Elitia nibbled on her lip, clearly not convinced. She brushed his hair back gently and pressed her cheek to the top of his head. She didn't want him to see her worries. What would become of them when she left? how would their relationship change? What even was their relationship?
She didn't want to leave on these uncertain terms. They had confirmed nothing between them. "Will you ever visit me? Us? Or will you be stuck at court?" Even as she said it, she winced internally. She sounded desperate and she hated that. She wasn't a desperate woman who pawed at men. It was always the opposite. She hated sounding like that. But she wouldn't backtrack her words, that would sound even worse. "I understand if your position keeps you away. I don't want you to feel pressurized to visit a-a uh…"
"A what, Elitia?"
He had every intention of visiting. He did his best to visit all the nobles he put in their homes, if they didn't mind. He also tried to keep tabs on the various kids he'd rescued over the years, and many of them ended up working for him eventually.
Elitia sounded… hurt. She didn't sound desperate, just like her fear of being alone with new surroundings and people was making her uncomfortable. But he wasn't sure what she was worried he'd feel pressurized about, and he didn't know what she was about to say, though he had an inkling he wouldn't like it.
Elitia just bit her lip and shook her head. She didn't know how to finish her sentence. She didn't know what she was to him. Was she a friend? A lover? She didn't know.
"I'm just worried about you. I don't want you to have to face your father alone. Someone should be by your side, whoever it may be." She would never suggest herself. While she would be, had he asked her, she would stand by him. But she wasn't sure if that was something he wanted. "I don't want to leave you here alone."
She finally pulled back just far enough to look at his face.
Romulus watched her deliberating over how to answer, before she changed the subject.
"Lear is always by my side in those moments. He was in this last one and he will be in the next one. But my father doesn't go this far very often, just… when he's extremely angry or feels I've done something to deserve it. But I'll be alright."
She looked him in he face, and he did his best to smile. His eyes made the effort, even if his face couldn't complete the expression without it looking more like a grimace.
"I've invested in you. I'm going to put money and time into your life and Lily's life, and who knows, maybe so much time and effort into Calvin that he ends up working for me. He's a sharp young man." He reached up and touched her face. "I wonder if I've confused you over the last two weeks… but I expect nothing from this. Nothing from you…"
He really didn't. It wasn't a matter of just trying to make her feel better about leaving, or letting her down easly or anything like that. He wanted her to feel her freedom, not just talk about it.
"I didn't bring you here to be my whore. I didn't bring you here to give you a title and then make you my whore. You're a person, you're your own woman, and you're free to live your life how you wish at this point." He tipped his head forward, making sure she could see the honesty and sincerity in his face.
"I care for you, and will always care for you, but there is no need on your end to return that in any form."
He didn't want those he rescued to feel beholden, though many did, and showed their appreciation in service to the Crown.
But what he was really trying to get at, was that he wasn't looking for a relationship with her. They'd gotten very close, and he appreciated her effort and willingness to engage with him, but… He didn't expect that from her. He couldn't expect that from her.
For one thing, he knew that whoever he married would have a target on them. Not a good situation, and not one that he ever intended to pull anyone into.
For another thing, it would be madness for Elitia to put her life in the spotlight by entering a relationship with him. A woman trying to hide could make no dumber decision than to attach herself to a high profile, controversial figure.
For another… he felt for her, in many ways, some of which confused him, but he would never be able to shake the feeling that she only cared for him because of what he'd done. That was really the only reason anyone liked him at all, and he didn't particularly want a relationship built on that.
So as much as he might feel for her… this couldn't work. Certainly not right now.
"I will always be there, should you need or want something, and you know the reputation of my bed being open for business… but I needn't be anything that you take seriously, Elitia." The Prince held eye contact, trying to be sure she knew none of that was meant to be insulting, or patronizing, just… freeing.
Elitia grabbed his wrist and nuzzled her cheek further into his hand. It was rare for her to ever receive such a comfort as this and she wanted to hold on to it as long as possible. Her eyes closed briefly as she fell into the feeling. She opened her eyes after a moment to look down at him, a soft expression on her face.
She understood what he was telling her. It wasn't what she had meant when had cut herself off. She wasn't insulating herself as his whore, only that she didn't know where she stood with him. Were they friends? She didn't know. She didn't have friends, she wouldn't know what it looked like if it was staring her in the face. She was used to people wanting something from her, to use her. She had adapted and taken advantage of those wants, resulting in many a gifts from her patrons. But here was different. She wasn't treated as if there was something they wanted from her. At least not sex. She knew that.
Despite not knowing exactly where they stood and the insecurities that followed, she placed her hand on his cheek and bowed her head to his, and kissed him. It was different than all the other ones. They had shared frantic kisses between one another, desperate to feel something. They had shared kisses meant to comfort and support. But this was not that. Her lips were firm and inviting. She kissed him because she could, because she wanted to. Because she wanted him before she left.
She had no doubt she likely wouldn't see him when she left the palace, despite his words. She understood that his position would keep him at court or otherwise occupied. So, she wanted one last bit of him before she went. She didn't know when she would see him again. If she would see him again. She had not yet made up her mind if she ever wanted to return to the palace, even after the king died, whenever that may be. There were too many memories there she had hidden. Too much had happened.
If this should be their last day together, she wanted to spend it with him.
Romulus watched her reaction to his words. She seemed to understand what he was trying to say, and her nuzzling into his hand was reassurance that she wasn't angry.
He wanted to say more, but she moved to kiss him, and he couldn't tell her no. He hurt, and her touch was so comforting to him.
He noticed the difference in this kiss. This wasn't the same kind of need some of her other ones had been laced with. This wasn't to comfort or reassure him, which she'd donw over the course of their time together. No, this one was… an invitation?
The Prince wasn't sure. His head had been spinning just a little before, and now it was absolutely swimming. One day, he'd have to kiss her while he was healthy in his head, to see how much of this was his concussion and how much of it was her.
He made a small noise in the back of his throat, and kissed her back with as much of his affection for her as he could manage, but he didn't move to advance things. He wasn't sure if his body would hold up, and he knew, just from having been around her, that if he let her wring his soul loose from his chest, the way she surely would, he'd begin bleeding from multiple wounds just from his blood pressure and speeding heart alone.
Without breaking their kiss, Elitia grabbed both of his hands and placed them on her hips. She slowly slid into his lap, careful not to irritate any of his wounds. She would go as far as his injuries would let her, assuming he wanted her as well. But the noises he made for her gave her some reassurance that he did. She draped her arms over his shoulders and around his neck. One of her hands wound up in his hair, careful not to hurt to him. The other hand gripped his shoulders.
Her teeth nipped at his bottom lips, asking. Her tongue swept against his mouth, almost demanding. She wanted him to open up his mouth to her. She wanted to explore him, all of him, if he would let her. She wanted to take her time and memorize him. She wasn't sure if she would ever get the same opportunity to do it again.
She lined their pelvises and ground on him, adding some friction. Her touches were gentle and caressing. Her kisses were demanding yet asking. As far as she could tell from their experiences together, he wanted her as much as she wanted him. But she had no idea how far he was willing to go with his injuries. She wanted to hear the words. Yes or no. She wanted to hear how far they could go. She would take all of him if only he let her.
Romulus grunted, half in pain, half in something else, as she lowered herself into his lap. Part of his body was protesting, and part of it was demanding that he just Suck it up and Deal with it, cuz we're doing this!
His lips tasted like blood, and he couldn't breath through his nose right now, so he didn't open like she wanted him to.
On top of that, he was busy trying to wrestle his pain tolerance into submission. She wasn't hurting him, yet, but…
Well. Mixing pain and pleasure is how you get ecstasy.
He pulled back, muttering in what could only be Harad, a more percussive language than common Westron, before kissing her again, his hands tightening around her waist as she added friction into the mix.
The Prince leaned back in his chair, the springs protesting, and stood, his legs shaking. He managed to lift her, and leaned forward till her back was on his desk top. He leaned his weight on his elbows, trying to keep his head from spinning enough to knock him over.
"You're sure about this?…. Can't promise you it'll be any good…"
Elitia didn't understand what he was saying when he pulled away, only that it was likely cursing. She had begun to learn the language when she was nine. She was just in the beginning of her lesson when everything unfolded. Throughout the years, she had only learned a small handful of words but nothing useful. She could barely carry out a conversation and it was always to do with her line of profession. But she could figure it out well enough.
She gasped as she was suddenly pulled back into a kiss. She was a bit more frantic this time, wanting more more more. She wrapped her legs around him when she was lifted out of the chair and deposited on to the desk. She gripped the back of his head, keeping him to her. She pressed their foreheads together, as if sensing his swimming head. She wanted to give him a moment to collect himself.
She brought one of her hands down to cup his cheek. Her lips brushed against his nose in affection. "I've never been more sure. I know you won't disappoint, darling. Perhaps you should lie on the bed and let me do the work. I don't want you to hurt yourself more."
Romulus didn't disagree with her, he just… wasn't sure if he could make it to the bed. She had her forehead pressed against his, and he managed to sense which way was up for a moment.
"How do you propose we do that? If I stand up, I'm going to fall over."
He wasn't lying, and the idea of just going for it here on the desk was kinda hot. Although that might have just been the woman under him at the moment.
She was soft in all the right ways, she was aware of herself, she was being gentle with him yet still making what she wanted pretty clear… The Prince had never been overtly picky about his bedmates, as long as they were enthusiastic and willing, but Elitia ticked all the boxes for his preferences.
He didn't wait for a response, just slid his head gently sideways, till it dropped, and his lips landed on her shoulder. He moved slowly, placing kisses in a slow line across her shoulders and collarbone.
Elitia let her head drop to the side as he began to kiss her shoulders. A quiet noise escaped her lips at the touch. Wherever he touched her, it felt like fireworks were erupting. She had never felt this way before. Oh, she had come to enjoy sex but it was never like this. Even his gentlest touch had her skin tingling. It was nothing she had ever felt before.
Her heels dug into his butt, pushing him closer to her, into her. Her hands were already grasping his shirt and tugging it over his head. "We could do…the floor," she panted. "Unless y-you feel stable e-enough here." She could barely get her words out. He was everywhere. She could feel every part of him. She wanted to drag this out for as long as possible and yet she wanted him to be in her already. She needed to check herself. She needed to slow down. She wanted to enjoy this and take her time. She didn't know if they would ever get this again so she wanted to take every moment exploring him.
Bandages stuck to the shirt, which he knew happened often but wasn't ready for just then. They ripped loose as Elitia tugged the shirt over his head and off of him.
Romulus reacted by growling, a noise that expressed his pain but also managed to make certain things worse, as the noise rumbled through his chest. So far, he'd kept his hands to himself, largely just using them to keep his balance, but he was also aware he was leaning into her by a decent amount. The desk was tall enough to keep him stable, and somewhere in his fuzzy thoughts, he managed to answer her question.
"Only way I'm ending up on the floor is by falling…"
Which was more true than he wanted it to be right then.
The heat of the situation had begun to crawl down his chest, starting at his lips as it always did. She had a grip on him that would not be denied, and Romulus did his level best to keep the same kind of grip on his equilibrium.
The heat crawled lower, and he moved back up to start kissing her soft lips again, when-
Knock Knock
"Your Highness? Your father requests your presence in the throne room as soon as possible."
Romulus groaned, and his entire body sagged.
"Acknowledged." he called, just loud enough to be heard. He looked down at Elitia, his expression very frustrated.
"I'm sorry, but I've got to respond to that. If I'm not down there within a couple minutes, he'll put me flat on my back for a week."
(I'm so mean, but you did order the slow burn special, heavy on the burn ;) )
(That was mean)
Elitia groaned at the sound of the door. Her head thudded on the desk as she dropped it down. Her hair was mused, flyaways poking out. Her skirts were pushed up to her hips. She reached her hand up and stroked his cheek. She matched his expression of frustration. "It's alright, darling, I understand."
She pushed herself up into a sitting position, pushing her hair back. She dropped her legs from around his waist and her hands were behind her, supporting her weight. She took a few deep breaths, calming herself, before hopping off of the desk. She grabbed Romulus' shirt off the floor and held it out to him. "Would you like my help?"
(Sorry! Dont hate me :X )
Romulus swore, in Common this time, and thumped the desk top lightly with a frustrated fist. He stepped sideways, getting out of her way, his head down, trying to get control of himself.
The Prince stayed slumped as she offered her help. He was afraid to accept, fairly sure that if he let her keep getting close and touching him, he wouldn't be able to keep himself in check.
On the flip side, he needed to hurry, and left on his own, he couldn't do that.
"Yes. Please help me… and I'm sorry." He didn't bother standing up yet, or even trying to open his eyes. His frustration was making his head spin harder, or the arousal, or something.
"Oh darling, it's nothing to worry yourself over." Elitia carefully slipped the shirt over his head and picked up his arms one at a time, slipping them through the sleeve. She smoothed the shirt on him and came to stand in front of him. She cupped his cheek softly and kissed him once. "Do you need help walking? I know we can't keep the king waiting." Gods she couldn't believe she was offering this. She would rather be anywhere else than in the presence of the king. "I can help support you if you need it. I don't want you to get hurt again because of tardiness."
Especially if it was her fault.
She pressed her hands to her dress, trying to smooth out the wrinkles where her dress was still caught on her legs. She touched her hair, trying to put the pieces back in place so it didn't look like she was just almost caught doing carnal things with the prince.
The Prince slowly lifted his arms to help get into his shirt. "Not worried, just horny." May as well be honest, they'd been pressed together, she knew exactly what effect she'd been having. He kissed her back, trying to pack all of his pent up sexual energy into that one moment of contact, partially to tell her he would have if he could have, and partially to clear his head.
"No." He said it quietly but gently. There was no way he was letting her walk into the throne room right now, not with his father in the moods he'd been in. "It's not safe for you down there and I'm not putting you in that situation. Help me get a cloak on over this stuff and I'll walk down there on my own." He stood, squaring his shoulders, and moved slowly but relatively steadily towards his bedroom. "Black cloak in the closet. Red lined."
Romulus watched her move, enjoying the subtle signs that they'd been tangled just a few moments prior.
Hopefully, one day, he could finish what they'd started several times, if she wanted.
Elitia burst into giggles at his blunt honesty. She hadn't been expecting that from him. She only shook her head with a bright smile at him. She staggered back a step at this he had given her. She could feel his sexual frustration in the kiss. It rolled off of him and into her. She cut it off quickly. If they carried on much longer, she would likely be ripping his shirt right back off.
"If it's not safe for me then it certainly isn't safe for you, darling," she frowned.
She walked into the bedroom in front of him. There were a few creases on her dress from where it had been crumpled up to her waist and pressed against the desk and Romulus. Despite her efforts, her hair was still messy, strands poking out. She would have to redo it before she left his chambers. She opened the closet and rummaged through his clothes until she found the black cloak with red lining. She draped it over her arm and walked back to the prince. She draped it around his shoulders and did the clasp at the front.
Romulus watched her, only registering exactly what she'd said when she did the clasp at his collarbone.
"Uh, no. I'll be ok, he's made his point to the nobles. Besides, it's almost lunch, Lear will be back soon and you'll need to get out of here and get to your estate."
He reached up and touched her face, gently caressing her cheek. He just looked at her for a long moment, his eyes memorizing her face. "Thank you, Elitia, for trusting me." His voice was quiet, and sincere, and then he turned, and was gone out the door, striding off with false confidence.
Elitia kissed the palm of his hand as he held her cheek. She said nothing more as he turned and strolled out of the room. She looked around, unsure of what to do with herself. She decided on fixing her hair and managed to find Romulus' bathroom. She pinned back the stray hairs and looked at herself in the mirror. Her skin was still slightly flushed from their previous altercation. She splashed some cold water on her face, trying to get her blush under control.
She exited the bathroom and found the bottle of wine she had been drinking earlier on. She poured herself a glass and took a deep gulp. Everything was going to change today. Would she even get to Romulus again before she left? She hoped they would at least get to say goodbye. She didn't want them to separate on these terms, whatever they may be.
Lear came back just about the time the newly minted Lady Ebony was getting antsy. He had in tow a young man, in armor that was a deep blue when you got up close.
Where Romulus was 6'6", 300lbs, blonde and blue eyes and pale, Lear was a very different man. He was around 6'2" and 160lbs, more tanned and darker haired, the brown locks complementing the green flecks in his brown eyes. He'd mentioned he was from Ithilien originally, though now he could have passed for a dark-skinned Harad or a light-skinned Venian.
Uriah was in the same boat. He stood a decent 5'11", 150lbs, tanned skin under dark brown curly hair, and flashing light brown eyes. His expression was respectful as Lear introduced them.
"Lady Ebony, this is Uriah. He is to be your bodyguard and chief of staff, until you find someone else you'd prefer."
Uriah bowed slowly. "My Lady." His voice was younger, more boyish than Lear or Romulus, but immediately, there was authority in the way he spoke. Something had forged this young man from steel, and he'd been shaped further by his rescuers. His eyes sparked with intelligence, and he gave her the slightest smile.
Lear hoped it was apparent why they'd picked the man. He oozed competence and the quiet confidence that only came from being reasonably sure you could take on anything.
Lear noted her troubled expression. "I assume you're worried about The Prince. Don't be, my Lady. He is in the throne room now, in council with several of the King's military leaders. Apparently, we are declaring war on yet another country." Lear had been horrified and exasperated by the news, but the King was looking for more lands to give his friends, since Romulus seemed intent on giving Venia back to the Venians. "He is safe for the time being, as the King will want him healed quickly, in time to help lead attacks." No more beating his son to a pulp, if he wanted him healthy.
"Uriah will help you pack, while I prepare your ride. Would you prefer a carriage, or a personal mount? We can offer you a horse, or one of our Wulf whelps. It would be a cub of Ruir's, still young enough to bond with you." Having a Wulf as a mount would further protect her. A Wulf bonded to its rider young would protect that rider for life.
Uriah spoke up quietly. "If I may be so bold, My Lady… I have ridden one of Ruir's cubs for a few years now. You will not find a better option anywhere in the kingdom." He kept his voice low, and respectful.
Elitia turned as soon as Lear walked in with a man in tow. She looked him uo and down, figuring this would be her guard before Lear even said anything. She bowed her head and gave him a soft smile. "A pleasure to meet you Uriah."
She pursed her lips at the news of war once again. She shook her head softly. The king was in over his head. He was power hungry and greedy. It would likely be his downfall as well, with the assumption someone was brave enough to stand against him. It likely wouldn't be Romulus, by the way he acted towards his father. It wouldn't be her, she wasn't fit to rule. So then, the question was who? And would the be better on the throne than the current monarch?
"I have no plans in releasing you from my service, Uriah, unless you should want to turn to another's service or retire. I need friends, and I hope you and I can be."
Uriah's smile grew, and he nodded. "I would be happy to call you my friend, My Lady. Let us assume it is a position I can earn swiftly."
Lear touched the guard's shoulder. "I'll prep the whelp." He glanced at Elia. "You'll have a chance to name a Wulf. Make this choice carefully, they understand what you're saying and will take it to heart." He turned and headed out.
Uriah watched him go, before turning back to Lady Ebony. "How can I be of service, milady?"
Elitia nodded at Lear. "I get my own Wulf? That's exciting."
A smile grew on her face. She could already envision herself riding through fields and forests when she had the time too. She enjoyed riding, even if it made her legs sore.
She turned back to her new bodyguard. "I think im hungry, Uriah. I would like to go to lunch."
Uriah nodded and stepped to the door, holding it for her. "The Palace kitchens haven't served the main meal yet. However, since we ought to be careful anyhow, we could ask them for food before they serve to the king and the nobility and everyone else. Unless you'd prefer to eat with the other nobles, My Lady?"
He checked the position of the sun coming through the windows. Lear would have the Wulf ready within a half hour, and they should endeavor to leave by then.
