11: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

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...11...

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL💗

Rose awakened about an hour after dawn to that familiar intoxicating scent of coconuts and lemon -cocolemon. She unconsciously nuzzled closer to it, wanting to get more of that scent, of him. He was asleep on his back, with her, sprawled half over him, and him cradling her to his body. She inhaled as she listened to the rhythm of his heart beat. He was asleep. She was sure of it. She let her eyes trailer lower, staring desirably at his ABs. She swallowed softly at the passion inebriating sight. She tentatively twirled her hands over his smooth chest, without trepidation, tracing the grooves and magnificent contours of his masculine chest, loving the feel of his smooth skin, the warmth of his beautiful body, the feel of her fingers on him, gliding smoothly across his chest.

Infact, she was intoxicated with the thrill of it, loved it to stupor. She traced the lanes created by his hard eight stone PACs, slowly, savouring, deeply imprinting the shape of him somewhere in her mind, imprinting herself on him. Want built steadily in her as her hands dipped lower, yearning to touch, exploring forbidden territories.

'I oh so like the way you rouse me from slumber sweet Rose,' he mused with a soft chuckle. She jerked back instantly, shocked. But, she was stopped from moving more than three inches by his arms which held her around her waist, tightly, restraining her. His voice had startled her because she had thought he was asleep, or mayhap she had awakened him by chance. Oh God! She hadn't known that he would awaken. He had looked to her as if he was sleeping really soundly, deeply. She felt... embarrassed? Oh yes, she felt just that way added with streaks of thorough frustration. Of course she should for she had been caressing her enemy. Wait! Was he? Was he really her enemy? She didn't know anymore, confused. Well, she didn't have time to dwell on it for he called her then, bringing her out of it.

'Mine,' He whispered as his arms drew patterns on her back, stroking her senseless, spiking her latent desire vehemently. She tried to wiggle away from his touch before she was subdued by the charring passion threatening to ensnare her. 'Will you just stay still?!' he commanded her almost instantly. She obeyed him, couldn't disobey him, not when he chose to use that jussive steel like voice on her. His other hand -the one that wasn't holding her- reached for hers, for the fingers which she had earlier on used to stroke him. He stared pointedly at her as he brought the chosen palm to his lips. She knew what he intended to do before he started to do so. He began to kiss her fingers one after another while still staring at her. She stared back at him with eyes as wide as chocolate biscuits. Strong sensations ran through her, instantly heating her up, causing her to have a meltdown, down to her very needy core, making her drip fine. Then when he began to suck on her pinky finger, she tried and failed unsuccessfully to bite back a rather deep encouraging moan.

'Sweet,' he muttered, 'My sweet Rose, how are you always so sweet?' he said to her, caressing her ring finger lavishly with his tongue, sucking the tips seductively and gently biting on it. She moaned loudly as his teeth bit lightly into her flesh, being unable to smother that needed approval of the pleasure that he was wholeheartedly bringing to her.

'Mine,' he murmured again, releasing her fingers from his mouth and using them to draw her upwards, to him. His lips quickly settled between her chin and her shoulder, at the site where her head met her neck. He kissed her softly there, feather light kisses that aroused her too swiftly, eliciting purr like moans that threatened to spur him on, quite indefinitely. She arched her head to one side, outwards, offering him more access. His tongue replaced his lips at the job, circling her skin, stroking upwards and downwards, leaving wet trails in its wake.

'More,' she pleaded softly, 'more,' she murmured with her head now arched back, eyes half closed in sexually gratifying delirium. He liked that word, more. His teeth grazed her skin for but a moment, over a wet spot before he bit her tenderly yet passionately. She cried out gently at the head splitting panties flooding headiness of pleasure that he conjured. He bit deeper, just about the right pressure to bring about only slight pain but indescribable bone melting gratification. He slowly drew back from her to admire his work. The hickey was prominent, his mark on what was his. It was her, she was his, his possession. She was his and his alone she would forever be. He would make sure of it.

Few hours later, she was alone in the bedroom, brushing her long hair when he returned -after leaving to attend to Royal duties- to her. She stared at him. He was so good, so appealing that she was sure of him being sin in person.

'I want you to witness something interesting sweet Rose,' he said to her. She looked up at him.

'What is that? How interesting is it? She demanded to know.

'You will see,' he said to her. She shrugged and looked away. He took that time to survey her, watching as she ran the brush in smooth long strokes over her hair. When he was satisfied with doing so, he turned and left her there. She turned to the closed bedroom door and wondered where he had gone to once again after demanding to take her to see something very interesting.

When he returned few minutes later with three maids and Hyeera, she was sitting at his writing table, scribbling practically nonsense on plain white paper just because she was bored to death. She looked up at him and he smiled sweetly at her. They all greeted her respectfully. She nodded an acknowledgement at them as was typical of her.

'Come Mine,' he said to her in a soft seductive voice that she yielded to. She went to him immediately though she was puzzled. He took her hands and gave them to Hyeera who received it with a smile.

'My lady,' Hyeera spoke.

'I trust you Hyeera,' he said. 'Make her extremely beguiling,' was his only order to her before he left the bedroom. She watched him go. What had he ordered? No, scratch that. She understood very well what he had ordered Hyeera to do. But why? Why was he doing so? Wait, did he finally want to own her body? Oh God, no! Well, she wasn't sure. She knew not the answers to her questions, could not answer them even she did, wouldn't do so no matter how much her head was pounding.

'Relax my Lady,' Hyeera cajoled her after seeing the disturbed look on her face. 'It is going to be a pleasurable experience,' she assured her with a smile. Although her heart should have sunk at Hyeera's words, it didn't though she shouldn't like it. She let Hyeera lead her to the dressing room, the beast's to be precise. There the maids pampered her considerably, with the oils and other skincare products which was applied generously to her body. Make up and jewelry followed after such. When she was finally given the chance to look into the huge mirror which was situated in the dressing room, built into the right corner of the wall, she gasped in shock as her heart stopped for a second. It did so because an unknown goddess stared back at her through the mirror.

'This is not me, is it?' she asked them, expecting anyone of them to assure her that it was true, to bring her out of her vivid hallucinations with a sure answer. Hyeera smiled, ready to speak to her.

'Off course it is you My Lady,' she said to her.

'Well I'm not so sure,' she said to her without conviction.

'It is, it is you Mine,' that familiar voice said in a jussive voice laced with conviction. It belonged to no other but the beast. The maids quickly went to the side after paying obeisance to him. He walked up to her, standing behind her. She smiled as she looked at him from the huge mirror.

'Beast,' was all she said to him. He smiled at her significantly.

'You look dashing Mine,' he assured her, placing his hands on her shoulders. His fingers trailed the bare skin of her shoulders. 'Mine, you are mine,' he whispered as his lips replaced his fingers. She shuddered slightly as raw primal desire crawled into her. He lifted his lips and stared at her through the mirror. His eyes held unto hers with a desirous intensity that made her knees weak. It was one that she had never seen in his eyes. She suddenly began to wish that he would unleash that torrential desire upon her, like an unexpected downpour of rain. He gently whirled her around.

'What will you have me see?' she quickly asked him before she lost the courage to do so.

'Good things happen to those who wait sweet Rose,' he said to her with a smirk. Oh the rogue! She hated him -yet wanted him so much she was at the verge of begging him to tear off her clothes and take her there, on the wall. She cringed internally at her bewildering shamelessness.

'If you say so.' He did not give her any reply. Instead, he lifted his hands to her face. His fingers trailed her cheeks in a caress. Her knees went weak when he drew her against him with a hand on her waist.

'You are beautiful,' he said to her, stroking her resplendent brown skin. Her ebullient eyes were dark with a desire he was sure matched his -but definitely didn't surpass his for he wanted her to much that he could scarcely contain himself. He lifted her face to his. He leaned in for a moment and she thought that she was going to get smooched by him. But, he didn't lip her, straightening at the last minute. 'Accompany me Rose,' he asked of her. She nearly sneered. She couldn't even do otherwise if she wanted to. He had the final say. Then, she looked into his eyes and got caught once again in that imploring melanous hollow. She was lost in the empty yet captivating beauty of his eyes, deeply immersed in the intoxicating intensity, hypnotizing and compelling.

'Where?' she found herself mumbling against her inner will.

'I told you, you will see when you get there.' He released her then. She took a step back, needing to not be in his personal space. He somehow did many things to her when she was in it. He offered her his right palm and she took it. He drew her against him once again with a smirk. The gesture took her by surprise. She landed into his arms with a gasp. She heard one of the maids giggle slightly. 'You run away as if you want to quickly be rid of me,' he accused her. She didn't speak for ages because she actually had nothing to say to him on that. His hands went to her face again but this time, his fingers were skimming her lips and not her cheeks. She had just began to ponder on what he wanted to do next when he took her by surprise. He bent swiftly and then captured her lips in his. The four in the room beside them turned away quickly from the romantic scene, backing them. He pulled her closer to him, deepening the already deep kiss, attempting so badly to dig so deep into her that she was afraid that he would be able to touch her soul with his lips. She clung to him as that suppressed fire of desire rose to life in them, obviously mutual.

When he stepped back abruptly, they were fairly breathless. 'Beast,' she murmured with the words I want you too much on her lips.

'Stay,' he said to her, 'stay with me my sweet Rose.'

'You ask me that as if I have a choice,' she pointed out to him with a soft sigh of resignation.

'Let it be so sweet Rose. I have my reasons for doing that.'

'What reasons?' she tackled him quickly. He gestured to the maid who were still backing them with his eyes. She understood then that he didn't wish to discuss such in their presence as it wasn't a good setting. She would have to ask him later.

'Come,' he said leading her out of the room with her palm in his. The maids and Hyeera followed behind them, keeping a good distance. Cora and Xiera replaced them when they stepped out of the bedroom. They paid obeisance. They walked to the stairs. He helped her to descend the stairs. She noticed that there were guests in the living room when they arrived at the end of the stairs. They walked up to them.

'We hail the Great Emperor of Linamine, our Sovereign Liege!' they all paid obeisance to him. She suddenly realized then that she had never bothered to pay obeisance to him or even acknowledge his title and he had never insisted on it. She didn't have the time to ponder on it because she was instantly distracted by Cora's loud voice.

'The Great Emperor of Linamine welcomes you all to his humble abode,' she greeted them with a bow. Xiera followed suit.

'We thank the Great Emperor of Linamine!' One of the women said on their behalf. There were three guests, two women and a man. The older looking one of the women was the one who spoke.

The Emperor proceeded to sit down beside her on the tete-a-tete after helping her to sit. The guests quickly but discreetly exchanged glances at the gesture.

'You may all sit,' Cora said. The guests took their seat. 'Please introduce yourselves and state the purpose of your visit,' she told them.

The older looking woman spoke first once again. It seemed to Rose that she was the head or the spokesperson of the group. 'I am sorceress Zuera of the enchanted island,' she introduced herself. Then, she smiled. Her smile was molliscent, beguiling. She also noticed that the woman's skin glowed softly, temptingly. She glanced at the Emperor to see if he was looking at the woman and met his eyes fixed on her. It nearly startled her. She lifted a brow at him. Why was he looking at her like that, so fixated? She hurriedly looked away when he wouldn't back down with his intense gaze.

'I am Master Kolso of the Hykra sword,' the only male introduced. He bore a terrifying hand crafted sword with him. She suspected that was the supposed Hykra sword.

'I am Miss Cieya of the seven towers,' the last lady supplied. She was a dainty beauty with wheat blonde hair. She carried elegance and grace so evidently. She instantly liked the lady's demeanor.

'You are welcome once again to the Linamine Empire,' Cora repeated. She turned to the Emperor and gave him an eye sign. He lifted his brows nonchalantly. Cora understood the signal for she turned to the guests and addressed them. 'Please, the purpose of your visit is duly required. Shall someone do so?' she asked.

'I wish good fettle to the Emperor,' Miss Cieya of the seven towers said as she got to her feet elegantly. Rose envied her for her elegance. She possessed no such grace, obviously wild and impetuous, an inborn trait that she could hardly get rid of. 'We have bothered the great Emperor of Linamine because of something very important. It has been years since you took the Linamine throne My Sovereign Liege, ten prosperous years. We are here because it is about time that we hold the Empress choosing ceremony. The Empress dowager sent us to you. She said to tell you that it has all been prepared, the candidates and you are invited to host them wherever you please.'

'Will that be all of your purpose?' Cora asked the moment Miss Cieya of the seven towers made to take a seat. She stopped for a moment.

'Yes, it is all,' the dainty lady assured her with a lovely smile before she finally took a seat.

'It is all My Lord,' Cora said turning to the Emperor. Then, she bowed to him giving him room to speak and address the guests.

'Actually,' the Emperor said after a while. 'It is not a bother to me,' he drawled. 'It is indeed an important event which cannot be postponed any longer. It must be held. I shall see with my own two eyes the candidates the Empress dowager has chosen,' he ended on a lazy note.

'Yes my lord,' Cora said to him with another bow.

'Thank you My Sovereign Liege for honoring the purpose of our visit,' Master Kolso of the Hykra sword said on his feet with a bow.

'Where shall you host the event My Lord?' Cora asked.

'My throne room, I shall host them in my throne room,' he said to Cora who nodded before a bow. She signaled one of the maids in the waiting retinue. She whispered with the lady for a moment. The young girl bowed after that and quickly left.

'The message has been sent to prepare the throne room My Lord. We shall proceed in ten minutes,' Cora said with a bow.

'Then, ten minutes it shall be,' he said in support of the decision she had made. Seven minutes passed quickly before the maid that had left earlier returned. She paid obeisance to all with a bow and then whispered to Cora. The warrior dismissed the young girl after a moment.

'My Lord, the throne room has been prepared and they all await you there. Shall we leave now, for your horse has been readied?' Cora asked him with a bow.

'Let's do so then.' He stood and gave Rose his hand. She took it. He helped her to her feet. 'Come Mine, to my throne room.'

'What is in it?' she asked him out of curiosity.

'You shall see it when we get there,' he told her as they headed out of the house. The horses were waiting there, at the entrance. He suddenly lifted her bridal style, carrying her down the small stairs. Then, he put her down on her feet. The guests once again discreetly exchanged glances at the gesture.

Then, he took her palm once again and led her to his horse, Clover. She knew it. He helped her mount it just after she realized that she was probably going to ride with him. He mounted after her. The three guests exchanged shocked glances again. 'I shall ride slowly because of the lady,' he said to Cora who had mounted her horse and was beside them. Xiera was on the other side on her own horse.

'Yes My Lord. We shall keep a slow pace!' she announced to all.

Then, they began to ride with Xiera leading the party, Cora was roughly at their side and the rest was just behind them. The ride was slow and tortuous to her because of the way his body was nearly wrapped around her, cocooning her gently in his sweet intoxicating scent. His hands which guided the rein on either side of her made her feel laminated by him, enveloped by his dominance.

Despite it all, she felt safe and not choked as she should have. She leaned against his chest, loving the feel of his hardness. She basked languidly in the warmth of his body and that sweet morassing scent of his, the scent of coconut and lemon -Cocolemon. They arrived the throne room after about twenty minutes because they had ridden slowly.

'Brace yourself,' he said to her before the horse came to a halt.

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...OmaPhinaPhire🔥