There, in the doorway, stands the Duke of Balwart, resplendent in full-dress uniform- black velvet single-breasted dress coat trimmed with gold embroidery that befits his station. The coat accentuates his broad shoulders. The white silk shirt and ruffle tie hide the wonders underneath. There are long gold cords hanging the length of each pant leg.
He is breath taking. Dante nudges me in the ribs, as if I didn’t know Daniel was in the room. Daniel’s eyes are searching the room until they find me. He walks to me, holding my gaze. He stops in front of me and bows formally. I become nervous thinking that maybe I’m making a mistake until he looks up at me through his long lashes. The wink settles my nerves. There is the man I have come to love and adore.
“My Lady.” Daniel says formally. “Are you still willing to become my wife?”
I nod vigorously not able to find the right words to express how much I want to.
My father clears his throat and leans over to me. “You have to verbally accept him in front of everyone.”
I snap my head up looking at my father, then Daniel, then at everyone else. I look back at Daniel. He nods slightly and can’t hide his smile.
“Yes.” I say quietly.
Daniel takes my hand as I rise slowly and places it in the crook of his elbow. We walk slowly to the Cardinal. I lean heavily on him by the time we reach the Cardinal. There is a rustling behind us as everyone finds a seat. I glance back to see there are only about twenty people or so in attendance.
The wedding ceremony is short and cold. Our vows were not traditional ones. Daniel makes promises to support me in my stately decisions and to be my King, consort, confidante and friend. There is no mention of love or cherish in either of our vows. The only traditional line said is the one about the groom kissing the bride, which he did chastely.
The exchange of rings seems normal until I see my ring. It is not a traditional plain gold band or even the more modern ornate ones with diamonds. Rather this one has multiple rows of diamonds with the occasional ruby thrown in. Daniel’s ring has two rows of rubies nestle in gold. When Daniel places the ring on my finger, I hear a barely audible sigh.
Normally, when the groom kisses the bride there is applause and cheers, but our room is quiet as a funeral. When Daniel pulls away, he sees my disappointed look. His look turns questioningly. We are having a full conversation without the words being voiced. I stare at his lips and feel him vibrating with need. He eyes smolder. He leans back into me and gives me what we both want and need.
There is no doubt to anyone in this room that our marriage is a true. A single loud whoop jars us apart. Daniel rests his forehead against mine, smiling. We both turn our connected heads to see Dante smiling brightly and we laugh. My father is the first to approach us. He shakes Daniel’s hand and turns to me. He eyes are wet with unshed tears when he hugs me.
“Your mother would be proud of you.” He says.
“I hope so, but I still think this is not what she wanted for me.” I kiss his cheek.
“What happened between her and I-? I mean what I did to her changed her, but I know the woman I loved had to be in there somewhere.” He replies sadly. “She wouldn’t have had you marked if she didn’t want you to claim what is rightfully yours by birth.”
“Happy times, happy times. No dwelling on the past.” I hold back my own tears at their sad story.
The staff enters offering trays laden with champagne filled flutes. Dante hugs me when my father starts his toast. Daniel hands me a glass and moves his hand to rest possessively on my waist.
“To my beautiful daughter and her husband. I know many fathers are proud of their daughters on their wedding day, but I don’t think any can be as proud as I am. You have been lost to us for many years and I will forever be thankful to your husband for bring you back to us.” He raises his glass higher. “To Daniel James Alexander and Freya Daphne Bridget, the Duke and Duchess of Balwart, may you have eternal happiness in your marriage and life.”
Daniel leans over kissing my cheek before drinking from his champagne.
After sipping mine, I look at him and say coquettishly, “Is that the best you have?”
Turning his back slightly on the guests so he won’t be overheard, he whispers, “Sweetheart you have no idea what awaits you shortly.”
“How much longer must I wait?”
“Not long.” He kisses me. “Let’s inform your father we would like to leave. He will start the procession.”
“Procession?” I gulp nervously.
“Traditionally, the men follow us to the wedding chamber and wait there until I join you in bed. They’re supposed to wait for the proof of your innocence.”
I grip his arm for dear life as I feel the blood drain from my head. Daniel looks down at me, gripping my other arm for support. It is only now I realize that the entire room is filled with men except of the staff.
“Don’t worry, I have a separate room they will wait in until they get their proof. After that, they leave.”
I loosen my grip, but the thought is still bothersome, knowing that a bunch of older men will be sitting around waiting for me to lose my virginity so they may approve me? How barbaric.
“Daphne, look at me.” Daniel coaxes. “There is nothing for you to worry about. It is only you and I in that room tonight. I promise you this.”
I nod because I’m speechless. Daniel, my father and even AnnaBelle explained this all to me prior to this moment, but I thought they were exaggerating. Just like the country, this whole thing is caught in the middle ages. Daniel gently takes my hand guiding us to where my father is holding court, but Dante stops us.
“Baby girl, you’re finally married.” He says with tear filled eyes. “I wish we had more time to get the crew here for this. You better take care of our girl.” Dante warns Daniel.
Daniel nods and the gentleman he is, shakes Dante’s hand.
“We’ll have the crew here for the coronation. When I spoke to Trish, I mentioned something to her but didn’t get into it because there wasn’t enough time.” I look at Daniel. “Do you think I can call her tomorrow?”
“I don’t see the problem but I think you may be tied up for a majority of the day.” His innuendo is not lost on either Dante or me.
“Oh!” I respond as my heart does a two-step and my knees turn to jelly. “I have to sit down.”
The thought of being tied up by Daniel brings a sheen of perspiration above my lip.
“Are you okay?” They both ask me as Daniel leads me to a chair.
“It suddenly became warm in here.” I fan myself.
“Is everything okay?” My father asks worriedly when he saw me sit down.
“She’s fine.” Daniel replies dismissively. “I would actually like to take her to bed. It has been a long day and she needs the rest.”
My father looks at him chastising.
“Really? Rest? You both have a duty to do tonight.” The King, not my father murmurs.
“Yes, I know exactly what our duty is. We will complete our duty, but after that she must rest. She is my wife now and I know what she needs.” Daniels states hotly bordering on the verge of being disrespectful.
“Father, can you help us get out of here quietly?”
“Daphne, unfortunately everyone is here to witness your supposed loss of virginity.”
I feel as if he slapped me.
“Do you doubt me?”
“There is no way this can be falsified. If you are not, now would be the time to let us know and we can prepare.” My father, not the King, says quietly, not wanting to be overheard.
“I think you need to help us get out of here before you insult my wife further.” Daniel says coldly.
My father’s words cut me deeper than I thought he could. The fact that he didn’t believe me is evident. It makes me question him and his supposed love for me. How did I suddenly love this man who is my father? Did I just see what I wanted to see? Was I so desperate for a father that I believed his lies?
My father looks at me with an unnamed emotion then walks to the doorway. When he reaches the door, he turns back to me making a grand show of leaving. The guests notice his departure signifying the time is at hand to witness my deflowering.
“Damn him. That was a lot of help.” Daniel curses my father. “Daphne, I’m sorry I wanted to escape unnoticed allowing you time to rest even if for a little while, but now they will be expecting us to consummate this marriage. I’m sorry sweetheart.”
Sweetheart? The term of endearment negates anything my father just did. I’m floating on cloud nine. My emotions are all over the place. It must be the pain medication.
“Wait, what just happened?” Dante asks Daniel.
“My father just screwed me royally, pun intended, because he thinks I’m not a virgin.” I reply, slipping off my cloud.
“What a dick!”
“My thoughts exactly.” Daniel murmurs taking my hand but Dante stops Daniel by the arm.
“I know I don’t have to tell you, but I will anyway. Remember this is her first time, be gentle.” Dante says in a menacing tone.
“I know. Thank you for always being there for her. You will always have place in our home.” Daniel says to Dante.
“Keep this up and I’m going to ask Daph to share you.” Dante jokes.
Daniel laughs making me tingle from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
“Are you ready, sweetheart?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Daniel guides us to his bedroom where all our guests are waiting outside the closed door. Daniel squeezes my hand reassuringly. My father opens the door and walks in followed by the witnesses and then finally, by Daniel and me. My father moves the chair from the desk and sits. The aristocrats standing near him are at ease while the commoners, ill at ease, stand further back near the closed door.
Daniel leads me behind a screen conveniently placed in the corner of the room, away from prying eyes.
“AnnaBelle placed your nightgown on the window seat. I’ll wait right here.” He kisses my head. “Remember it is only you and me here. Don’t think about them.”
“I’ll try.”
I step behind the screen, taking a deep breath feeling like I’ve run a marathon. The dull pain in my side is the least of my worries. Murmurs echo off the high ceiling. The mantra “Daniel and me” plays on repeat in my head. I hear the rustle of movement from the other side of the screen and jump. My hands tremble as I try to undo the buttons at the back of the dress. I shake my hands trying to stop the trembling.
“Daniel, can you help me with these?” I whisper from behind the screen.
Daniel walks around the screen and cups my face. His thumbs gently rub my cheeks then glide over my lower lip.
“Relax.” He whispers before kissing me again. “You and me against the world.”
I nod, turning around. His hands leave a warm trail along my back as he expeditiously unbuttons the dress. He helps slide the dress down. I step out of it, leaving me clad only in a slip. He’s seen me n less. Daniel steps closer, kissing first one bare shoulder then the other.
“Put this on then meet me out there.” He hands me the nightgown.
I hold up the sheer slip of fabric, quirking my brow at him in question. His eyes light up. I’m not exactly sure what I saw myself wearing on my wedding night, but then again, I also didn’t expect to have an audience when I finally climbed into bed with my husband for the first time.
The gown slides down my body, caressing each curve it hits. The woman in the mirror looking back is foreign to me. The gown leaves nothing to the imagination, leaving me vulnerable to those in the room. I try ignoring that fact by removing the pins from my hair, taking another deep I breath finally settle my nerves.
I decide looking at our witnesses is counterproductive to the calmness I managed to find. I focus solely on Daniel when I step from behind the screen. Daniel is waiting with his hand outstretched to me. His gaze peruses my body possessively. His heat filled gaze sends a wave of liquid fire through me. I take his hand as he leads us to the enormous antique bed. The covers have been drawn back. He gently lifts me by the waist, careful of my wound, to sit on the bed. He nudges my legs slightly apart, stepping between them trying to hide his arousal.
His kisses are what romance stories describe but can never truly get right. After a few moments of these passionate kisses, he pushes me back by climbing next to me, forcing me to lay back. Daniel resumes the kiss picking up where he left off, obliterating the witnesses and the world outside of his embrace.
When we next come up for air, he looks behind us and nods curtly at Donald. There is some noise as the witnesses leave. Daniel turns back to me changing his look to the predatory one he had the night at his house in New York, an expression I will never forget.
“They’re gone. It’s you and me. No one else. Only you and me.” He informs me quietly.
“Good, that’s all who should be here. Remind me when I’m Queen, I’m changing this stupid clause.”
Daniel slides the strap of the nightgown off my shoulder as his fingers leave a blazing trail down my arm.
“I’m burning this gown after tonight.”
I giggle then inhale sharply as he sucks my bottom lip into his mouth. I bend my knee moving further up the bed but Daniel stops me by kissing my right wrist. He leaves a path of kisses from my wrist up my arm over my shoulder past my chest and down the other arm. Desire shoots through every nerve in my body, consuming me completely. He gently lifts one breast out of the little warmth the nightgown provided, exposing it to the chill of the room.
I shiver and he murmurs, “Cold?”
I shake my head no, afraid to speak. Once both breasts are free, Daniel slides the nightgown off. I lift my hips wincing when my muscles tighten. He leaves me clad in only my underwear. He leans back on his heels looking at me like I’m a buffet and he’s not sure where to start first. Daniel pays special attention to my breasts, fondling and tasting them.
“Perfect.” His raspy voice whispers.
His hands move lower and I stiffen as they glide down my injured side.
“Sorry.” His whispered apology barely penetrates my sex hazed mind.
The endorphins circulating through my system numbs the pain further.
Daniel’s fingers lift the top of my underwear, gliding it down to my knees. He is still dressed in pajama pants. He climbs off the bed and stands gazing at my body.
“I never thought there was such perfection out there.” He says removing his own pants. “I’m sorry for the pain I’m about to cause. I will try my best to make this as enjoyable for you as it will be for me but the caveman in me wants to claim you despite the cost.”
“I understand.” I pull him back to me. “I trust you.”
Daniel lies down next to me, worshipping my lips with his, increasing the anticipation of what is to come. I can’t describe it any other way. His hand cups my sex, nudging my legs open. I hear him inhale sharply as his finger enters me. I tense at the unfamiliar invasion. My knees draw up.
“Shh. Relax sweetheart.” He murmurs between kisses.
After a few minutes of him fanning the flames of my desire, my body is ready to explode as he adds another finger. He works them in and out, back and forth. His thumb grazes the sensitive bundle of nerves, setting off fireworks. My back arches as I float off to oblivion, crying out his name. Without removing his hand from where it rests, he moves himself to lie between my legs. I’m panting, trying to catch my breath
“I never thought you could be more beautiful than you are.” He murmurs again.
He removes his hand as I feel him nudging my entrance with his hardness. He holds his upper body is supported by his arms. He watches me for any sign. My hands wrap around his large biceps, bracing myself for what I know is coming. My eyes drift close as he eases himself in, but stops when he hits the barrier verifying no one has been there. When I open my eyes, his smile, though tense, is serene. I fidget slightly at the foreign, uncomfortable feeling. His smile becomes pained.
“Daphne, don’t move. I’m barely holding on to my control.” He groans out.
“Sorry.”
After a few breaths from both of us, he pushes forward, breaking through the thin barrier with ease, marking his ownership over my body. I inhale sharply at the pleasurable pain. He closes his eyes, moaning softly as he completes our union.
“Are you okay?”
The straining muscles in his neck and shoulders tense from the effort of holding himself still. There was minor pain at first, but as my body grows accustom to him, it craves more.
“Yes. I need you.” I answer breathlessly.
The rest was natural. He takes my lead initially as I pull him closer. His lower body pulls back slightly and then presses back into me. My legs open wider allowing him better access. During the entirety of our union, his eyes never leave mine. He kisses my lips, neck, shoulder all the while his hips roll slowly. He sighs and I wrap my arms around his neck pulling down him for more kisses.
“You feel so good.” He breathes between kisses, and then groans as I meet him thrust for thrust. The pain from the gunshot wound completely gone.
“I have never felt anything like this.”
We fit together like a puzzle. He rolls us over and I sit astride him. I sigh in pure contentment, as he enters me deeper. I kiss every peak and valley of his washboard abdomen. I ease up, placing my hands on his chest and roll my hips. He moans, encouraging me further. His hands help guide the rate
“Daphne.” He groans, sitting up wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me impossibly closer.
Both his hands come from under my arms, pulling my shoulders down. He rolls me to my back, gently biting my shoulder then sucking the area to soothe it. I moaned loudly nearing the edge again, except this time it is stronger than the first. His teeth nip then suck on my breast strongly, sending me cascading over the cliff into heaven. My insides clench him tightly, forcing him off the same cliff right behind me.
Eventually, he rolls over, taking me with him. I rest my head on his chest. Our rapid breathing almost matching our heart rates. I fold my hand under my chin and look up at him. We gaze at each other lost in the wonder of each other. He gently moves hair away from my sweaty face and kisses me gently on the lips. When he pulls back, we smile at each other.
“Is it always like that?” I ask amazed.
“No, never.” He says with frank honesty.
“Good.” I reply yawning.
“Are you ready for sleep, my Queen?” He asks playfully.
“Mmmm.” I murmur, rolling over onto my non-battered side, surprised the area isn’t hurting.
“I have to clean you up before you drift off.” He says chuckling at my limp form.
He lifts me off him gently placing me on my back in the bed without him. I notice his loss immediately. I hear him moving around in the bathroom and running the tap. He returns shortly easing my legs apart, applying a warm washcloth. Either I have no modesty left or I am completely exhausted. I feel the bed dip as he sits down between my legs, gently wiping my sex in slow sensual stokes.
He growls.
When he finishes, I peak down at him and see him wiping himself to reveal the proof of my virginity. A tension, I didn’t know was there, lifts. He sighs loud enough to draw my attention away from the washcloth to his eyes. With passion filled eyes, his gaze never leaves mine as he lowers his head kissing me exactly where he moments ago, finished cleaning me. I moan loudly at the heat it stirs.
“Later.” He murmurs inhaling my scent. “Once you have rested and our witnesses have left.”
I stiffen at the mention of the people waiting next door to verify there is a new Queen. Daniel rises and leaves the chamber in only his discarded pajama pants. The door remains open. A loud cheer erupts after a few moments from somewhere in the hallway. I feel myself blush at the sound. I stiffen as the witnesses come back in, Daniel leading the group.
I know I have that just fucked look. I move to the center of the bed, inching closer to Daniel as they near. My father lifts the sheets away revealing where Daniel and I consummated our marriage. There is a brown, bloody spot verifying everything they need to see. I hold the sheet tighter to my chest.
This is too far. Who do they think they are dealing with?
“Enough!” I state in as an authoritative tone as I can.
I sit up ensuring the hold I have on the bedding is tight against my breast. I feel Daniel‘s hand on my lower back, supporting me. I will not be forced to bear any more of this humiliation. I am their Queen. No one and I mean no one should be subjected to this antiquated practice.
“Daniel has given you the proof of my innocence. There is no reason for you to be in our chamber any longer. I have met the stipulations our ancestors required of the Queen many years ago. You have all bared witness. Now, go forth and spread the good news. I am married to the Duke of Balwart and no longer a virgin.” I say dismissing them with my hand.
In the back, Dante smiles knowingly at me, never doubting me for a moment. My father frowns, but everyone follows him out. He truly thought I was deceiving him even when I promised I was a virgin.
Daniel closes the door behind the last witness, locking it. I watch as he stalks towards the bed in a predatory fashion.
“If I didn’t know you were so tired from the events of the day, I would take you again. I never thought I would find it sexy seeing a woman take control like that.” He kisses me passionately. “But with that being said, here in this room, I rule. Always remember, I rule here.”
I hold the covers back, inviting him to join me. He rolls onto to his side facing me. He places his strong arm around my waist and pulls me in tight to his chest, spooning us. I snuggle into him, wiggling my backside. I feel him stir again.
“Again?” I ask sleepily.
He chuckles.
“Always around you. Go to sleep, my love. There’s a good chance I’ll wake you later.”
He kisses my hair then lays back himself. His body heat is enough to keep me warm, but I still glance at the slow burning embers in the fireplace. I look at the clock above the mantel as it chimes four o’clock in the morning.
What a day!
I sigh, my breathing evening out.
Daniel kisses my shoulder, murmuring, “Good night, my beautiful wife.”
Everything in me relaxes as I drift asleep.