The Maharaja And I : Inspired by Bridgerton

Beneath The Silk Canopy

The heavy doors to the hall swung open, and a hush fell over the gathered courtiers. Maharaja Suryadev strode into the room, commanding attention with his confident gait and piercing gaze.

He was dressed in an embroidered sherwani of deep blue that accentuated his athletic frame. A bejewelled turban sat atop his head, and a ceremonial sword hung at his waist. His chiselled jaw and regal profile marked him as royalty even without the trappings.

Suryadev paused, surveying the hall like a king overlooking his kingdom. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips as all eyes fixed on him. He lived for these moments, to be the magnetic centre of attention.

With lazy grace, he made his way through the hall, exchanging pleasantries and flirtatious quips with the courtiers. The ladies fluttered their lashes and blushed at his attentions. The men laughed boisterously at his jokes and sought to impress him with exaggerated displays of loyalty.

Suryadev indulged their fawning with good humour. This was all a game to him, and he knew how to play it well. He could be charming when needed, and stern when required. His moods shifted as quickly as the desert sands, keeping everyone around him on their toes.

As he leaned against a pillar, surrounded by fawning admirers, his gaze caught on a new arrival. A dancer, her sari draped enticingly over her curves, eyes lined with kohl. She returned his gaze boldly.

Suryadev's smile turned predatory. Here was a woman who might prove more challenging to seduce. He appreciated the thrill of the hunt. With a wink to his current companions, he pushed off the pillar and prowled towards his new target. The games had only just begun...

The dancer led Suryadev to her private chambers, swaying her hips temptingly. As soon as they entered, she turned and pulled him close, her fingers making quick work of the fastenings on his royal garments.

Suryadev captured her mouth in a searing kiss, reveling in the feel of her body pressed against his. She met his passion easily, clearly well-versed in the arts of pleasure.

The dancer trembled with anticipation as Suryadev ripped off her remaining clothes.

He was strong yet gentle, rough yet tender; a man of many layers just like his kingdom. She reveled in the tension between their bodies, the way their skin melted together in rhythm with their breaths. She gasped aloud at the overwhelming pleasure that coursed through her veins.

Their lovemaking was fierce and primal, setting fire to every nerve end in their bodies. His hands roamed freely over her supple form, caressing curves and pinching.

She moaned his name like a prayer, begging for more even as it felt like she might split apart from the intensity of it all.

The sound echoed through the small chamber, bouncing off the walls and adding to the cacophony of gasps and groans that filled the air.

They tumbled into her bed in a tangle of limbs. Hands roamed feverishly over bare skin as their coupling grew ever more heated. Suryadev had taken her hard and fast, driven by pure animal lust.

Her gasps and moans urged him on.

Afterwards, Suryadev lay spent amidst the rumpled sheets. The dancer trailed a hand lazily across his chest.

"Will you visit me again, Maharaja?" she purred.

Suryadev just smiled. She was a pleasant diversion, but nothing more. His gaze was already wandering towards thoughts of the next conquest.

As he dressed and left her chambers, his mind turned to the issue of marriage. His mother and councilors pressed him daily to take a bride. Perhaps if he found the right woman...one who could engage both his mind and his body...

Lost in thought, he didn't notice the shadowy figure watching him from an alcove. Raja Mata Janaki Devi's sharp eyes tracked the Maharaja's every movement. She allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. Soon it would be time to set her plans in motion. But first, more observation was needed...