I'm startled awake by the sound of a door slamming. "It's too early," I mutter, rolling over in bed, feeling the mattress cool beside me. Alexander has been gone for some time.
"You will obey my orders," Alexander says.
I can't tell whom he's speaking with, but he's curt and sharp. There's no discussion regarding what Alexander wants. After all, he is king, and he gets exactly as he desires.
I climb out of bed, smoothing down my chemise. My maids will help me dress, when I call for them or when they usually wake me, if something is pressing and I must attend. Today seems like neither, yet my heart is frantic after the conversation with Richard, William and Bridget. We are almost at war and Alexander hides his fear well. Perhaps I should send word to my parents, requesting soldiers for protection.
Opening the bedroom door, Alexander and Sebastian are standing in the hallway a few paces down, where Hannah's room is.
"You have Isabella! You can have any woman in the entire kingdom, and you want Hannah? Why? Do you have a problem with one of your most trusted guards and allies being happy?"
Alexander's nostrils flair with anger. "Do not question my authority, ever!"
Sebastian's face shows no emotion. He hides his disappointment well. At least I assume it's that; I can't know for certain. He shoots me daggers with his eyes before stalking down the hall to the stairwell. I shall watch my back. There'd been little trust with Sebastian before, now he might actually plot his revenge.
Walking over, I rest a hand on Alexander's arm. I don't have to ask what that was about. From the brief exchange I heard, I'd suspect it had to do with taking Hannah as his mistress. Or more importantly, our mistress. Has he informed Hannah of the news or will I have to? I'm not sure how she'll take the announcement. She seemed quite pleased with Sebastian. We should have talked about this more before he sprang into action.
"That didn't go quite how I had hoped," Alexander says and turns to me. "Good morning."
"Good morning," I say and smile weakly. "Have you spoken with Hannah yet?"
"No. I was leaving that up to you. Unless you'd like me to inform her of the new arrangement?"
I shuffle my feet anxiously, debating what I shall do.
"Forget it." Alexander shakes his head. "This was my idea; I'll take care of it."
Can he tell how nervous this makes me feel? I love Hannah and to share her with someone else seems wrong. Whether it's with Sebastian or Alexander, I'm not happy about the situation. Though, in truth, at least with Alexander, we will have Hannah together.
Will she accept the proposal or be angered that Alexander sent Sebastian away from her chambers for good? I just hope she doesn't blame me.
Alexander knocks on Hannah's door. There's no way she isn't privy to the argument that just developed outside her door. In fact, Alexander might have interrupted them; I'm not sure.
"King Alexander," Hannah says and curtseys. "What can I do for you?" Her eyes are red. She looks as though she's been crying, and her focus is on Alexander. She doesn't pay attention to me in the slightest.
"With your permission, of course…" He smiles at her in that charming way that makes a girl's stomach flop and think he only has eyes for her. "…Queen Isabella and I would like you to be our mistress. I know Sebastian may have been courting you, but I assure you, whether you accept or not, that's over."
Hannah chews on her bottom lip. Does she feel she has no choice? I did tell her about Alexander murdering his father. If I were in her shoes, I'm not sure I would decline the invitation. "Mistress?" she repeats, sounding the word on her tongue. "What does it entail?"
She's no idiot. Hannah knows what a mistress does. What she wants to know is whether she gets anything out of it. I don't blame her for trying to negotiate more. Once you're the king's mistress, finding a man to wed is near impossible.
"You will be well cared for at court. I assure you, Hannah, we both are requesting your presence in our chambers as our mistress."
"Both of you?" Hannah repeats, raising an eyebrow. Her head turns and she stares at me. "Is that so?" She looks furious, and I don't blame her. We ran off her new beau for a status of mistress without a true choice in the matter. I should have spoken with her before King Alexander accosted her and Sebastian this morning. I owed her that much and I screwed up.
"Yes," I say and step forward. "We invite you into our chambers."
"Is that all?" Hannah exhales slowly. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the offer, but as mistress, I will never have anyone's love undivided."
Alexander reaches for Hannah's hand. "You will have Ella's. She loves you unconditionally. And while I want her to love me, I cannot force it to happen. We won't make you do anything you're not comfortable with, Hannah. The choice is entirely your own."
"May I think about it?" Hannah asks. "It's a big decision." Being a mistress isn't some secretive affair. The entire court and kingdom would hear about it. Other neighboring kingdoms as well. It would make her valuable while also putting her in danger among the rebels.
"Of course, take all the time you need," Alexander says. "Though I hope we will see you tonight in our chambers."
My maids, Anne and Magdalene, help me into my gown, securing the ribbons in the back. Anne fiddles with the dress while Magdalene grabs my hairbrush to remove the tangles from my long dark locks. "King Alexander has requested a meeting with his advisors and he'd like you in attendance," Anne says. It explains why they're putting me in a gorgeous gown of black and purple silk.
"Of course. When is it?" I ask. Alexander neglected to mention it. The fact my maids know and I don't is even more surprising. Am I the last to discover everything around here?
"After lunch," Anne says. "The meeting will be in the war room, on the second floor."
"There's a war room?" I need a tour of the castle, and not one that forgoes all the interesting details. Alexander seems interested in providing me with what I need to know, nothing more.
Hannah storms into my chambers, stalking toward me, coming eye to eye. I know without looking, she must be on her tiptoes because she's several inches shorter than I am. "How dare you! Is it too much for me to be happy? You have to go and ruin it! It's not enough that you're queen, but to go and demand Sebastian leave me alone. I'm sick of you, Ella!"
"This wasn't my suggestion," I say. Not that I'd believe myself, either, if I were in her place. "I see how it looks, but I swear that wasn't what happened. Sebastian threatened me. He forced me to tell Alexander about the two of us. When I did, Alexander seemed more pleased by the prospect of two women than one."
Anne laughs under her breath. "What king wouldn't?"
"That's beside the point." Hannah is in my face, and her breathing is ragged, uneven. She's either trying not to cry or not to throw a punch at me. I'm not sure which is worse. "I hate you!" The words are spit out like venom.
"Now that's not very nice," Magdalene says. "Hannah, I'm sure you're upset, but Isabella is your queen." She's always been a bit of a motherly figure, Magdalene. Why am I not surprised that she's trying to smooth things over and diffuse the situation?
Hannah's face goes slack. "My apologies, Your Highness." She curtsies before me. "That is all you are to me. I thought you were my friend. I was mistaken. What we had is over between us. We're through. I'll be your lady-in-waiting, but only because it's my responsibilities, my job." Her heels clank against the floor and she slams the door on the way out of the room. I know she's trying to make a statement, show me she can have power too, even if she isn't a queen.
Anne finishes lacing the back of my gown. "If I may speak freely, Your Highness."
"Go ahead." I'm not afraid to hear what Anne has to say.
"You made a mistake, a large one."
It's late morning and I've been searching the castle for Hannah. I need to talk to her. There has to be a way to set things right. Though quite honestly, I'm not sure how. Alexander wants both of us, and in the end, I suspect he'll get what he wants. Perhaps I have to find another way to make it that Hannah will want to be with him. Make him desirable to her. Of course, that would have been easier if I hadn't confessed seeing him murder his father.
Wandering the castle, I pause at the first floor, glancing through the window. I spot Hannah's pale-yellow dress she had been wearing when she stormed into my chambers. She's out at the edge of the castle grounds, wandering alone. Is she intending to meet Sebastian?
I slip out through the main doors and walk at a brisk clip to catch up with her. "Hannah?"
"Go away! Can't you take a hint?"
I don't listen to her. I jog the last few feet, walking alongside of her. "I know you're mad at me and I don't blame you. I just, this might be good for you."
Hannah stops walking. She crosses her arms against her chest. "How could being the king's mistress be a good thing for me?"
"Actually, you're both of our mistress. He's not keeping you to himself, which is a big deal. Kings don't usually include their wives and mistresses together in illicit affairs."
"I'm not going to sleep with him, Ella."
"So, don't." I stare deep into her pale blue eyes. My hand reaches for hers. "Be with me. Stay with me. I love you."
Hannah's eyes narrow. "I don't know. You're married to a king, who obviously loves you. I'm going to be the third wheel. Do you know how that goes? It's ends terribly for the mistress, me!"
"So, you will be our mistress?" I grin, hoping that's a yes.
Hannah's eyes bug out. "You're not listening to me!" She drops my hand and pulls away.
"Are you going to run away again, Hannah? Just because you're not getting what you want?"
"Do you even know what it is that I want?" Hannah asks. "Have you ever thought long enough about me to consider my needs and my desires?"
"Of course, I have! I brought you with me because I thought it was best for you. All I want is your happiness. Do you not see that? If it's with Sebastian…well, I don't know. We'll have to figure something out. You've known him for less than a week, though. You can't tell me you're in love with the guard already."
Hannah stares at the grass. "I might be. I don't know. No one's ever loved me for who I am."
I can't believe her. "Are you kidding me? I love you for who you are. My feelings for you have nothing to do with you being of noble blood or your work station."
"It's not just that." Hannah's breath is a whisper in the wind. "He paid attention to me, made me feel like a queen."
I get it. I do. Hannah will never be queen and even if I treated her like royalty, I'm always a royal. "You can have that attention," I say. "Mistresses are taken care of at court. They have beautiful jewelry, nice treasures that a lady-in-waiting couldn't afford. I can't give you my title or marry you, but I can love you."
With grace, Hannah sits on the grass; her fingers stroke the individual blades. "I didn't like Sebastian that much anyway. I mean, in bed, he was okay, but it wasn't what I like. I don't want to talk about it." Her eyes avoid mine.
"To be honest, I got a possessive vibe from him," I say.
"Yes, I noticed that when King Alexander made it clear I was off limits to him, though I got possessive too. I hate being told what I can and can't do. It doesn't seem fair." Hannah sighs and lies back on the grass, staring up at the sky. "What are we going to do about the obvious fact that he killed his father? I can't sleep with a criminal."
I'm silent for a moment, contemplating our options. "Maybe we use it to our advantage?"
"Yes, maybe." Hannah doesn't sound convinced. Her hands come to rest on her stomach, folded together. "Does it make you nervous, thinking that he might watch the two of us and enjoy it?"
"I feel a lot of things, Hannah, but nervous isn't one of them."
My eyes focus on the tree line. I'm certain I see movement among the shrubbery. "Hannah, something's wrong. Get back to the castle and sound the alarm bells. Run!" I grab her arm, lifting her in one swift motion. She's faster than I am, a few feet in front of me. "Hurry!" An arrow whizzes by my head. Another follows, grazing my arm. It draws a tinge of blood, a scrape. I'm lucky it's not worse.
Running for the castle, we rush up the drawbridge before it has time to close and the stone gates shut around us. "Be careful!" I say as we separate. She goes to warn the entire castle we're under attack while I scout out Alexander.
"You too."
I hope it's not the last words I say to her. If rebels are inside the castle, it's only a matter of time until the doors are open, and we're overrun. My faith is wavering.
Inside the castle, I find Alexander in the war room. He's studying maps of our land; his advisors haven't accompanied us yet.
"The meeting isn't for a few more hours," he says, catching sight of me coming into the room. "What's wrong?"
"They're here. The attack is happening now." The bell sounds, ringing at an ear-piercing level, certain everyone will hear it. "What do we do?" I ask. My heart is slamming against my chest. It feels as loud as the chime from the bell. I'm not a warrior. I haven't been trained to lead a militia or protect a country.
"We fight back."
Alexander hands me a small dagger to place along my boot and a sword for protection. "Please tell me your father trained you in fencing."
"He did," I say. "No bow and arrow?" He saw my archery skills, why not provide me with a tool he knows I'm confident with? I can't help but feel disappointed.
"Unless you want to watch the perimeter, a sword is your best bet. I need you to find your maids, lead them to the safe room." Alexander hands me a map revealing the interior of the castle and all the rooms including a hidden one. "Protect that map with your life."
"Where are you going to be?" I ask.
"Stopping King Frederyk and his rebel soldiers from destroying our country."
I don't have time to ask how. My first mission is to protect my maids. The castle walls tremble.
"They're firing canons. Go now!" he orders.
For once, I listen to Alexander and trust him with my life. I escape the war room and dash through the hall searching for Anne and Magdalene. Would the other maids and servants have shown them to the safe room? I can't know for certain.
On unsteady ground, I grip the banister and head for my chambers. The maids loved spending time doting on gowns and tapestries for me.
Rounding the stairs, I find both of them in the hall, looking frightened. It's no wonder. They hear stories of wars and tragedy but never see any of it within the confines of the castle. These walls are supposed to protect us. I pray there's no breech.
"Come with me," I say and glance at the map.
"Where are you going with that?" Anne asks, nodding toward the sword in my hand.
I don't answer her. We don't have time to discuss my defense strategies. I shove the map at my maids, having nowhere to hide it under my gown. Tearing down the stairs, we skip steps as I lead them to safety. I can hear the assailants growing closer. Shuffling into the dining hall, my hands feel over the stone wall on the outside, trying to discover the latch to open the safe room. After a moment, it clicks. The door creaks open a few inches and I pull it the rest of the way. "Get in," I say.
"You first, Your Highness."
"No." I shake my head. "Hannah is still out there. So is Alexander. They need me."
Anne and Magdalene exchange looks. "We're not going without you."
"Yes, you are. I'm your queen. I order you to safety." I push them into the safe room. It's empty. Why aren't other guards and maids hidden away in there? I don't have time to question it. Shutting the door behind them, I dart back into the hall and down to the bell tower. I need to find Hannah.
The map is etched in my mind. With sword drawn, I follow the floor to where Hannah should be. "Hannah?" I call out for her. The silence at this part of the castle is eerie. My stomach tenses.
"Over here!" Her scream is silenced, and I hear her try to shout but it's garbled.
Rounding the corner, I spin around to see Sebastian gripping her in one hand, a dagger in the other.
"Sebastian, what are you doing? Let her go!" Has he gone mad and lost his mind?
"Why would I do that? She loves me. We want to be together and your stupid king is ruining our happily ever after," Sebastian says. His voice comes out as a squawk. "I love her!"
"Leave me alone," Hannah says, trying to shimmy from his arms, twisting and turning, but the blade grows tighter at her throat.
"You weren't saying that last night," Sebastian says.
His mouth caresses her ear, whispering something that only she can hear. It's enough to make her stop squirming but the blood has rushed out of her face. She's ghastly and her eyes look as though she's about to cry.
My blade is poised for Sebastian, but Hannah is in the way. "Was this your idea, overthrowing the kingdom today, because your precious girlfriend was propositioned by the king? I bet that deflated your ego." I won't let him hurt her, I'm just not sure how to stop him. I can duel well, but defending someone else, that was never a lesson I learned.
"Let her go!" Alexander comes around the corner, his sword drawn as well. He stands behind Sebastian, poking the blade into his back. "So much as blink and I'll plunge this blade straight through to your heart."
"He'll do it!" Hannah screams. Her voice is shaking, and her eyes are wide like saucers. "He killed King Charles!"
Shit. Why did Hannah have to go and reveal our secret? Alexander could easily kill us both now as well and blame it on the rebels.
"How long have you been a spy for King Frederyk?" Alexander asks. At the moment, he appears to ignore Hannah's outbreak. For how long, though, I'm not sure. Maybe he'll forget it entirely.
Sebastian laughs darkly, throwing Hannah to the ground. Her head hits the stone window ledge and she falls unconscious in a heap. I want to reach out to her and make sure she's okay. I don't see blood from where I'm standing, but Sebastian is still too close and if I move at all, he might strike me next. Worse, if I'm bending down, he probably will plunge his dagger into my back. I won't be defenseless. At least on my feet, I can protect Hannah if he goes after her again.
Sebastian's focus seems to be on Alexander. "A spy? I only turned when you betrayed me. Stealing the woman I love, that's low, Alexander, even for you."
"It's King Alexander," he says, correcting Sebastian. "Leave now, and I shall spare your life."
"Not a chance," Sebastian says and steps forward with the dagger in hand. It's no match for the king's sword. "At least give us even odds. Yours is bigger."
Alexander rolls his eyes. "Leave my castle and your odds of living will by far outweigh the odds of you falling upon my sword and being thrown into a mass grave when this is done."
Sebastian throws his dagger at Alexander. It's his only move with the shorter blade, all or nothing.
Alexander's reflexes are quick and block the dagger from striking his chest. The handle clashes against his arm before tumbling to the ground.
I raise my sword, shoving it squarely at Sebastian's neck. "Go for your dagger again. I dare you to give me a reason."
Sebastian raises his hands in surrender. Is he really giving up or is this a trick to put our defenses down?
"I want answers!" My teeth are gritted, and my cheeks burn red with rage. "Where is King Frederyk?" I don't believe that Sebastian ordered the attack on our castle without reinforcements.
"He's not here." Sebastian laughs and his happiness makes him sound insane.
There's nothing funny here. Not that I can tell. Has he lost his mind?
Hannah is beginning to stir, and she sits up, grimacing. "Why is he still alive?" she asks, staring up at her predator. She lunges at me where the sword meets his throat. "Kill him, or I will!"
Her response startles me, so much that I'm momentarily stunned as I look at Hannah, and Sebastian ducks, preparing to escape my blade and presumably the room.
His hand moves for another dagger at his boot. Hannah doesn't miss a beat. She covers my hands with hers, forcing the sword into his chest. I feel it cut skin and bone. Grimacing, we pull the blade back out and are met with resistance as it digs through flesh again.
"He was going to kill you," Hannah says, staring at Sebastian as he lies in a pool of his own blood. He doesn't move, his eyes blink, still alive but for not much longer.
"You don't know that," Alexander says, seeming surprised by Hannah's actions as well.
"I do. He told me the dagger is laced with poison. One cut would kill you."
With Sebastian dead, the remaining guards secure the castle. Shooting arrows of fire at the enemy is enough to drive them far and fast out of the country. It's helpful that we have some of the best marksman in the world. Probably because they trained under Alexander.
Standing in the war room, Alexander and I are safe but for how much longer? I ask Hannah to retrieve Anne and Magdalene from the safe room.
"We must send a letter to my father at once," I say, grabbing a piece of parchment, quill and ink. "We shall ask for additional reinforcements, in case King Frederyk decides to strike again. My father must also know that the peace treaty has been violated."
"This wasn't Frederyk," Alexander says. "I don't care what he said, this has Sebastian written all over it. Maybe he pushed Frederyk into giving him soldiers, but he came here for Hannah. My guess is he was going to drag her to wherever he decided to run. This isn't the first time I've had trouble with him when he's courted a young woman."
This is news to me. Why didn't Alexander say anything sooner? "So, we're not out of danger?" I ask. "One of our spies, Bridget, mentioned that King Frederyk had plans to attack soon while we were most vulnerable." Having a new reigning king and queen qualified.
"Bridget?" he repeats and frowns. "I don't recognize the name. Once your father sends additional guards to protect our villages and the castle, I feel confident Frederyk will leave us alone. It's why I intended to call a meeting with you in the war room earlier this afternoon. I thought it wise to ram up our defenses before an attack. King Frederyk will leave us alone. We wiped out his most trusted spy and defended ourselves against his men. He'll need a lot more manpower to destroy the castle and win our kingdom. Our alliance with your country remains strong, and though he may want our throne, he's not going to get it."
The three of us are lying together on the mattress. I'm not sure what will happen or when. Hannah seems resistant to Alexander, and he isn't exactly putting out vibes of arousal, either. It's been a trying day; perhaps sleep would be the best solution for all of us. I don't know how soon Hannah will want to become our mistress. She agreed to join us in our chambers this evening, but no one seems ready to make the first move. I'm just glad not to lose her, especially to Sebastian. She deserves better, and though I question her happiness repeatedly, she tells me that she wants to be here, with both of us.
Hannah's hand is on my arm. She's lying behind me, curled up against my body. I can feel warmth radiating off her skin.
Alexander is facing me, his eyes filled with something I can't quite pinpoint. He looks pensive, lost in thought. He's curled on his side, staring at us but his hands remain on the mattress. Does he wish for Hannah or myself to make the first move in this affair?
It is foreign to me. I'm not opposed to letting Alexander watch, but I'd much rather he participated with us. I know without a doubt how much better the experience will be for all three of us.
"Why did you call me a killer?" His voice is filled with hurt. His question catches me off guard. How did I hurt him? He murdered his father for the throne. I witnessed it. There's no other way to explain what I saw.
I should have known Alexander would bring it up. Why had Hannah let the words slip out? She'd been so careful. It wasn't like her to divulge another's secret.
He'd waited all day to bring it up, not a word when we discussed strategy in the war room or shared dinner in the dining hall.
We all make mistakes or act in what we believe is our best interest. Hannah and I killed Sebastian. Did we have a choice? I suppose if we wanted to die, we could have let him live. His life for ours. It's not something I care to think about right this instant. Is that how Alexander thinks of his actions? That they were lawful?
"I didn't kill my father; he was already dying. Wouldn't you wish the same mercy if you were growing weaker every day toward your inevitable death? The doctors did everything they could. It was my turn to save him, spare him the agony of dying slowly and in miserable pain. You didn't hear him cry at night, begging for death to take him. He was growing too weak to swallow. He'd starve to death soon. I wasn't going to watch that happen."
I knew he was sick; it was no secret that King Charles was dying, but his rationale surprised me. "You did it to save him?" All this time, I thought he'd done it for the throne, to take possession of it right away. Tears glisten my eyes. Am I a horrible person for thinking otherwise? I swipe them away and throw my arms around Alexander. "I'm so sorry I doubted you."
"Who else did you tell?" Alexander asks. "Even mercy killings are punishable by death. Especially when it's the king's life I've taken."
"Just Hannah," I say and glance at her.
"I swear, no one else knows."
"Sebastian isn't saying a word," I say. "He's dead. Alexander, your secret is safe with us."
He leans in, brushing his lips tenderly against mine. I allow myself to give in to passion, to feel everything I've wanted to feel for this man since the moment I met him. Knowing he's not a cold-blooded killer but that he wanted to genuinely do something kind warms my heart and my insides. His fingers trail down my arm to my hand and he glances at Hannah. "Join us," he says.
Does he want to touch her and please her? I try not to let the strings at my heart play a melody of jealousy. She's here because of me.
Her fingers slip under my chemise, searching right for the prize. She wastes no time. Her touch is warm, comforting as she parts my folds. "You saved me," she rasps, dropping kisses to my jaw and neck. "I like this arrangement far better than hiding our relationship." She's feeling how wet I am for her and gently sucking my earlobe. I want to touch her, kiss her, make love to her. My hands can't reach her; however, they can seduce Alexander.
"You have too many clothes on," I say, tugging at his breeches. "We need you naked."
"Not so fast," Hannah says to Alexander and grins. "Arouse her. Make her beg for you to fuck her; she likes that."
"Don't give all my secrets away." I tug at the hem of Alexander's shirt and he obliges, removing one article of clothing but not two.
"Hannah is right. If you want my breeches off, you're going to have to beg. Though, while we're at it, you two are wearing too many clothes." While Hannah's fingers tease my folds and slip inside my warmth, I sit up to remove my chemise. Alexander lifts it up for me and the different angle causes a moan to escape my lips. Her thumb works faster and my head lolls back and my eyes shut.
"Not so fast," Hannah says, and I can hear the smug smile on her face when her fingers slip out.
"Why'd you do that?" I could kill her right now. Seriously.
Is this why they both agreed to the three of us sharing one another? To somehow torture me?
"Too many clothes," Hannah agrees and swiftly removes her own chemise, tossing it to the floor, not wasting a beat. "I want you to say my name," Hannah whispers against my ear. I feel exposed, in the most beautiful way possible.
"Flip over."
"What?" I swallow nervously, not sure whether I'll like it or not. I haven't done anything to demand getting spanked again. Besides, I don't want Hannah to see that side of Alexander.
"Just do it," Alexander says and Hannah lets go of me, smiling with desire-filled eyes, and nods. She seems to trust him, as should I. He is, after all, my husband and king.
I roll onto my stomach and Alexander drops his breeches. "You can touch him," I say to Hannah. "Go ahead." He must want it and I'm willing, tonight, to do anything for both of them.
Alexander's hand comes down hard on my rear, certain to leave a mark.
I bury my face in the pillows, unwilling for Hannah to see my reaction. Has anyone spanked her before? Did Sebastian spank her when they were together?
"Do I get a turn?" Hannah asks. "I want to spank Ella." A huge grin spreads across her face. "Though I admit, I like it when she's naughty."
He throws his hand down again on my bottom, across my left cheek. What did I do wrong this time? Was it because I told Hannah that she could touch Alexander? We'd agreed to share one another. Did Alexander not want to share me? Or was it because Hannah wanted to spank me, and he grew jealous?
I whimper in response.
"Make a sound and you'll get another spanking," Alexander says. His tone is firm but light. Unlike the last time, he doesn't sound angry or disappointed with me. Is this how our lovemaking will be?
I'm both aroused and craving more of Alexander's affection. I bury my face into the pillow, trying my best not to make any noise. I moan quietly as his lashings grow harder, burning against my skin, making me wet. I'm glad Alexander's attention is on me. There's something about his power and control that fires me up inside. Is he doing this to teach me a lesson for being naughty or to arouse me?
"No, Hannah." Alexander's answer is both quick and abrupt. "I'm the only one in charge. Maybe I should spank you both regularly for sneaking around the castle, behind my back. Would that make sure it doesn't happen again?" Alexander lets his hand land hard on my bottom. The sting grows fierce and I whimper in protest. When will his spankings turn to sex? He offered it to me the last time and I rejected him. It had been the only amount of control that I'd been given. Tonight, I would give him everything, and if he asked me to beg, I would.
Wetness drips from between my pink folds. I anxiously move my hips, needing more than just my rear spanked. My desire throbs between my thighs. Does he see how wet he makes me?
Alexander slips one finger down between my folds. He knows the power he has over me, what he makes me feel. "Someone likes being a bad girl," he says. His voice changes and is thicker with arousal. His hand comes down again, spanking my bottom. "I like you submissive, Ella. You are mine."
I shift my head around on the pillow. I like Alexander being dominant, but I don't dare say the words aloud. Somehow if I do, I worry I might break the spell.
I can't see what's happening, but I can hear the moans. Alexander rubs my clit, quick and swift in a motion that makes my toes curls. I know she's touching him, pleasing him, and it's not long before I feel him shift and poise at my entrance, sliding inside my wetness inch by inch. My lips fall open and I moan, forgetting who can hear us. He doesn't spank me again for making a sound. This time, he's encouraged by my moans, thrusting harder and faster.
Hannah crawls around in front of me, lying on the bed, spread eagle. Her eyes wiggle and she grins proudly. I'm curious what's going through her mind. My fingers separate her folds and my tongue darts out, tasting her sweetness as Alexander thrusts into me. My hips buck and my nose nuzzles Hannah. I steady her hips with my hands. She's thrusting too, likely wanting more contact. Sucking her clit, my tongue swirls around the growing bead. I lean back slightly, thrusting two fingers inside of her warmth, filling her. I stroke her, feeling her pulsate and swell under my touch.
I don't dare ask if she wants Alexander to fuck her. I'm not sure I can say the words aloud. It doesn't seem I need to. My fingers elicit the response I desire, tasting her wetness on my tongue as she clenches onto my fingers, trembling under my touch. Her body is beautiful, red, and rosy, flushed with ecstasy as she peaks. All thoughts are lost when Alexander makes my own insides tremble, my arms growing weak supporting my weight. Sweat coats my skin, heart pounding erratically in my chest. Fire burns like the radiant sun in the sky and I allow myself the moment to let go, embrace the feeling and the fact that I'm a queen and just maybe I can have everything one would ever wish for in this life.