Xena

  Xena looked in the mirror in the predawn hours of her wedding day and had one thought: Shit.

  Any attempts at sleep had been futile. After she had returned from the ceremony the previous day she had vomited and cried and vomited some more. Not a very princess-like way to handle herself, she knew. Remy had come to try and rouse her from the powder room floor to no avail. Her nerves made it impossible for her to function well. She was expected at the reception that night but couldn’t make herself go and face the people from the ballroom. She couldn’t risk vomiting in front of everyone again. Not after the Queen’s warning. She had to take time to compose herself for her own wedding, mere hours away. Princess Ryna had come to check on her as well. She apologized for not preparing her. She said no one outside of the King, Queen and the newlyweds knew. It hadn’t been practiced in over sixty years.

  Xena had asked point blank if she would be expected to consummate the marriage in front of their guests. Princess Ryna had vehemently insisted that Prince Beck was disgusted with his family and that he wouldn’t stand for it. But Xena wasn’t fooled. If they were made to by the King, would they have a choice? She didn’t doubt Prince Beck held some say with his father, but how much? It seemed to have been a hit. Not a male face in the crowd, aside from Beck’s, looked anything but entertained.

  It was all she could think of as she tossed and turned in bed. Princess Ryna said she would tell everyone she had important last minute alterations to be made to her dress and that was why she missed the party. She didn’t consider until after she left how people might interpret that information. Would they think she wished for it to be more revealing, like Ja’Lena’s? Or maybe they hoped that meant she’d need to have it easier to remove. She shuddered. Having to be naked during the auction was one thing. Something she expected. Something she trained for. This was something else entirely.

  But as she stared at herself in the mirror, she became nervous for another reason. She looked terrible. Probably from vomiting so much, not eating, dehydration, stress and everything else. She sighed and bent to splash cold water on her face. She dried her skin well and went back to the bedroom to rub some of the luxurious, lavender scented oils into the dark circles beneath her eyes like Ryna had taught her. It lessened their appearance some but not enough. Then she went into the sitting area and poured herself a glass of water and forced herself to drink the entire thing. And then another. When done, she took a few steadying breaths, trying to put any thoughts out of her mind as she focused on what needed to be done. She had to get through this. She was strong. This was everything she worked for.

  She thought about Ja’Lena’s dazed expression and considered asking for medication for her nerves. Then decided against it. With her stomach already in shambles she didn’t know how she’d react. She opted to sit cross legged on her bed and practice her breathing, something that always helped her in times of stress. Try as she might, she couldn’t remember where she learned it but knew it always helped her.

  She thought about Prince Beck’s kind smile and breathed. She had to put her trust in him that he was a good man. That he wouldn’t allow this to happen to her. She sat there and breathed and breathed for a long time. She opened her eyes and noticed that her hands no longer shook. She felt lighter. Good, she thought as she crawled into bed once more, hopeful that she could at least get an hour of rest before she was awakened.

  –????????–

  Her wake up call didn’t come gently. Remy shook her awake with purpose. Xena opened her eyes, already feeling lighter. Her team of women flounced about, even more flustered and rushed than usual.

  They worked and fussed. Xena breathed.

  As they went through the ceremony prompts she had already memorized, Xena just nodded and breathed.

  Princess Ryna eventually came by with her dress, the beautiful satin material just as solid as she hoped and relief washed through her that she wouldn’t be exposed after all. Even as they tied her into her corset, pulling the strings so tight she nearly couldn’t breath, she still managed.

  Before she knew it, she was looking at herself in the mirror and a different person stared back. The look in her eye was serious. Stoic. Calm. Perfect. So much different than the woman who stood here just hours before. Her dress was simple and elegant, creamy satin flowing to the floor and in a long train behind her. It fit her slim but curvy body perfectly, like she had been poured into it. The square neckline was perfectly modest and she smiled as she thought about the disappointment it would bring. She held her chin higher as she turned away and nodded to Princess Ryna that she was ready.

  The long walk down to the ballroom felt like seconds today, even with her ladies in waiting carefully carrying the train.. They encountered no one on their way, all guests and servants likely inside and in their places. As she came to stand in front of the huge doors, she took one last breath, life as she knew it hinged on the precipice of the moment.

  Then, the doors opened.

  Everyone stood to face her but she didn’t see a single face. She stared forward to the dais where Prince Beck stood, dressed in a beautiful cream suitcoat and finely tailored black trousers. Over the outfit he wore a flowing royal cape in the reds, oranges and yellows of his house, fashioned at his neck with a huge, sparkling ruby. The color of his royal suit jacket nearly matched her dress perfectly and she would have kissed Princess Ryna for that touch if she could. But she kept her head high and shoulders squared as the music picked up and she began to walk. Though she was sure there were disappointed frowns all around, she didn’t look and didn’t allow herself to care. Prince Beck locked eyes with hers, that easy smile on his face as she walked down the aisle and climbed the stairs flawlessly to stand face to face with him.

  She was aware of the eyes on her and The King beginning to speak but she only half heard them as she stared into Beck’s eyes. To his credit, he never broke eye contact. Before she knew it, The King was asking them to profess their commitment to one another and then to kiss. She waited tensely, for the first time fully tuning into the King’s words but there was no mention of consummation. She took a deep breath as Prince Beck took her hand and they turned to the crowd and bowed low in thanks for their attendance. Then the King dismissed them as husband and wife and invited the guests to join them later that night for their reception. Beck was guiding her from the stage, still hand in hand. She noticed him smiling and waving to the crowd as they walked but still she kept her shoulders squared and her face calm. After all, her duties for this day were not done.

  –????????–

  Prince Beck led her back to his chambers, hand still locked in hers. They didn’t talk as they went, didn’t dare to until in their private quarters. All eyes were on them nearly all the way there as the common areas on the first level had been opened to the public. It allowed those who couldn’t attend to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds.

  Once inside with the door firmly shut Prince Beck turned to her and laughed. A real, genuine laugh. The twinkling sound of it made Xena smile as she watched him. He approached her, hands in his pockets, looking sheepish.

  “Can I pour you a drink, my wife?” He asked, turning toward the dining room.

  She followed him but didn’t answer. He picked up the decanter and poured her a glass of mead regardless, holding it out to her. She took it and swirled the contents, inhaling the syrupy scent.

  “We could wait to do this, you know,” Beck said, swirling his own drink. “No one would know. We could do it on our own time.”

  Again Xena said nothing, staring into the depths of her cup.

  “I don’t want you to feel pressured,” He continued. “ I understand.”

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  Xena turned toward him and cocked her head to the side. “Am I not to your liking, my Prince?” She asked.

  He whipped his head toward her, mouth falling open. Xena put her glass down on the table as she approached him, locking eyes with him once more. She stepped within arms reach of him as she waited for his response. He paused for a moment, stunned.

  “Of course you are,” He said, chuckling. “I chose you, after all. Out of all those women I chose you. And I’d choose you again. You’re absolutely perfect.”

  “Then,” Xena said, closing the small gap between them, “Why aren’t you kissing me yet?”

  Prince Beck stared down into her face in wonder. Without breaking eye contact, he set his glass down on the table and reached both hands up to cup the sides of her face, running his thumbs over her cheeks as he stared at her. Ever so gently he tilted her head back and leaned in, closing his eyes.

  She closed her eyes as well as his lips met hers, tongue pressing against her lower lip and she moaned low in response. His breath hitched at the noise and he drove his tongue deeply into her mouth exploring. He tasted of mead and peppermint she thought as she experimentally matched his tongue with her own, earning a grunt in response.

  Then they were moving, Prince Beck picking her up bridal style in one fluid movement. He continued to kiss her as he carried her to his bed and lowered her slowly onto his black velvet duvet. He broke contact and unclasped the cape at his neck and then began working on the buttons of his suit jacket. Xena sat up and gently grasped his hands moving them to the side. He looked at her confused but she just smiled as she took up the job of undoing the buttons. His hands fell slack at his sides as he watched her make quick work of them. She slid the jacket off and then began working on the buttons of the undershirt. She slid it off his bare shoulders, marveling at the sun pouring in over his olive skin. He was beautiful.

  He smirked, watching her expression and motioned for Xena to roll onto her stomach. She complied, face turning red as he began the painstakingly slow job of untangling her out of the dress’s seemingly hundred buttons. Once done he shimmied it down past her hips, kissing her back and bare shoulders as he did so, sending a shiver down her spine. She smiled, despite her resolve, into the duvet where he couldn’t see.

  He methodically worked at her corset and once loose, rolled her back over to help her stand. As she did, she let the corset fall away to the floor and Prince Beck’s eye went wide as he stared at her bare chest. His cheeks, instead of hers for once, went slightly pink as he looked at her body, only frilly white undergarments still in place. Then he was kissing her again, this time fiercer, more urgent, tongue exploring her mouth in earnest. Xena obliged him and opened wide, matching his kiss as she undid the buttons on his pants. She pushed the waistband down and as he was freed he groaned again. Xena gasped as the full length of him suddenly pressed against her stomach, rock hard.

  He wasted no time and pushed her onto the bed, kissing her all the while. He held himself above her with one hand as he continued their kiss and used the other hand to push her panties down her thighs until they slid past her bent legs on the edge on the bed and onto the floor. Then he broke the kiss and smiled at her, this time a lust filled, half lidded smile that sent heat to her core. He did something then that she didn’t expect and dropped down to his knees in front of her.

  “What are you-” She started but was cut off by his kiss on the inside of her thigh. The sensation of his lips on her made her drop her head back onto the mattress, cheeks blazing red. He continued his kisses up her thighs, occasionally running his tongue up and down the sensitive skin as well. Then, ever so slowly, he kissed her lips tenderly before plunging his tongue in between them without warning. Xena gasped as pleasure shot up her spine. He ran his tongue through her slit a couple of times, savoring the taste of her before focusing on her most tender spot at the top. When his lips found it and his tongue began making circles, her back arched and she moaned, hands digging into the mattress.

  “You like that?” He chuckled, voice husky. “The sounds you make are driving me crazy.”

  She didn’t answer, just panted heavily as she stared down at him. He laughed before diving back in, sucking and licking her clit steadily, earning exactly what he wanted from her. She gasped and moaned and could swear he was smiling against her as he worked. Finally, she felt the sensation build and she cried out as white hot pleasure filled her core and her body shook as she climaxed. He continued licking her as she came down, more gently, savoring the taste of her. Then, as her breathing evened out, he stood, stroking himself slightly as he looked at her body.

  “You’re absolutely perfect, my love,” He said in a low voice.

  She watched, still stunned after her first ever orgasm, as he pushed her further up on the bed and climbed up over her. That’s when she fully realized how much larger his body was than hers. He pushed her legs apart and kissed her thighs again before moving up to look into her face.

  “Ready?” He asked, leaning in to whisper in her ear and she nodded.

  She felt him line himself up at her entrance. He looked into her eyes and she nodded again, bracing her arms on the bed.

  He pushed inside slowly. He was large and she gritted her teeth as he fitted himself completely. While it hurt, it wasn’t as bad as she was expecting and let herself relax into the bed. He was watching her and she looked up into his eyes, giving him a small smile. He smirked back and rocked his hips slowly, pulling out an inch and driving back in. He repeated that until she moaned and pushed into him, asking for more. He laughed and pulled all the way out and shoved back in, earning a deep moan from her. He braced himself on his elbows over her and leaned down to kiss her neck while he started slowly grinding his hips against hers. She moaned as he pushed himself deeper inside of her with each thrust, filling her completely before pulling out again. But she needed more and moved her hips in time to meet his.

  He pulled his mouth away from her neck and repositioned her legs so they were braced on his chest. He bent them forward slightly and smirked down at her.

  “You asked for it,” He said and started slamming into her at a faster pace, still driving all the way in before pulling out again. Xena moaned louder now, fingernails digging into the duvet. He leaned forward even more, grinding against every tight part of her and she gasped, back arching as his dick hit the perfect spot. Noticing her pleasure, he kept the same angle, hitting it again and again until-

  “Beck!” Xena gasped as she came, back arching fully. Her walls clenched so hard around him that Beck moaned loudly, letting her orgasm pull him in deeper. As she came down he panted with effort, reaching his climax as well and moaning, spilling himself deep inside of her. They both panted, sweat covering them in a sheen as Prince Beck rolled off and they lay side by side as they recovered. Prince Beck reached out and grabbed Xena’s hand, bringing it up to his lips and kissing the back of it lightly. She turned her head to look at him, offering a shy smile. He smiled back, raising an eyebrow at her.

  “I think we can stay in bed a while longer before the reception,” He said, a wicked gleam in his eye. “I want to find out what else you like.”

  –????????–

  A few hours later Xena sat in her quarters, freshly bathed and makeup repainted. She stared at the tan robes hanging on the door of her closet, fitted to her, pressed and ready to wear. It was hard for her to wrap her head around that she was now a married woman and that those robes would cover her for the rest of her days in view of anyone but Beck. Her cheeks heated at the thought of him, her husband, just a few steps away across the hall getting ready for their reception.

  Princess Ryna walked in and stopped in the doorway at the sight of Xena sitting in her undergarments, staring at the robes.

  “What are you doing?” She asked, striding toward her. “The Prince will be ready to escort you to the party any moment. You need to get dressed.”

  Xena nodded and stood, resigned to the inevitable. She unconsciously rubbed her stomach over the bit of soreness there from their time together. She wondered how long it would take her to produce an heir. It took some woman a long time, she knew. Which was why the King and Prince took second and third wives. Fertility wasn’t a guarantee.

  “You will bear a child soon enough.” Princess Ryna said, pointedly looking at Xena’s hand. “No need to fret.”

  “What if I don’t?” She asked, struggling to keep the anxiety out of her voice. “What happens then?”

  “Not much,” Princess Ryna shrugged. “Prince Beck will try to produce an heir exclusively with you for a while before he will be required to try with another. Even then, you aren’t stripped of your title as his first wife. When you bear a child, they will have all the rights to the throne, even if younger than his children with another. You are his first wife. The others, like myself, are just precaution.”

  “Does the King take you to bed often?” Xena let the question slip out before thinking about it and her eyes flew open wide in retaliation. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

  “No need to apologize,’ Princess Ryna said, waving her apology off with her hand. “You are Beck's first wife now. That makes your status above mine as a second wife. You can ask what you wish.”

  “But I still don’t wish to offend you,” Xena said, cheeks blaring red. “You’ve been very kind to me.”

  Ryna’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Thank you, child. But in answer to your question, yes he does. However, that information would be better stayed between you and I. The queen does not like to be reminded that she shares her husband even if everyone already knows it. In truth, the King visits my bedchamber quite often.”

  “More than the queen’s?” Xena asked with a sly smirk.

  Ryna’s eyes stayed crinkled but she said, “You’re just a horrible gossip, aren’t you? I can’t pretend to know their business but seeing how he can’t be in two places at once… I would assume so.”

  Xena smiled but asked no more. The queen was a nasty woman so confirming that Ryna, kind-hearted and warm, was favorite made her happy. Even if it stirred her anxiety about the potentials of her own marriage.

  Princess Ryna quickly helped Xena dress, pulling the hood over her head last. Xena was surprised by the breathability of the material, always imagining the hood to be stuffy where it was actually thin and soft. They then quickly marched into the hallway to find Prince Beck waiting for them. Seeing Xena, he didn’t react until he looked into her eyes and he frowned a little.

  “I like you in the dresses better,” He whispered close to her ear as he took her arm. “But not more than when I take you out of them.”

  Xena didn’t respond and Princess Ryna graciously acted like she hadn’t heard them.

  –????????–