “You were supposed to go back to your room. Someone is going to see you.” And if Pia caught wind of it and something happened to her again………..he didn’t know what he’d do. Because this time, it really would be all his fault.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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The words weren’t lies and the kiss was not a vow. But it was exactly what she’d wanted and he knew it. No one wanted the whole truth, where he was concerned. They wanted to believe that whatever they had with him was good or pure or eternal. But he was none of those things.
The night of the coronation, he’d slept with an ignorant little golden haired beauty for about a week. It was all he could stand of her. Typically his attention wasn’t as short as that but both his wife and his own sense of dignity would not let it continue past that time. But Aikaterine wasn’t asking about anything recent. She was asking if he went to anyone but her or Pia at the moment.
The truth of the whole matter was there wasn’t even supposed to be a ‘her’. With Pia’s precarious position and tendency to stress, he’d decided to do what she asked. There would be no mistresses at all. But they were distant at the moment and he was unused to sleeping alone.
And if he was honest, completely honest? Women really were a weakness. The right woman, the right circumstances...he couldn’t say no. Unfortunately the fates had aligned and Aikaterine had shown up at the exact right moment in exactly the right way. If she’d been able to disguise her attraction better, he would have ignored her. But her eyes had been too full of need and her lips...he’d wanted to know what they felt like. What she tasted like.
It had been the same with Pia, when they’d first met.
She’d wanted him. He’d wanted her...and into the bed they’d fallen.
The kiss wasn’t long and together they finished the entirety of the wine that he’d not planned to do when he’d brought it over. But eventually they found themselves laying down in the bed, covered in blankets, with him on the precipice of sleep. The whole of the day and the days leading up to it were terrible. Night, so long as he had distractions, was the only time he was in any way peaceful.
With her soft body pressed against him, and her plea in his ear to be able to stay a little bit longer, in his free, no-consequences state, he might have said yes. Or maybe he’d only made a sound. He wasn’t sure. The wine coursing through him and still in the comfortable state after their escapades, he’d likely have agreed to almost anything.
He slipped dreamlessly off into a deep sleep. Her shifting during the night did not wake him, nor did the sun filtering through the gauzy white curtains that had been drawn across his balcony at some point during the night. When she spoke, he groaned and turned over onto his stomach, burying himself in his arms and the pillow. Her padding around the room went wholly unnoticed until she came back to him and spoke again.
”It is a great plan. I will see you again.”
“Mmm?” through the haze of sleep, he wondered why Pia’s voice sounded different. And why she was in his room talking about plans. Long hair tickled the side of his face. Lips were against his temple. And all at once, he realized what had happened.
In one swift motion, he turned with his arm up and caught her about the waist. She was light and it was easy to swoop her back onto the bed and pin her there beneath him. He was mostly awake now and staring at her. “Aikaterine…” he rubbed one eye with the back of his hand. “Not that last night wasn’t amazing...but what are you doing here?”
This was not good. He glanced away from her to the balcony and groaned again, resting his forehead on her shoulder. His voice came out muffled against her neck. “You were supposed to go back to your room. Someone is going to see you.” And if Pia caught wind of it and something happened to her again………..he didn’t know what he’d do. Because this time, it really would be all his fault.
The words weren’t lies and the kiss was not a vow. But it was exactly what she’d wanted and he knew it. No one wanted the whole truth, where he was concerned. They wanted to believe that whatever they had with him was good or pure or eternal. But he was none of those things.
The night of the coronation, he’d slept with an ignorant little golden haired beauty for about a week. It was all he could stand of her. Typically his attention wasn’t as short as that but both his wife and his own sense of dignity would not let it continue past that time. But Aikaterine wasn’t asking about anything recent. She was asking if he went to anyone but her or Pia at the moment.
The truth of the whole matter was there wasn’t even supposed to be a ‘her’. With Pia’s precarious position and tendency to stress, he’d decided to do what she asked. There would be no mistresses at all. But they were distant at the moment and he was unused to sleeping alone.
And if he was honest, completely honest? Women really were a weakness. The right woman, the right circumstances...he couldn’t say no. Unfortunately the fates had aligned and Aikaterine had shown up at the exact right moment in exactly the right way. If she’d been able to disguise her attraction better, he would have ignored her. But her eyes had been too full of need and her lips...he’d wanted to know what they felt like. What she tasted like.
It had been the same with Pia, when they’d first met.
She’d wanted him. He’d wanted her...and into the bed they’d fallen.
The kiss wasn’t long and together they finished the entirety of the wine that he’d not planned to do when he’d brought it over. But eventually they found themselves laying down in the bed, covered in blankets, with him on the precipice of sleep. The whole of the day and the days leading up to it were terrible. Night, so long as he had distractions, was the only time he was in any way peaceful.
With her soft body pressed against him, and her plea in his ear to be able to stay a little bit longer, in his free, no-consequences state, he might have said yes. Or maybe he’d only made a sound. He wasn’t sure. The wine coursing through him and still in the comfortable state after their escapades, he’d likely have agreed to almost anything.
He slipped dreamlessly off into a deep sleep. Her shifting during the night did not wake him, nor did the sun filtering through the gauzy white curtains that had been drawn across his balcony at some point during the night. When she spoke, he groaned and turned over onto his stomach, burying himself in his arms and the pillow. Her padding around the room went wholly unnoticed until she came back to him and spoke again.
”It is a great plan. I will see you again.”
“Mmm?” through the haze of sleep, he wondered why Pia’s voice sounded different. And why she was in his room talking about plans. Long hair tickled the side of his face. Lips were against his temple. And all at once, he realized what had happened.
In one swift motion, he turned with his arm up and caught her about the waist. She was light and it was easy to swoop her back onto the bed and pin her there beneath him. He was mostly awake now and staring at her. “Aikaterine…” he rubbed one eye with the back of his hand. “Not that last night wasn’t amazing...but what are you doing here?”
This was not good. He glanced away from her to the balcony and groaned again, resting his forehead on her shoulder. His voice came out muffled against her neck. “You were supposed to go back to your room. Someone is going to see you.” And if Pia caught wind of it and something happened to her again………..he didn’t know what he’d do. Because this time, it really would be all his fault.
She had been glancing again at the sun through the window. Aikaterine could only hope that it had been early enough that no one would be stirring yet. Not the ones that would be gossiping about who came out from the king's chambers. There was no time to contemplate and no time to scoot away for long because he had a hold of her. Her own hand clasped over her mouth to keep from screaming. The goal had been to sneak out quietly, but she just couldn't help leaving without some sort of good luck to Stephanos.
He quickly had her beneath him again. Was there time for all of this? Even as he was scolding her she wondered if it was so important to leave why he had pulled her back into the bed. "I fell asleep." It was the obvious answer. Maybe it came off as a bit of an excuse, but there was no other reason for her being in his room this early in the morning. There was no way to twist words around in hopes to discover some other task that would pull a woman into his majesty's room. And clearly, if she was caught running out... there would only be one assumption. The rumors would tear through the palati with absolutely no time for excuses.
"I know. I'm s..." She started. That apology just beginning to pop it's head out before she pulled it back and stopped herself. If Stephanos didn't want sorries, she wouldn't give them. It was perhaps all part of the training of becoming the new and improved Kat. Although, she did feel bad. This was her fault. I was her job to get out while the shadows would still be able to conceal her. The darkness was fleeing and she was still stuck beneath him. "No one is going to see me." She protested finally. "But, I should probably leave now." Her palms pressed against his flesh as she pushed at him. He wasn't being very helpful through this endeavor that was for sure.
Her lips twisted into a smirk. "Maybe you should put in a secret door and hallway and then it wouldn't matter." Plan number one as she gestured to a wall. Not that it would be easy to chisel away at the white stone, but it was an idea. It wouldn't be a good plan for right now. And that lead to her next offer. Her tone tongue and cheek. "I'll just go kiss your guard... as though I greeted him in the solitude outside your door. Would you like that? And then he can hold my hand all the way back to my room" It was a plan, not a great one. She imagined Stephanos was far too possessive for something like that. There were only so many ways to get out of the room. "What will you have me do? Jump off the balcony?" Unless he had more choices, those ideas were all she had - especially so early in the morning.
And she knew that if she stayed here much longer she would want more. The beast that had awakened inside of her would want more of him. Aikaterine longed for a day like the first where they could steal all the hours away for themselves. However, she a job to do and he had The Creed to kill the very next day. The sun never stopped rising.
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She had been glancing again at the sun through the window. Aikaterine could only hope that it had been early enough that no one would be stirring yet. Not the ones that would be gossiping about who came out from the king's chambers. There was no time to contemplate and no time to scoot away for long because he had a hold of her. Her own hand clasped over her mouth to keep from screaming. The goal had been to sneak out quietly, but she just couldn't help leaving without some sort of good luck to Stephanos.
He quickly had her beneath him again. Was there time for all of this? Even as he was scolding her she wondered if it was so important to leave why he had pulled her back into the bed. "I fell asleep." It was the obvious answer. Maybe it came off as a bit of an excuse, but there was no other reason for her being in his room this early in the morning. There was no way to twist words around in hopes to discover some other task that would pull a woman into his majesty's room. And clearly, if she was caught running out... there would only be one assumption. The rumors would tear through the palati with absolutely no time for excuses.
"I know. I'm s..." She started. That apology just beginning to pop it's head out before she pulled it back and stopped herself. If Stephanos didn't want sorries, she wouldn't give them. It was perhaps all part of the training of becoming the new and improved Kat. Although, she did feel bad. This was her fault. I was her job to get out while the shadows would still be able to conceal her. The darkness was fleeing and she was still stuck beneath him. "No one is going to see me." She protested finally. "But, I should probably leave now." Her palms pressed against his flesh as she pushed at him. He wasn't being very helpful through this endeavor that was for sure.
Her lips twisted into a smirk. "Maybe you should put in a secret door and hallway and then it wouldn't matter." Plan number one as she gestured to a wall. Not that it would be easy to chisel away at the white stone, but it was an idea. It wouldn't be a good plan for right now. And that lead to her next offer. Her tone tongue and cheek. "I'll just go kiss your guard... as though I greeted him in the solitude outside your door. Would you like that? And then he can hold my hand all the way back to my room" It was a plan, not a great one. She imagined Stephanos was far too possessive for something like that. There were only so many ways to get out of the room. "What will you have me do? Jump off the balcony?" Unless he had more choices, those ideas were all she had - especially so early in the morning.
And she knew that if she stayed here much longer she would want more. The beast that had awakened inside of her would want more of him. Aikaterine longed for a day like the first where they could steal all the hours away for themselves. However, she a job to do and he had The Creed to kill the very next day. The sun never stopped rising.
She had been glancing again at the sun through the window. Aikaterine could only hope that it had been early enough that no one would be stirring yet. Not the ones that would be gossiping about who came out from the king's chambers. There was no time to contemplate and no time to scoot away for long because he had a hold of her. Her own hand clasped over her mouth to keep from screaming. The goal had been to sneak out quietly, but she just couldn't help leaving without some sort of good luck to Stephanos.
He quickly had her beneath him again. Was there time for all of this? Even as he was scolding her she wondered if it was so important to leave why he had pulled her back into the bed. "I fell asleep." It was the obvious answer. Maybe it came off as a bit of an excuse, but there was no other reason for her being in his room this early in the morning. There was no way to twist words around in hopes to discover some other task that would pull a woman into his majesty's room. And clearly, if she was caught running out... there would only be one assumption. The rumors would tear through the palati with absolutely no time for excuses.
"I know. I'm s..." She started. That apology just beginning to pop it's head out before she pulled it back and stopped herself. If Stephanos didn't want sorries, she wouldn't give them. It was perhaps all part of the training of becoming the new and improved Kat. Although, she did feel bad. This was her fault. I was her job to get out while the shadows would still be able to conceal her. The darkness was fleeing and she was still stuck beneath him. "No one is going to see me." She protested finally. "But, I should probably leave now." Her palms pressed against his flesh as she pushed at him. He wasn't being very helpful through this endeavor that was for sure.
Her lips twisted into a smirk. "Maybe you should put in a secret door and hallway and then it wouldn't matter." Plan number one as she gestured to a wall. Not that it would be easy to chisel away at the white stone, but it was an idea. It wouldn't be a good plan for right now. And that lead to her next offer. Her tone tongue and cheek. "I'll just go kiss your guard... as though I greeted him in the solitude outside your door. Would you like that? And then he can hold my hand all the way back to my room" It was a plan, not a great one. She imagined Stephanos was far too possessive for something like that. There were only so many ways to get out of the room. "What will you have me do? Jump off the balcony?" Unless he had more choices, those ideas were all she had - especially so early in the morning.
And she knew that if she stayed here much longer she would want more. The beast that had awakened inside of her would want more of him. Aikaterine longed for a day like the first where they could steal all the hours away for themselves. However, she a job to do and he had The Creed to kill the very next day. The sun never stopped rising.
“You fell asleep,” he echoed with a slow shake of his head and pulled up again, away from her neck. His mouth twisted into a half smile but it further continued until it was a tight grimace. Staying the whole night was not good. Maybe if he and Pia were still actively fighting….but only maybe. The palati still had its ways of dredging up secrets. The last thing he wanted was for his wife to figure out that not only did he have a mistress, but that it was one of her ladies. And more than that, that her lady in waiting had spent the entire night in the king’s chambers. Accident or not, it didn’t look good.
At the start of her apology, he raised his eyebrows at her and smirked when she stopped. He’d so rarely met a woman of breeding who was so...obedient. It was when she naively assured him that no one was going to see her that he actually laughed and sat fully back to let her get up. Sweet, innocent girl. Of course someone was going to see her. It was just a question of who.
Getting off the bed entirely, he got up and slid into a new chiton of his own. They were both at least dressed, though he didn’t have on a himmation or belt. That he started to look for as she mentioned that perhaps he could have a secret doorway installed. This made him stop and give her a sort of assessing look, though he was still smiling as he did it. “And the second a mason put chisel to stone, my wife would know.” It was a bit of a tease back, since both of them knew that such an endeavor was never going to happen.
He did not need any secret entrances into his room.
Her chatter this morning was a bit of what felt to be out of the norm for her, though he’d only known her a week. Whenever he pictured her, he imagined someone quiet and reserved. But he was beginning to see that she was more than just beautiful. And thank the gods for that. Beautiful but boring women were tedious after a little while.
Wit wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering their current predicament. He was left to either laugh about it or be frustrated. When given the choice between the two options, he usually did the former. Ill humor was not predominant in his nature, which was a good thing for friends and relatives. Whenever his temper did arise, it was white hot but short lived. Which was why the fleeting irritation he’d felt at finding her here this morning was already nearly gone.
All there was left to do was fix the situation as best they could.
"What will you have me do? Jump off the balcony?"
“If you think you can land the jump,” he winked at her and crossed the room to look over the balcony railing. Despite the clear joke, he was actually trying to see if it would be dangerous. A sigh escaped him when he turned away. Yes. It was too dangerous to attempt. Damn.
“Kiss the guard if you must,” he said, taking her by the hand and pulling her to the door. “But at least look like you’re doing something….” Letting her go, he crossed the room and took up the empty wine pitcher. It wasn’t exactly her responsibility but it was the best he had at the moment.
Opening the door, he peered out to look up one side of the hallway, and then the other. Aside from his guard, he could not see a living soul. “Come, come,” he motioned to her and pulled her toward the door. “Attias,” he greeted the guard who merely bowed in response. “Make sure she’s a shadow.”
“Yes, my king,” Attias said and waited for Kat to exit the room.
Once she was gone, Stephanos leaned against the door and blew out a long breath. Well. It appeared as though he was going to get away with this. Blessed be to whichever of the gods was watching over him.
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“You fell asleep,” he echoed with a slow shake of his head and pulled up again, away from her neck. His mouth twisted into a half smile but it further continued until it was a tight grimace. Staying the whole night was not good. Maybe if he and Pia were still actively fighting….but only maybe. The palati still had its ways of dredging up secrets. The last thing he wanted was for his wife to figure out that not only did he have a mistress, but that it was one of her ladies. And more than that, that her lady in waiting had spent the entire night in the king’s chambers. Accident or not, it didn’t look good.
At the start of her apology, he raised his eyebrows at her and smirked when she stopped. He’d so rarely met a woman of breeding who was so...obedient. It was when she naively assured him that no one was going to see her that he actually laughed and sat fully back to let her get up. Sweet, innocent girl. Of course someone was going to see her. It was just a question of who.
Getting off the bed entirely, he got up and slid into a new chiton of his own. They were both at least dressed, though he didn’t have on a himmation or belt. That he started to look for as she mentioned that perhaps he could have a secret doorway installed. This made him stop and give her a sort of assessing look, though he was still smiling as he did it. “And the second a mason put chisel to stone, my wife would know.” It was a bit of a tease back, since both of them knew that such an endeavor was never going to happen.
He did not need any secret entrances into his room.
Her chatter this morning was a bit of what felt to be out of the norm for her, though he’d only known her a week. Whenever he pictured her, he imagined someone quiet and reserved. But he was beginning to see that she was more than just beautiful. And thank the gods for that. Beautiful but boring women were tedious after a little while.
Wit wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering their current predicament. He was left to either laugh about it or be frustrated. When given the choice between the two options, he usually did the former. Ill humor was not predominant in his nature, which was a good thing for friends and relatives. Whenever his temper did arise, it was white hot but short lived. Which was why the fleeting irritation he’d felt at finding her here this morning was already nearly gone.
All there was left to do was fix the situation as best they could.
"What will you have me do? Jump off the balcony?"
“If you think you can land the jump,” he winked at her and crossed the room to look over the balcony railing. Despite the clear joke, he was actually trying to see if it would be dangerous. A sigh escaped him when he turned away. Yes. It was too dangerous to attempt. Damn.
“Kiss the guard if you must,” he said, taking her by the hand and pulling her to the door. “But at least look like you’re doing something….” Letting her go, he crossed the room and took up the empty wine pitcher. It wasn’t exactly her responsibility but it was the best he had at the moment.
Opening the door, he peered out to look up one side of the hallway, and then the other. Aside from his guard, he could not see a living soul. “Come, come,” he motioned to her and pulled her toward the door. “Attias,” he greeted the guard who merely bowed in response. “Make sure she’s a shadow.”
“Yes, my king,” Attias said and waited for Kat to exit the room.
Once she was gone, Stephanos leaned against the door and blew out a long breath. Well. It appeared as though he was going to get away with this. Blessed be to whichever of the gods was watching over him.
“You fell asleep,” he echoed with a slow shake of his head and pulled up again, away from her neck. His mouth twisted into a half smile but it further continued until it was a tight grimace. Staying the whole night was not good. Maybe if he and Pia were still actively fighting….but only maybe. The palati still had its ways of dredging up secrets. The last thing he wanted was for his wife to figure out that not only did he have a mistress, but that it was one of her ladies. And more than that, that her lady in waiting had spent the entire night in the king’s chambers. Accident or not, it didn’t look good.
At the start of her apology, he raised his eyebrows at her and smirked when she stopped. He’d so rarely met a woman of breeding who was so...obedient. It was when she naively assured him that no one was going to see her that he actually laughed and sat fully back to let her get up. Sweet, innocent girl. Of course someone was going to see her. It was just a question of who.
Getting off the bed entirely, he got up and slid into a new chiton of his own. They were both at least dressed, though he didn’t have on a himmation or belt. That he started to look for as she mentioned that perhaps he could have a secret doorway installed. This made him stop and give her a sort of assessing look, though he was still smiling as he did it. “And the second a mason put chisel to stone, my wife would know.” It was a bit of a tease back, since both of them knew that such an endeavor was never going to happen.
He did not need any secret entrances into his room.
Her chatter this morning was a bit of what felt to be out of the norm for her, though he’d only known her a week. Whenever he pictured her, he imagined someone quiet and reserved. But he was beginning to see that she was more than just beautiful. And thank the gods for that. Beautiful but boring women were tedious after a little while.
Wit wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering their current predicament. He was left to either laugh about it or be frustrated. When given the choice between the two options, he usually did the former. Ill humor was not predominant in his nature, which was a good thing for friends and relatives. Whenever his temper did arise, it was white hot but short lived. Which was why the fleeting irritation he’d felt at finding her here this morning was already nearly gone.
All there was left to do was fix the situation as best they could.
"What will you have me do? Jump off the balcony?"
“If you think you can land the jump,” he winked at her and crossed the room to look over the balcony railing. Despite the clear joke, he was actually trying to see if it would be dangerous. A sigh escaped him when he turned away. Yes. It was too dangerous to attempt. Damn.
“Kiss the guard if you must,” he said, taking her by the hand and pulling her to the door. “But at least look like you’re doing something….” Letting her go, he crossed the room and took up the empty wine pitcher. It wasn’t exactly her responsibility but it was the best he had at the moment.
Opening the door, he peered out to look up one side of the hallway, and then the other. Aside from his guard, he could not see a living soul. “Come, come,” he motioned to her and pulled her toward the door. “Attias,” he greeted the guard who merely bowed in response. “Make sure she’s a shadow.”
“Yes, my king,” Attias said and waited for Kat to exit the room.
Once she was gone, Stephanos leaned against the door and blew out a long breath. Well. It appeared as though he was going to get away with this. Blessed be to whichever of the gods was watching over him.
