A Royal Marriage

Page 6

"You won't take a Paramour after we marry will you? I know I don't have any right to ask that. It's a common practice but, if I'm not a good lover will you teach me instead of getting another lover?" When I had agreed to this wedding I had figured eventually I would want one. Arranged marriages rarely were happy long term. Could I tell him honestly that I would never take another lover? The truth was I wasn't sure I'd need one. He was willing to be whatever I needed.

"I've never had a lover, not in the full sense of the word." I tell him. Giving myself a moment to know how to answer his question. He frowned at me. "Like the woman who taught you how to use your hands I have had men use theirs on me. I've kisses caressed but I've never allowed any man to be a true lover. I am the crown princess and I will bare a daughter to sit the throne, one born of a marriage not of a tryst. You have been very willing to follow my lead in intimate matters, I see no reason that I would ever need a paramour. Should there ever come a time I begin to think of taking one I promise to come to you and try to work out the problem before I ever take another lover. But like I said I doubt that will come up anytime soon, if ever." he stepped close to me and initiated a kiss. It was tentative but leading. Was he trying to be a lover for me? I pushed him back slightly.

"You don't need to push yourself. I can safely promise that I won't take a lover other than you before I bounce at least two of our daughters on my knees." he nodded. "Come lets go dance. On the dance floor you'll be moving to much for anyone to try and pinch your ass, well anyone but me." I teased taking his hand and pulling him toward the door. He tugged me to a stop.

"Ramana, you are a passionate woman, we are to be married. If you wanted to be intimate before we wed I wouldn't mind."

"Are you offering because you fear I'll change my mind about that lover?" I asked. I tended to always ask whatever was on my mind. He'd get used to it I hoped.

"No. I believe your promise. I just..." he's blushing again. I smiled, he enjoyed our intimate interactions and was offering to be my lover now if I wanted him. Maybe even to assure me that he wanted no lover but me.

"Just what?" I prod.

"I want no one but you and I find myself wanting you more often then not. It's rather hard to ignore at times."

"Hmm, well I don't want you to be uncomfortable. Perhaps I'll insist, for your own safety, that you move in here to the room you'll have as my husband. Then I can teach you a few things for our wedding night." I tell him making him blush some more. I tug him into the ballroom and then onto the dance floor.

The rest of the night was spent easily with dancing, food, drink and even some teasing him. When he finally stepped into his carriage I tugged him out the door slightly to kiss him then sent him off with his mother already cackling and teasing him about him giving her grand daughters. My own mother was already in her room. I knew that her little spies all over the castle had been reporting to her since she'd gone up hours ago. I also knew that she'd probably be questioning me about multiple things all morning after breakfast. Pushing the thoughts from my head, I head up to my room and after washing in my little basin I crawl into bed. A month and I'd have him in here with me. Sure he'd have his own room technically but he'd be my husband, he was going to share my room with me. I'd make love to him every night and every day that I could manage it and hopefully I'd have a daughter to show my mother before she died. I rarely stopped to think of her actually dying but it was a question of when not if. But baring a sudden turn in her health she'd be here for a while more yet. She'd see me married at the least. Pregnant would be good, but having a daughter for her to hold before she died would be best. She'd go to her maker at peace then. I hoped Efren was up to the task of getting me pregnant.

I wasn't wrong, the moment I stepped into the dining room with mother the next morning she was asking me about the trouble.

"A little blond thought to take Efren from me. I made sure she knew she couldn't have him and had her escorted out. Efren was very worried about me." I said smiling and gloating a little. Plus it might distract her from the trouble.

"That's good. He's to be your husband he should worry for you. I was told the girl tried to slit your throat." I sighed. So much for distraction.

"Yes. More than one jerk of her knife was aimed at my throat. She was technically within her rights as the challenger to try for whatever she wanted, I responded in kind but got the upper hand and sent her off."

"They weren't sure what precipitated the confrontation. You simply had her and she was issuing the challenge."

"She'd spent most of her time up to that point pinching my fiance's ass. He thought I had been doing it. But given how sensitive he is I had been resisting teasing him in mixed company. Obviously I took exception to that."

"I was told also that he seemed rather concerned all night for you after that." I smiled thinking of his offer.

"He was, the fight concerned him not only for my physical welfare but the girl who challenged me was liberal about saying I took favor on any man who pleased me. He's under the impression that if he's a bad lover I'll find my loving elsewhere."

"I thought that was your plan, rather than have a man in your bed who was provided for you by me." she was smiling at me. She'd known, I could tell somehow she'd known that I'd change my mind about it that's why it hadn't bothered her when I said I'd find a paramour.

"I can't say that I'll never go that far in my entire life but I have a handsome man going to be my husband. I will need legitimate children. I'll stick to my husband hopefully I'll never feel the need for others. He did offer to let me teach him if I am ever tempted to find a lover." I chuckled, "He was even hinting at being my lover before our wedding. I was going to move him into his room. With last nights fight I can move him in under the pretense of him being safer here with me. I'm going to see to it this morning. I'm also going to talk to Commander Erin about a guard for him. A set of three just to follow him about in case he's bothered. I was going to insist on a full dozen guard after our wedding anyway. He's sweet and he's handsome I don't want him hurt or bothered by anyone."

"Plus you can get your willing fiance into your bed early. I suspect you'll be married with a child already on it's way." my mother says laughing. I laugh with her.