His Majesty (Rough Royals)

by Sara Fields

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I offered, mimicking the others with a small nod of my head and Angelo grinned widely.

  “She’s just as pretty as you said she would be, my king,” he said, turning toward the king and disregarding my words to him. He didn’t even give me the courtesy of a response. I narrowed my eyes slightly and bit my tongue, figuring that this was probably the way things were in this mysterious isolated place.

  “Indeed, she is,” Matteo replied. He guided me into my seat and pressed my shoulder softly, a silent indication for me to take my seat. Everyone else followed and I watched as a few additional stragglers made their way into the extravagant dining hall. A few women tried to be as quiet as they could be, but their heels clinked loudly against the tile until they found their seats. The king waited impatiently, looking out to the crowd. He picked up a heavy silver goblet full of red wine and took a sip, before he cleared his throat and the room quieted.

  “I welcome you, the members of my court, to dinner. There will be much food and dancing and copious amounts of wine, so enjoy yourselves and may your goblets always be full. And if they aren’t, why the fuck not?”

  His voice rang out loud and clear. When he finished speaking, the crowd roared in approval and laughter resounded all around me. Applause echoed throughout the room and the doors burst back open. A line of servants came in carrying platter after platter of food. There were enough of them to serve every table and place a plate in front of everyone in the room, which was impressive because there were at least two hundred people seated here already.

  I peered down at the plate put in front of me, a decadent portion of cheeses, breads, and olives that made my mouth water. My stomach growled loudly, and I realized I hadn’t really eaten anything all day and was probably especially hungry after the memorable events of this morning. Carefully, I took the white linen napkin and put it in my lap, not wanting to sully the very expensive dress I was wearing at the king’s request. Matteo picked up a piece of mozzarella and popped it in his mouth, and I followed suit, humming with delight as the delicious flavors blossomed over my tongue. I chewed slowly, taking care to eat as politely as possible even though I was starving because I was sure people were watching.

  A silver-lined wineglass was placed before me, filled with what appeared to be a full-bodied red. I pressed my fingers to the cloth napkin in my lap and picked up the wine, taking a small sip. This tasted expensive too.

  “From my very own vineyard,” Matteo whispered. “A special cask I had opened for your official welcome to my castle.”

  I blushed, not knowing what to say. Instead, his fingers picked up an olive off my plate and pressed it against my lips. I opened them and he put it on my tongue. It was a completely innocent act in front of all these people, yet it made me feel entirely naked as I sat right next to him. I squirmed a little and the plug shifted with me, reminding me quite thoroughly of its presence inside me.

  I chewed and used my tongue to press the olive pit into the side of my cheek. When I finished, I opened my mouth and he reached in to take the seed from me. He placed it back onto the plate.

  “You eat from my fingers so very prettily. I’m going to remember that,” he whispered, and I dipped my head as a flush crept over my cheeks.

  Slowly, I finished the appetizer put in front of me. When Matteo finished his plate, the servants swept back in and cleared it all, before bringing in the next course for all of us to enjoy. I was quickly lost in delicious and expensive foods, enjoying the tastes of duck, quail, and a number of other meats and side dishes that I didn’t recognize, but ate anyway. The king watched me with a smile on his face.

  “It’s nice to see a woman eat her fill for once, rather than just picking at a salad and worrying about the size of her waist,” he mused.

  “I haven’t eaten anything all day. Someone kept me busy,” I sassed, and he smirked.

  “True enough. I suspect you probably worked up an appetite by coming all over my cock, isn’t that right, baby girl?” he asked quietly while looking over the dining hall.

  “Perhaps,” I answered, feeling my own lips draw up in amusement. My flush deepened even further.

  “Sassy girl,” he chuckled.

  “I have my moments,” I replied, sitting back and taking another sip of wine.

  “Indeed,” he responded, and his eyes lit up dangerously. “Remember though, so do I,” he added darkly, and I gasped softly, trying to cover up the sound.

  I chose to look away, as I tried to get my pussy to stop clenching at the sight of him. Out of the side of my eye, I saw him grin even wider. It was almost as if he knew, and I swallowed heavily, telling myself that I must be crazy to think of such a thing.

  When I was finally full, I sat back and looked out around the room. Most of the attendees were laughing and smiling and joking with one another at their respective tables. I took in the gorgeously done up-dos and beautiful gowns. It felt like a dream and I wanted to pinch myself to make sure it was real.

  I still wasn’t sure that it was.

  I emptied the little that was left in my wineglass and then I turned my head and noticed that Maria was kneeling behind me. She stood up gracefully after she noticed me and grabbed a large silver jug. She took my goblet from me and filled it once more with dark red wine.

  “Thank you, Maria,” I said softly, smiling back at her. It was nice to see a friendly face here and she grinned in return.

  “Are you pleased with the servant assigned to you?” Matteo asked, noticing where my attention had been directed.

  “I am. If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep her,” I answered thoughtfully, and he nodded.

  “You may,” he replied.

  “Thank you,” I said gratefully and turned my eyes back to the crowd. A pair of hazel eyes met mine and I realized it was the woman in the purple dress I’d noticed before. They seemed hateful and vengeful, just like they had been when I’d first seen her, and I didn’t know why. She didn’t seem familiar, so I was at a loss as to why she had taken an instant dislike to me. At once, I felt uncomfortable. I raised my hand and gestured for Maria to come closer while the king was distracted talking to Angelo.

  “Who is the woman on the far right in the purple dress?” I asked as quietly as I could once she brushed against my side.

  “That is the Duchessa Amara D’Marco,” she answered simply.

  “She doesn’t seem to like me very much,” I whispered cautiously.

  “She was being considered to wed the king, having an old royal bloodline that would forge a number of alliances as a result of their union. With your presence though, her seat as queen has been threatened,” she explained.

  “Are you sure?” I replied. “She doesn’t have anything to do with the king’s cousin, Vincenzo, right?” I actively ignored the mention of marriage because it was too much for me to even consider right now.

  “Not that I know of, Miss Isabella.”

  I’d have to be wary of the duchessa all the same.

  The plates were cleared again, and small bowls of dessert were brought out on tiny silver trays. I picked up a spoon and scooped a small bite of what appeared to be gelato. I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth and enjoyed the fresh fruity flavor of lemons and raspberries that burst over my palate. With the delivery of the dessert came a small envoy of acrobats down the walkway, twirling and somersaulting as the crowd clapped with enchantment. In the corner of the room, a band started to play music and a concert of musical sounds reverberated through the room.

  The acrobats started to dance, twisting their bodies back and forth farther than I could ever imagine being able to do myself. It was marvelous to watch and before I knew it, the act was over, and the room broke out in applause. I joined in with them, thoroughly enjoying myself. A number of other acts of entertainment were brought in, including professional dancers and even a magician that made doves appear from the fiery light of a small candle. After it was all over, the king stood up again and a hus
h fell over everyone in the room. Even the clink of silver goblets against the table went silent.

  I gazed up at Matteo, taking note of his confident stance and the way his aura had turned to one of expectant power. He owned every bit of that room and he knew it. I didn’t want to admit it but seeing him like this made me want him even more.

  “My court, I have someone very special I’d like to introduce you to today,” he began carefully and the few whispers that remained quieted. All the attention was turned to him completely, even the hard eyes of the duchessa and that felt like a relief.

  “This is my concubine, Isabella De Luca. She will be on my arm this night and I expect you all will give her a royal welcome,” he roared, and the crowd whooped with their approval.

  My lips tightened at his words. He hadn’t warned me that he was going to introduce me that way. Even so, I hadn’t expected the annoyance I felt at essentially being called his whore in front of everyone. I turned away, unwilling to look at the court, trying to handle my feelings and utterly failing in reining them in.

  Matteo said a number of other things, but I heard none of it. I gestured toward Maria and asked her where the restroom was, and quietly excused myself after she offered to lead me. I didn’t tell her that his words bothered me, and she didn’t ask. Instead, she just led me down a short hall and indicated where the ladies’ room was. After a moment, she offered to help me with my dress and I shook my head. I could manage and thanked her for the offer.

  To be honest, I just wanted a short while to myself. I used the restroom, careful of my gown. After I was finished, I washed my hands and dried them off in a plush towel that was handed to me by a quiet unassuming maid in the corner.

  I took a deep breath and pressed my hand against my belly, feeling the iron steel rods that composed the bodice of my dress. I had grown accustomed to them, even liked them. They felt like a fierce hug around my waist. After several more minutes, the maid whispered something, and I lifted my head at the unexpected sound.

  “You look beautiful, my lady,” she said, and I smiled in her direction.

  “Thank you,” I replied gratefully.

  “Whatever is bothering you, I’m sure will work itself out,” she offered next and I looked closer at her, noticing the gray strands of hair nestled in her black ones. Wrinkles at the edges of her eyes spoke to her age and I at once felt comfortable with her maternal nature.

  “Your words are very kind,” I said quietly, and she smiled gently.

  “You should probably head back now. The king will have noticed that you were gone,” the woman suggested, and I nodded.

  “Thank you,” I whispered, smiling gently in her direction. She was right.

  Knowing that I had spirited away for some time, I left the restroom and followed Maria back into the dining hall. When I returned, the tables had been cleared aside of all the wineglasses and everyone was up on their feet, dancing the night away. Matteo was still seated at the table at the front of the room and he watched expectantly as I returned to him. He searched my face for something, and his jawline tensed. With an anxious swallow, I stepped up onto the stage and took his hand when he offered it.

  “Grab your wine and I will take you dancing, my lovely little concubine,” he said softly, and I stiffened.

  “I am not your whore,” I scoffed, unable to help myself.

  “Behave yourself, baby girl,” he warned, as he lowered his hand along my back.

  I knew what he was doing. He was trying to remind me of the plug in my bottom hole. He didn’t need to though. It had already reached the point where it not only felt heavy inside of me, but it was also was making my asshole start to ache.

  His fingers drifted on top of the cleft of my bottom and I was thankful for the layers of fabric that protected me. I turned away, ignoring him. His hand left my back and he took my fingers in his. His touch was firm. There was a warning there and I disregarded that too.

  “Come. I will introduce you to some of the members of my court that are important to me, my little concubine,” he said softly.

  I did my very best not to react this time, but I decided that I sincerely disdained being called his concubine. There was a certain tension around his eyes, and I was certain he knew it too. He confidently led me away from the table, off the stage and into the crowd dancing in the center of the room. I realized that some of the tables had been moved out of the way to create something of a dance floor. Not only that, but a pretty female voice rang out, singing cover songs of many hits that I recognized from the past twenty years or so. Right now, she was singing a soft ballad that had the court slow dancing and swaying from side to side.

  Matteo introduced me to a number of people, and I nodded politely to them all, doing my best to swallow my pride and ignore every time he introduced me as his concubine. I was able to control my ire for the most part, that is until it came time to exchange words with the duchessa. She saw the two of us coming, and if looks could kill, the one she was giving me would have caused me to burn to death in an epic display of fire and flame.

  Up close, she was quite beautiful. Her skin was pale as porcelain and her hair was jet black. It shone with natural health, curled into tight ringlets around her face that transformed into gentle waves that cascaded down her back. Her hazel irises shone with flecks of gold and green. A small nose and defined cheekbones completed her regal look and I was left with little doubt that she would have looked like perfection beside Matteo as his queen.

  It also appeared that she wanted to be. Badly. She stared at me with daggers in her eyes until the king spoke to her. Her entire face softened in his direction.

  “Duchessa Amara,” Matteo purred. I decided I really didn’t like the way her name rolled off his tongue. I curled my fingers into my palm, pressing my nails into my skin hard enough to keep myself from saying anything that I shouldn’t.

  “King Matteo,” she said, her voice equally as velvety. I decided I didn’t like that either.

  A servant passed a glass of wine into my hand, another to the duchessa, and one to the king. I clutched at mine, curling my fingers hard around the silver stem in an effort to keep myself calm. I tried not to focus on the feeling of spiraling out of control. I tried to not think about how I didn’t belong.

  “Duchessa, I wanted to personally introduce you to my concubine, Isabella De Luca,” he said, his voice firm, loud, and authoritative. Her eyes fell on me, feeling piercing and judgmental and I did the thing I was trying so very hard not to do. I lost control of my anger.

  I tossed my glass of wine right in the king’s face.

  I hated that he’d called me his whore in front of her. I hated the fact that she’d enjoyed it even more.

  The entire room went deadly silent. I’d raised my hand against the king, and everyone had seen the whole thing. I watched almost in horror as the wine dripped from his hair, down his cheeks, and off of his chin, staining the pristine white of the shirt he was wearing beneath his tailored suit. I swallowed heavily, aghast that I was the reason for it.

  Fuck.

  My mouth went dry and I swallowed nervously. I really shouldn’t have done that. He turned his head toward me and stared, his eyes searching mine. I could almost feel him deciding what to do with me. For a quick second, his eyes darted around the court and I saw his expression fall almost imperceptibly before it hardened once more. I couldn’t even bring myself to glance in the duchessa’s direction because I was pretty sure she would be gloating with victory. She didn’t say a word and I knew deep in my heart that she didn’t have to.

  I’d sealed my own fate. She hadn’t even had to lift a finger.

  I expected him to reach out and slap me, to order my banishment or even worse, my death.

  He didn’t do any of that. Instead, he just started to laugh, and the entire demeanor of the crowd started to relax, if a bit hesitantly. After his amusement died down, the king cleared his throat. He had made a choice and I swallowed anxiously as I waited for what he
had ultimately decided to do with me.

  “Well, my noble court, it seems that I need to punish Isabella tonight and I want to ask what you would prefer. Would you like me to take my concubine off to her rooms to discipline her in private or would you rather see a show tonight?” he roared, his voice light even as it made my stomach drop straight down to my toes. I almost forgot how to breathe as time seemed to slow. My eyes tore around the crowd, watching as their eyes lit up in anticipation for what was to come next.

  The crowd started to roar and even as I hoped for the king to decide to take me back to my room, I knew that was too much to ask for. The crowd was tingling from fantastic wine and so flushed from dancing that I was sure that they didn’t want the night to end and would be more than happy to be able to watch the king deal with me, no matter what that meant.

  I didn’t feel the same. I was ready to disappear into a black hole and never venture out again.

  “Show. Show. Show,” the crowd chanted over and over again until my heart drummed nervously with each word. I shivered and hesitantly peered back at Matteo, who met my eyes. I feared what I saw there. His eyes had turned dark and I suddenly remembered that he’d given me that same look right before he’d thrown open the window and presented me to his people, only to press a finger in my bottom at the same time he fucked me hard with his cock.

  The entire room reverberated with their chant and I feared that it would only lead to my doom.

  The king grasped my hand and pulled me close to him, curling his arm around my waist. He twirled me as he did so that my back pressed against the hardness of his chest.

  “Naughty girl. Remember, you earned this,” the king whispered into my ear and I shivered against him.

  He cleared his throat and I closed my eyes, feeling my stomach drop straight to my toes in icy cold fear. At the very same time, I felt something else. Very reluctant arousal was simmering deep inside my core. I didn’t understand why. I almost didn’t want to.