by Jessica Loft
“My,” Gloriana breathed, clutching her necklace. “I believe that I will truly enjoy being married to the likes of you.”
CHAPTER 5
Three Weeks Later
“What about that one?” William asked, pointing the pretty young woman in the pale yellow linen gown.
Gloriana grinned as she took a bite of her apple, and nodded her head. “Her,” she said between mouthfuls, “she’s actually a little angel. All of the men want her though. She’s as pretty as a vase, but just as empty you know. I don’t think the good Lord blessed her with a brain anymore than he blessed me with manners.”
William chuckled, and picked up a handful of blueberries to pour into his mouth. They had, to their father’s praises, decided to go on a picnic just outside the castle near the market and watch the people. Though there was no need for them, the guards had stood watch over them in protection. However, due to Gloriana’s silver-tongued ways and blazing attitude, she had them eventually wondering off to find their own libations and vittles. As a joke, Gloriana had started telling William about the women that she saw and knew, and it quickly turned into a fun game for the both of them.
“Do you do this often?” He asked, reaching for the bottle of wine the cook had packed in their basket.
She shrugged. “Not really. Father doesn’t allow me to come out here alone. He’s worried that I’ll run away. “However, the guards, at least the ones that are my friends, tell me a lot of their conquests and their lucid ways. I learn a lot about our subjects through them. What about you? Do you ever play these kind of games at home?”
“Oh aye, in a manner of speaking. My friend Aaron and I, we do things of this nature often, only to royals instead of peasants. Since we don’t really know any of the gossip though we often just make up the most dank rumors possible.”
Gloriana clapped her hands, and laid her head down in William’s lap. They had quickly become close, almost like mates. Except, William had never wanted to mount one of his mates before. It was both fun and confusing to him, to have someone that could actually be a mate and a lover. Still, he didn’t mind.
“That sounds so much more fun than my game,” she mused, letting her fingers toy with the hem of his shirt, tugging it out of his pants one flick of her wrist at a time.
“I don’t know,” William mused. “I kind of like where this one is going a little better.” Her fingers had traveled to beneath his clothing, and had begun to run gently up and down his chiseled abdomen. He loved her playful ways, they matched his own. He only wished that they were for him and him alone.
“You know my reputation, do you not?” He asked suddenly.
“Aye, I do,” she answered, her explorative fingers moving lower, tangling lightly in his pubic hair.
“And yet you still want me?” He asked.
Gloriana laughed, and shook her head. “My reputation is nearly as bad as yours, young Duke. How hypocritical would I be if I condemned you from what I myself partake in?” To make her point, she closed her fist around his turgid staff, and began massaging his organ in a very sensual manner.
The sensation made William growl with need, and he threw his head back to enjoy it more.
“In all seriousness, my Lord,” Gloriana whispered as she continued her stroking. “I have never wanted a man as much as I have wanted you.”
“Gloriana, I”-
“My Lady! My Lady!” A child squealed from a far. Quick as a flash Gloriana’s hand was out of William’s trousers, and she was sitting up to hide his waistline.
“Hello my little lovies,” Gloriana chirped as three children, all under the age of five came running up to her excitedly. As she opened her arms, all three toddlers climbed into her lap to hug any part of her torso they could reach.
“You know these little rascals?” William asked, surprised.
“Oh aye, they be Myra’s children.”
“Myra?”
Gloriana giggled. “Ye don’t know thy name of the maid ye stuck when ye first got here? Aye, that’s rich. These are her children, most of them belonging to the guards in one way or another.”
“And your father doesn’t mind?” William asked, trying to wrap his head around such liberal ways. He was finding out new things daily about this mysterious land. So, far, it was unlike anywhere he’d ever been.
“My father realizes that if the guards want to be happy then they need to be allowed some…’relaxation’ from time to time. We have also both spoken to Myra about her situation, and she promises that all visits to her bedchamber have been consensual. Therefore, he has no reason to ask her or them to stop.”
The children accepted their handfuls of blueberries from Gloriana, and scampered off back to their grandparent’s market stand where they sold wool caps and socks for the upcoming winter; a hot commodity at the moment.
“And what of you?” William asked after the children left.
“Me? Well Myra’s an awful nice girl, but I’m not attracted to women.”
“No, not that,” William said, ignoring her jest. “Do you-do you share your bed with other men?”
Gloriana sat up straight and turned to face William. “Not as many women as you’ve had in your bed, my Lord. But yes, if truth be told, I have had a bloke or two in my bed, to chase off the cold and the loneliness that this place sometimes brings. I thought you knew that, seeing as how my father mentioned my delicate situation to yours during their arrangement.”
“Delicate position?” William asked, not quite understanding. “Whatever do you mean?”
Gloriana’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “You mean your father did not tell you? I’m pregnant. No other royal would marry me now, except for one whose sins were worse than mine.”
~
“You’re pregnant?” William asked, surprised. “To who?”
“I’d rather not say,” Gloriana sniffed.
“How far along are you?”
“Not long. Four months at most, perhaps 16 weeks or so. Are you bothered by this?”
William wasn’t sure how to answer. He felt as if he was, perhaps a little. But not overly so. Still, his wife to be was going to have a child to another man. And his father had known about it.
“Look, William,” Gloriana said, reaching out to take his hand. “I know this isn’t proper, and if I’m being honest, I am a little ashamed about how lazy I was with precaution. But the deed is done, and I’m making the best of it.” She paused, gathering up the courage to say the words she didn’t mean. “I don’t mind the idea of an open marriage. As a forgiveness of my misgivings, I have no desire to stop you from being you. And in turn, I expect you to not stop me from being me.”
It was a lot for William to process, and if truth be told, he wasn’t sure where to begin. He liked Gloriana. He’d even go so far as to say he was falling in love with her. Yet the news of her pregnancy really threw him for a loop.
“If you don’t mind, my Lady,” William said, standing up. “I think I need some space. Perhaps I’ll ride into the nearest town and spend the night at the tavern.”
Gloriana didn’t want him to go, but she also knew when to fight and when to back down.
“As you wish my Lord,” she said, her tone formal. “I hope that I will see you on the marrow.”
Not wanting to make a promise he couldn’t keep, William simply walked away in search for Aaron. He needed his friend, and he needed a drink.
CHAPTER 6
Aaron had a look of absolute pleasure on his face as he looked back and forth between the red head and blonde on his lap. They each perched on a knee daintily; their low cut dresses practically spilling their hefty bosoms into his face. At his table sat three more, just as pretty, eagerly waiting their turn with him.
“By God himself,” Aaron said, his eyes directly on the redhead’s breasts. “This is the best town we’ve ever travelled to by far.” He spared a glance up to the redhead’s green eyes. “Excuse me love, could you give me a sip of me ale?”
William rolled his eyes in boredom as he watched his friend enjoy the bevy of young women who had flocked them as soon as they entered the tavern. Word of their lucid behavior had not reached the ears of the townspeople, so all these lovely wenches saw were handsome faces, muscles, and their deep pockets.
“I was actually hope to talk to you, Aaron,” William explained, feeling slightly agitated.
“We are talking,” Aaron replied, his eyes back on the bosoms. “I heard you. Your lovely wife-to-be is about to have a bastard child, and in return she’s given you leave to continue your whorish ways. To me that sounds like the perfect set up! What do you say ladies?”
The two on his lap giggled and agreed immediately.
“What are you asking them for?” William grumbled, annoyed. “They’ll agree with everything you say.”
“Aye,” Aaron shrugged. “And I’m sure they’ll agree with me about what I’m about to say. “Stop frettin’ like a house marm, and have some fun. That sweet little Patty over there has been trying to get ye attention all night long. Why don’t you go over there and give the poor girl what she’s been dreamin’ of?”
Having enough, William picked up his ale and strolled out of the tavern and into the back alley. There were a few others outside, smoking their pipes and drinking their ale as the local prostitutes tried to make their nightly wages with them. He knew their lifestyle, and respected it. For a long time, he found it fascinating that a woman could be paid to have sex. He thought that if he had the fortune to get paid as such, he’d be one hell of a self-made rich man, title or not. However, the thought of bedding down with one of them was churning his stomach, and he had to look away.
“Are ye all right?” A soft voice asked. William felt a small hand wrap around his right upper arm, and he turned to look down into the face of the sweet bar maiden, Patty. She had long, loose, strawberry blonde hair, and dusting of adorable freckles right below her watery blue eyes. She had the cutest button nose, with a dark freckle right at the tip of it.
“Aye, dearest,” William sighed, turning to give her his attention. She did look very pretty, in her low cut gown and pleasure giving eyes. And the way she slid into his arms as soon as he was turned fully to her definitely made her hard to resist.
“Ye want te know why I want ye?” She whispered, her hand already unlacing his britches.
“Why’s that?” He breathed, deciding not to stop her.
“Because. Ye have a gentle heart. I could see it as soon as ye walked in.” Her hand slid around his erect cock, and she moaned softly as she felt the largeness of it.
“Show me more,” she whispered.
Moaning, William bowed his head and kissed the young woman as he dragged her close, turning her so that he could press her up against the stone wall of the alley. She spread her legs willingly, and hiked them around his waist. He was surprised that she wore nothing between her single layer of skirts, and the easy access excited him even more.
“Yes,” she moaned, as he slid thickly into her. “More, give me so much more…” Her word became interrupted with her moans of pleasure, and soon they were both lost in the throes of their carnal pleasure.
CHAPTER 7
William woke up to the feeling of another person in his bed. Thinking it was Gloriana, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, coming cheek to cheek with facial hair. His eyes flew open the same time Aaron’s did, and together they yelled in panic as they flew away from one another.
“What the bloody hell are you doing in my bed?” William yelled, running a shaky hand through his hair.
“Easy, mate, I must have passed out after I helped ye te bed,” Aaron soothed, holding his hands up in surrender. “In my defense, you got poor piss drunk last night after ye shagged Patty. I had te carry ye all the back here because ye set the horses loose!”
William winced, embarrassed. “I was? I did? Hell, mate. I’m sorry.”
Aaron sat back down in a chair beside the bed, and sighed. “Yeah, well, it’s all right. As I see it I shouldn’t of pushed Patty on te ye. I didn’a realize how head over heels ye were for Gloriana. Hell, ye couldn’t stop singin’ her name all night.”
William took a seat across from Aaron as he slowly shook his head. “Aye,” he sighed. “I think I’m in love with her.”
Aaron chuckled and shook his head. “No, ye cock. Ye do love her. Sure as I love my looks ye love that woman.”
A smile spread across William’s face as he let the realization of real love spread over him. Baby or not, he was going to marry Gloriana and make her his wife. And if she was going to stay just as wild, then at least they could be wild together.
“Come on,” William said, getting up. “I need ye help.”
Aaron raised an eyebrow, but didn’t get up. “With what?”
“With me marriage proposal.”
~
“Where are we goin’, William?” Gloriana asked as he led her to the stables.
“Well, for starters, we’re going to take a ride outside the castle walls.” As if on cue, the stable boy brought out two horses, both dressed in an English saddle. “But first, ye goin’ te have te change into these.”
William pulled out a pair of his beige britches from his satchel and handed them over to Gloriana. “And this too,” he explained, pulling out one of his plain white linen shirts.
Gloriana’s eyes went wide as she saw the gifts. “Ye- ye goin’ te let me dress as a man?” She asked, her voice full of awe.
“Aye,” William told her, nodding his head. “How else are ye going to ride a man’s saddle?”
Overcome with happiness, Gloriana leaped into William’s arms to kiss him soundly. “Thank you,” she moaned between their kisses. “Thank you so much! Will ye help me get these on then?”
He happily agreed, and together they went into the privacy of an empty horse stall and helped unlace her dress. It was tempting to sneak a peek at her creamy flesh, but to his own surprise he turned his gaze away in a respectful manner so that she could pull the britches up over her thighs.
“My my,” he mused, running his hand over her pant clad backside. “I must say, I like you in my trousers.” The curve of her buttocks fit perfectly into the pants, making them like a second skin to her firm buttocks. Yes. He liked her wearing his britches very much.
After she was dressed, they went back out to the horses and he helped Gloriana settle into her saddle, with one leg on each side of the horses back. A look of pure exhilaration crossed over her face as she finally sat like a man on the back of a steed. Knowing that he was the one that made her so happy filled William’s heart with joy.
“How do I look?” She asked, her smile wide across her face.
“Like ye belong up there,” William replied honestly. He quickly mounted his own horse, and together they took off through the castle gates and down the road into the woods. It was a harmless group of trees, but Gloriana had never been allowed in it alone nonetheless. When they finally dismounted and tethered the horses, Gloriana took off through the trees in pure joy as William began to set up their breakfast picnic that the cook had prepared especially for them. Boiled eggs, honeyed ham, a sealed pot of strong black tea, and two oranges. By the time Gloriana came back from gathering an armful of wild flowers, William had set the picnic up perfectly for them.
“This looks fantastic!” Gloriana exclaimed, picking up her cup of tea to take a swallow.
“I’m glad you like it,” William smiled. “Because I’m using it as an apology.”
“An apology?” Gloriana asked, tapping open her egg. “Whatever for?”
As they ate, William admitted his indiscretion with Patty at the tavern the night before. He told her of his drunken stupidity and how through sleeping with this strange woman he was able to see that he no longer wanted to sleep with anyone else. Just her.
“Wow,” Gloriana whispered when the story was over. “I see.”
“Please,” William pleaded. “Forgive me.”
Gloriana looked up at him, surprised.
“Of course I’m going to forgive you! I mean, I was the one that had suggested you do it in the first place, didn’t I? I’m more upset with myself than anything,” she confessed.
Rising to her knees, Gloriana cleared the blanket and inched closer to William. “How about this,” she proposed, smoothing her hands over William’s shoulders.
“How about from now on, you only shag me, and I’ll only shag you. Do we have a deal?”
William’s arms wrapped tightly around Gloriana as he nodded his head yes. “Absolutely,” he whispered, his mouth clamping hotly down on hers. They both moaned in passion as they quickly wrapped tightly around one another, sealing the deal. With careful hands, William laid his wife to be down on the soft blanket. Her body was soft, pliant, and warm beneath his exploring hands, and because she was wearing men’s clothing her pert, beautiful breasts were able to slip easily out his shirt and into his willing mouth.
Gloriana’s back arched seductively as William took his time tasting every inch of her, including the heavenly sweet pot of honey that rested between her thighs. He loved the way she moaned for him, pleaded for him to stop right before her very first orgasm rippled through her and took her by complete surprise. Trembling, she pulled her lover up to her mouth so that she could taste her juices on his lips.
“Make love to me, William,” she moaned, her body already arching and bucking against his. “Give yourself to me.”
They both moaned and cursed in pleasure as William did as he was pleaded, and sank himself deeply into her warm, wet center. She was so tight and delicious, William had to take deep breaths to prevent himself from spilling too soon. It was only when she was begging William to explode with her that he finally gave in and let his hot seed shoot wildly into her.
