The Five Princes

Thursday Part Two

[For Mature Audience]

"A gift from Ajax," Trinity presented. "He insists you wear them for tonight." In her hands, she revealed a large black velvet box. Slowly, she opened it to expose four glistening silver cuff bracelets in a circular pattern, four circles within each one interlocking like they were bound together for eternity. There was something sinister yet beautiful about it as I gracefully picked one up, admiring it beneath the light of my chandelier. "Exquisite, aren't they?" Trinity sighed in envy.

"Very," I agreed, slipping one around my wrist. It fit perfectly.

Ever since Ajax saved me from Avant, his words have been ringing through my head all day: Tonight, your submission. And I couldn't let it go because for the remainder of the day, Ajax stayed by my side, forcing me out of my room, out of the palace, and into the streets of my kingdom. At first, it perplexed me that he stated he wanted a personal tour around the kingdom, not thinking of him as a social person. However, he proved to me that Ambrose not only valued strength in physical aspects but also strength in people, emotions, and their hearts.

"...our people, like any kingdom, are our most valuable trait," he explained, passing the bakery. "They are the ones who give us strength, not the crown."

Walking around, we did get stared at but I think it was because of how regal Ajax walked that gave our title away. "You're people need to be stronger and stop trembling when they see your presence," he continued, pointing at the frozen, wide-eyed shopkeeper. Looking around, a lot of people were staring at us, frozen in place along the cobble streets. At first, I thought it was only in my head. Approaching a man at the open shoe shop, I could see his arms quaking, watching my every step. Were my people afraid of me?

I flinched when Ajax leaned closer to my ear. "Fear makes for a great rise but it can also make an even greater fall. I suggest you find a balance."

Taking a deep breath, I amazingly allowed his words to sink in, approaching the man in the doorway with a smile. "Hello, I'm Serene," I greeted, offering my hand.

Hesitantly, he slid his wrinkled palm in mine, his head slightly bowed, staring at the ground. "A-Apsel, y-your highness," he stuttered. I hated that he acted so frightened of me. I grasped his hand and from the slight gesture, he raised his head, his family behind him peering over his shoulder.

"Apsel, please don't fear me. I don't know why you feel like you must tremble at the sight of me, but I will do everything in my power to change that. I want everyone to feel safe and joyful in my presence. What do you think will ensure that?"

He hesitated a bit before he opened his mouth, confidence in his words. "See each one of us, not as your subjects, but as your companions. Visit us once in a while. I'm sure we'd love to have you over for dinner, you and the king, your highness." And for the first time, he smiled which made me smile.

"I'd love to, and I shall really soon, Apsel."

The clock struck seven just as Trinity finished with my wardrobe, tightening the strings around my waist. Didn't know why. They'd be off within the minutes. On the last tug, she stood up and gestured for me to head out the door, which I did. Tonight, I'd be meeting Ajax in the gym (no surprise there), half anxious and half hesitant. From what I've learned from him today, he was a bit dissimilar outside the palace than I would've imagined. Yet, there was that sinister side to him that reminded me he wasn't fully trustworthy. He was still the reason I hadn't seen Zeph since this morning.

With that thought, a sick feeling bubbled in my gut as I walked through the gym doors. The only change I could see was two metal poles in the center of the boxing ring and Ajax leaning against the ropes, staring at me with a victorious grin. His arms were crossing his muscular chest, the only clothing being a pair of dark red cotton pants. Silently, I approached him, and he removed himself off the ropes, that grin still plastered to his face.

"Pleasure to see you, Princess," he greeted rather gentlemanly, catching me off guard. What also perplexed me was when he lifted the ropes for me to enter and offered a hand. Once I was on my feet, he asked, "You remember our deal, right?"

"To be submissive to you tonight. How could I forget?" I answered mockingly.

The corner of his lip rose higher. "Yes, now, do you fully agree to do such until the stroke of midnight?" He backed up and grabbed something off the table on the floor I hadn't noticed upon entering. My breath hitched in my throat at the sight of what he was holding, a nine-tailed whip. "That includes being strong enough to handle the teaching of converging pain into pleasure. Can you handle that or would you like to submit defeat right now and be escorted back to your room?"

I flinched at his words. "Wouldn't you just complain to my father?" Plus, I've never heard of anyone refusing to bed anyone during this competition, was it possible?

He shook his head, taking a step towards me. "Nope. This is personal. I have a strong belief that Concord is weak and shouldn't have the governmental power over six kingdoms, including their own. Then, to my surprise, the princess wasn't a weakling, she didn't hold her head down, and she didn't submit to anyone. But if you walk away right now, all that will be thrown out the window and I, my kingdom, and my people will consider you and your kingdom weaklings until the end of times. That'd just open an opportunity for other kingdoms to take over—"

"Like Ambrose?" I sneered, knowing what he was getting at with his subtle threat.

He raised an eyebrow. "I was thinking Cameron. With their passion for knowledge, I'm sure they believe the government should uphold knowledge instead of kindness. And there's Lux, a kingdom that upholds mystery, so you never know what their thinking." I knew the last part was directed at Zeph personally, trying to tell me not to trust him like so many others have been telling me throughout the week. But I wasn't budging. "Not to mention other countries, some probably unknown to us, hearing the rumor and trying to conquer—"

"Stop!" I shouted which only got him biting his lip with the same grin, trying to hold in his laughter. "My people aren't weak and neither am I! Did I say I was running away tonight? No!" I took a step towards him, our face inches apart. "I'll only submit to you tonight but when morning strikes, you will submit to me."

My words made a groan escape from him as he used his free hand to pull me closer by the neck, our breaths mingling with only an inch between us. Slowly, his hands skimmed the curvatures of my body, pulling the strap of my gown down, and then undoing the string around my waist. Within seconds, I was completely nude, his arm wrapped around me as he squeezed my buttocks and I refused to wince at the mild pain.

"We'll see about that," he hissed. Letting go of me, he gestured for me to stand between the two poles and without removing my eyes from him, I did so. Honestly, I found it a bit odd, wondering why I had to stand here, but that curiosity didn't dwell long before he pushed a button on a small remote in his hand. In a split second, the bracelets on my wrists and ankles clinked to the metal bars, my body transforming into an X right before his eyes. I gasped loudly at the suddenness and he let a chuckle out, setting the remote down. "Comfortable?"

Squirming and wiggling out of this ridiculous position, I glared at him. "No!"

His eyes dimmed darkly as he approached me, taking off his pants to reveal his even muscular manhood, which had me panicking at the sight. No one's even been able to compare to Zeph's...until now, if not more. And from the expression on my face, he knew I was impressed, lifting it with his hand. "You like what you see?" I scrunched up my nose, saying nothing. "I'll take that as a yes."

Snatching me by the neck, his lips fell upon mine and my heart paused at the suddenness, never expecting a 'kiss' from anyone but Zeph. His lips were tougher than his, capturing mine in a way that made me feel all tingly inside, something different than Zeph. I couldn't decipher if it was good or bad feeling before he pulled away with a satisfied grin.

"You only thought the enigma boy knew," he figured out by my expression. I said nothing. Slowly, he slipped his manhood between my legs, rubbing it against my treasure box. "You'd be surprised what little you know that everyone around you knows for a fact." Gradually, he dropped his manhood against me and his fingers began to twiddle around, his fingers doing a dance within that had me moaning. "Don't get too used to it. I'm going to get coarser real soon."

Just to make his words truth, he smacked my butt so hard a loud yelp escaped and I could feel the aftermath sting and heat up even after he removed his hand. Gritting my teeth, I glared at his prideful grin, wishing to bite it off. I should have...

His eyes locked onto mine as he drove his fingers within me, growing harsher with every jolt. He was challenging me. He wanted to hear me surrender. I would never. "That's...the best...you can do," I taunted, moaning between each word. He pumped his fingers one last time within me before granting me a glare I only smiled devilishly at.

Licking his fingers of my nectar, he bent down to his knees, grasping my thighs. His tongue laved my folds while his nails dug into my thighs, the course of pleasure and pain mingling. Growing deeper within me, I groaned at the feeling. Scratches along my backside awoken me each time he knew I was falling for pleasures clutches. Then his teeth found my bead, drawing it into his mouth, the palms of his hand caressing the back of my thighs delicately. With every second, his teeth clenching tighter, rolling it around between them until I was screaming.

Pleasure and pain took over every inch of my body.

My body trembled as he removed his mouth, my nectar spilling on the matted ground. He licked his lips, standing up to loom over me, the nectar still dripping from him. His lips fell upon mine, his hands raking through my hair, and I found it hard to resist. There was something eerily familiar about his lips. A gentle quality brushing over them that had me melting in his hands. He stopped, the blood in my cheeks heating, my breath heaving profoundly. Not only did his lips become kinder, but his eyes also, a dark brown with golden flecks blended within. Something venerable dwelled there too.

Then it vanished.

Turning away, he bent down to grab the nine tail whip. I cringed away but couldn't move an inch because of my restraints. He could see the fright in my eyes which produced an arrogant grin. "Don't be surprised," he said, smacking his own hand with it. He didn't even flinch. "I warned you not to get comfortable."

He took heavy steps towards me, dominance dancing across his eyes that had me wiggling in discomfort. He stood only a centimeter away, his hot breath hitting my earlobe. "Think of a pleasurable feeling," he instructed.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see he was completely serious, his features resembling a stone statue. The leather strands of the whip caressed my buttocks gently. Doing as instructed, I closed my eyes and thought about his mouth licking my core, his tongue entering me hungrily. I could feel my body tingling. And before I knew it, the sharp pain of leather struck my buttocks, causing me to shriek loudly. My body tightened, my hands balling up and my toes curling in aggravation.

"Think about the pleasant feeling. Don't let the pain control you."

Taking deep breaths, I tried my best to heed his words, to think about the tingling in my core when the leather fell upon my skin once more. Each time, I had to remind myself of his tongue, my core, the heat of it all. After the fourth time, I could feel myself tingling, my nectar running down my thigh, imaging his tongue granting me pleasure over the whip giving me pain. By the sixth time he struck me, I felt myself moan, feeling my core tremble as the thought of his lips on me became more and more vivid. And by the seventh, the lashes felt like a gust of air running along me, my gut holding in an orgasm.

He paused, his eyes piercing me. "You seem pleased," he noticed, his lips soon brushing against me. His lips molded to mine once more, the handle of the whip touching the swells on my buttocks and around my scratched thighs, falling between them. Ajax moaned against my lips, one hand holding the hilt of the whip between my folds and the other clenching a fist full of hair. His moan made my heart race harder than before.

I gasped when the handle entered me, its round head resembling a manhood. At first, it was gentle, Ajax's lips never leaving mine. I clung to his lips as they ravished me. Just as his lips became hungrier, so did the handle, the leather strands hitting me in a circle around my butt and thighs with every vicious pump. I groaned at the force.

"Focus on the pleasure," he instructed, sighing against me. I did, but not of the handle within me. I found myself memorizing his lips. They devoured mine. Silky smooth, heating my body with desirable fires I've never known. I wanted to reach out for him. Run my fingers through his hair and pull him closer. His chest pressed into mine, hearing my internal calling.

And before I knew it, he cursed and let the whip fall to the floor. Without missing a beat, his manhood had replaced the handle and he moaned gratifyingly along my lips, down my jaw, on neck. His manhood glided tightly within me and with every inch, I savored the ecstasy that came with it.

"Serene," he moaned, running his hands through my hair once again. With his manhood still intact, he leaned down and kissed my breasts. His mouth encircled one n****e while his fingers rolled the other. Between my racing pulse and his hands gracing every part of my chest, I could hardly breathe. Knowing what his touch was doing to me, he became more excited, pulsing within me, his tongue flicking my n****e.

He straightened, capturing my lips. His fingers felt rough and smooth simultaneously along my cheeks. "Ajax," I found myself moan. That surprised the both of us. He pulled away, the vulnerable piece returning in his eyes that seemed to brighten and dim. What was this feeling flooding through me? Was I becoming a masochist? He was a brute yet I wanted more of him. "Ajax, I..."

Kissing me to silence, his tongue danced with mine. When I opened my eyes, his eyes were piecing right into me, his fingers caressing my cheek. He grunted and I moaned feeling him come within me, spilling down my thigh. He kissed me one last time before pulling away, his lips sweet and sad.

He stepped away, looking me over one last time before walking away to grab a towel by the remote. He returned, wiping my legs and between silently, neither of us saying a word. I've been in this predicament before with Ethan, with Hayden. But I didn't want to walk away this time. I wanted to stay. Not that I had a choice in this position. He placed determination high on cleaning me up, moving behind me. I shivered when his lips kissed the marks swelling on the back of my legs and buttocks. Once done, he balled up the towel and threw it over the ropes of the ring, running a hand through his hair.

He stared at me for a minute, eyes glazed over. "Let's end it," he muttered. "You can go to your room early tonight."

"But it's not even midnight," I retaliated. Why was I retaliating? Shouldn't I be glad he was releasing me early?

He shook his head. "Let's pretend it is." He bent down to retrieve the remote, pacing back to me. Pressing the button, I felt my body weaken and fall into his arms. Being in that position for so long, feeling pleasure and pain, had made my body go numb for a minute. While in his arms, I pressed close to him. For the first time, I noticed the jagged scars across his chest, his arms, coursing down his abs. Before I could stop myself, I grazed a scar on his bulging chest gently.

"Did it hurt?" I asked.

Still holding me, he shook his head. "We learn at an early age how to be strong physically and to accept pain before we can accept pleasure." His lips fell upon my forehead, raking my hair behind my ear before standing me up straight and walking away. "Go back to your room. I'm sure that Enigma boy should be waiting for you."

Zeph.

Guilt poured into me with every passing second. There was never a thought of Zeph in my head while with Ajax. And a part of me wasn't ready to go back to that hazy state of mind when I thought of him.

"Ajax." I found the will to reach for him, to stop him from walking out of the ring. My hand barely wrapped around half of his bicep. "We're pretending its past midnight, right? You forgot you're supposed to submit to me."

Now that I'd been released from my restraints, I caressed his cheek, his eyes confused as I stood on my tiptoes to lock my lips with his. My fingers ran through his hair that was equally as silky as I'd imagined, his arms gradually wrapping around my waist. He picked me up and placed me on the mat, sending smoldering kissing on my lips, my jaw, my neck, down to my breast. It stung to be on my backside. I stopped him. I wouldn't let him submit me again.

"Lean back," I ordered. An eyebrow rose along with the corner of his lips but he didn't question it. He sat back, lying down and I prowled over his body, counting the golden flecks in his brown eyes. "Hold onto the rope and don't let go...or else..."

That made him squirm with excitement, his arms long enough to clutch the bottom rope behind him. Slowly, I crawled down between his legs, fingering his manhood. It was still wet. I fingered the tip, rubbing the wetness around which made him twitch a bit. He lifted his head to see what my next move would be. Pulling my hair back, I leaned over it and licked the tip. It was salty and rich. My tongue swirled around it, kissing it, inching closer and deeper.

He groaned, sucking in a breath between his teeth. I smiled. Now it was his turn to feel pain. Like spiders, my fingers scuttled up his chest. When I heard him moaning the deeper I went down on his manhood, I sunk my nails into him, bringing them down quickly and roughly. He yelped and I knew he was clenching his teeth in surprise. Proudly, I sunk deeper into him, sucking on him until he mistakably moaned again, unable to hold it in. I scratched him again. He moans again. I scratch him a third time.

When I reach up, I feel hot liquid trickling down his chest and I pause, looking up. I caused him to bleed. Yet he didn't complain. He only looked up to see why I suddenly stopped. I crawled up to his chest. "Sorry, I didn't know I was scratching so hard," I apologized.

He rolled him eyes. "I've dealt with worse, Serene. This is nothing."

I kissed the bruises anyway. It was only a bit of blood but I still felt guilty for doing that. Without warning, he flipped me on my back, pinning my arms to the mat.

I glared at him. "It's my turn—!" I whined, wiggling out of his grasp.

"Shush." He loomed over me, bending down to my legs. Lifting them up over his shoulder, he kissed the marks on the back of my thighs I hadn't known had bled also. He licked and kissed every piece of them. With one arm, he scooped me up by the waist, kissing my lips delicately. He flipped me on my back after. He began kissing the marks on my buttocks, massaging my back and shoulders and I moaned in delight. He chuckled handsomely behind me. Trailing kisses from my back to my shoulders, flipping my hair back to kiss the nap of my neck. I ran my fingers through his hair as he sucking on my neck, positioning his manhood inside me. His legs tightened around me, closing them.

Pacing within me slowly, I clung to him, turning my neck to kiss his lips, to savor the moment. He felt so good. And he knew it as he continued to give me pleasure and kissing the spots that once gave me pain. We molded onto one another for hours. It seemed we'd become addicted to one another, capturing each other when the other had slowed down. Causing pain but causing pleasure over that. And I yearned for him to stay close, to keep me in his embrace no matter how rough or gentle.

I had submitted to Ajax.

Breathlessly, I laid my head on his chest, listening to his beating heart rushing like the gallops of a dozen horses. The chime for two rung in our ears and I held onto him tightly, his arms wrapped around my shoulders. I could've fallen asleep in his embrace. I almost did until he spoke.

"The Royal Introductions," he said.

"Hmm?"

"That's where we first met seven years ago. At the Royal Introductions to choose your princes for this competition."

Eight years ago.

That's around the time mother died and I was in my daze. Those memories were vastly cloudy and would sometimes haunt my dreams if I tried to think back on them. Closing my eyes, I tried to recall the Royal Introductions he spoke of before he could tell me any more. I was eleven at the time, melancholy being my best friend after my mom's death. And the more I thought of her, the more I slowly forgot if her eyes were brown or blue, if her hair was brunette or red, or what her voice sounded like lulling me to sleep. And that terrified me.

I chose my princes absentmindedly, not heeding their introductions, just wanting to return to my room and sulk. Just when I walked away to the courtyard, outside the celebration going on, a boy grasped me by the arm.

"Choose me!" he begged, squeezing my arm roughly. "Not my brother!"

"Ow, you're hurting me!" I cried, pulling from his grasp. "You'll hurt me if I do or don't. Why should I?"

He snorted pompously. "Because by the time you become of age, he'll be in his late-twenties while I'll only be two years older. Why shouldn't it be me?"

"Because you hurt my arm, you brute!"

He rolled his eyes. "Nevermind. I wouldn't want a weakling like you as my wife anyhow. And with my brother, he'll be even rougher than I ever could be."

That frightened me. "Rougher?" I hadn't begun my studies of s****l education yet but many of the maids gave me the jest that'd it be painful the first time and blood would come out. The mere thought made me gag.

"You Concords are all weak and wouldn't know what to do with pain."

He could insult me but not my kingdom. "We are not weak! We are as strong as Ambrose!"

"Oh really? Pick me and at your coming of age, you must prove it to me. Prove to me you're strong enough to handle pain. Or I'll see you as a coward."

I glared at him. "Fine, I'll inform father I've chosen you..."

"Prince Ajax of Ambrose." Leaning in, his lips touched mines gently, a shock rushing through me at the feeling. I jumped back, perplexed. "This'll be our little secret. It's been a pleasure manipulating you, Princess."

"Are you still manipulating me now?" I asked him, sitting up.

"What would be the fun of that?" he asked, prideful. "I'm going to win you with my own s****l powers, not with measly words like 'I care for you' or 'I love you.' Those are serious terms and should be used with caution."

I gasped silently. Zeph told me he loves me. Was the word really that powerful? Confusion dwelled inside me and I leaned against the elastic ropes of the ring. Ajax was my first kiss. Love was serious, too serious a word for a few days encounter, I think. Was Ajax manipulating me again with his words? Whatever it was, I felt a spike of pain hit me when I realized I had to leave this ring. I had to leave Ajax to get some peace of mind before my thoughts became worse. I was tired. Nothing good ever happens when you lack sleep.

Comprehending what I was thinking, Ajax said the words first. "Return to your chambers. It's too late to be conversing about this."

He stood up, cracking his neck to the side before offering his hand to help me up. I accepted, his muscles pulling me closer than expected. "I'm still furious that you forgot." Openness shined in his eyes one last time, pressing my hair to the side of my head. "But I'll forgive you this time." I cracked a smile. His lips devoured mine and I pulled him closer, wanting to memorize everything about him so I could dream about it later. It felt so different from Zeph's, I couldn't explain it.

He released me. Before I headed to my room, he handed me a clean red shirt that draped over my butt and thighs. I still had my nightie but he said his shirt was warmer against the night air. I slipped off the bracelets from my wrist and ankles, keeping them by my side. He kissed my forehead and I walked out the gym alone, him telling me he needed to clean up first. Heat still engulfed me as I walked down the halls, his kiss well imprinted on my lips that it'd take me years to forget. But I love Zeph, didn't I? Maybe once I saw him again, this feeling inside my chest Ajax had created would vanish. Yeah, Zeph would make it go away.

Entering my room, a stream of light from the moon illumined a body tossing in my bed. Zeph had found his way past the guards and ended up here. I wasn't surprised at all. I placed the bracelets on the vanity table, trying not to disturb him. Gazing at him, I tried to get the image of Ajax out my mind and replace them with his. His jet black hair hung in his face, his outlining of a wolf on his chest, and his green eyes fluttering open.

"You're back," he groaned, sitting up in bed.

The feeling in my chest was vanishing, even as he smiled at me and granted me a hug when I leaned closer. "Yeah...I'm back," I muttered in the nook of his shoulder.

His embrace felt weaker than Ajax's. It lacked a quality Ajax produced when he held me. Was it muscles? Zeph obviously didn't compare to Ajax but that was only half of it.

"What's that?" he asked.

He lifted the shirt from my thighs before I could ask what he meant. Immediately, blood rushed to my cheeks. He pulled away, bending down to examine them more thoroughly. I shuttered when he touched them but not because it hurt, mostly because of the differences of touches.

"He did this to you, didn't he?!" he asked, fuming with rage. I'd only seen this part of him once when I questioned him of his uncles' terrible deed towards Dominic years ago. His green eyes turned dark and ominous. "I'll kill him."

He moved me aside and marched out the door. I followed him in a panic. He wouldn't really kill him...would he?