The King’s Mistress.

Chapter 6: The Night Before

"Tell me again," Gee said as she plopped down on Kat's bed. It was the night before they were to leave for Court, and neither of them could sleep. Kat rolled her eyes at her sister.

"Gee, I've told you this story every night since it happened," Kat said.

"I know, I know!" Said Gee, "But I love this story."

"Fine," said Kat. "I had just finished taking sips of water from the well and sat atop the side of it so I could look out at the flowers. I can't have been sitting there more than five minutes before I heard a voice behind me....." Kat trailed off for dramatic effect while Gee clung to a pillow with wide eyes and a big grin on her face.

"When I turned, I saw him. He's incredibly handsome with blonde hair and deep blue eyes. I've never seen a man THAT tall before. So tall it was almost scary!"

Gee giggled at Kat's annunciation. "I was so stunned I just stared at him until he asked to have some water from the well. After I moved out of his way, I noticed it...." Kat said with another pause. They were coming up on Gee's favorite part of the story. With each retelling, she acted as she'd never heard it before. "Noticed what?!?" Gee asked excitedly.

"The Knight who traveled with him and the Royal Family Emblem." Gee smiled wide. She always did during this part of the story. Kat couldn't help but smile at her sister's childlike reaction. Since she was little, she'd been reacting like that, and MaMa would read to them before bed.

"Then what happened, Kat?" "Well, I couldn't believe what I had just seen, so I turned back to look at him and said Majesty...?" "When he responded with "Yes, Lass," I thought my eyes were gonna fall out of my head, and I'm positive my jaw hit the ground, but I curtsied as low as I could, so I don't think he noticed," Kat said with a gulp. "At least I hope not." She thought to herself

Gee laughed again and then whispered, "This is my favorite part."

"After I curtsied, he offered me his hand, so I stood up, but I was so nervous I couldn't look at him and then...."

"What?!" shouted Gee.

"Then he tilted my chin up with his fingers so he could look at me. We stared at each other for a full minute." Gee sighed as if Kat had just told her the most romantic love story she'd ever heard. Kat rolled her eyes again before ending the story. "We exchanged quick pleasantries with each other, and then he headed off back toward The Palace. The End," Kat said with a bow as she finished.

As if on cue, Gee yawned, like all she needed to be able to sleep was a bedtime story. She got up from Kat's bed and headed for the door.

She looked back before she left and said, "Oh Katerina, do you think he'll remember you?"

"I don't know, Gee. He's The King. He's got much more important things to think about, but we shall see." Kat replied.

With a slight smile, Gee said, "I think he will." And then she was gone. She closed the door behind her.

********

Amberly could barely eat a bite this evening. She was so nervous about the events of tomorrow she had no appetite. She knew nothing would be the same between her and Lyndon after tomorrow. They were not what one would expect from a Royal Couple. It is customary for The King and Queen to have separate chambers, and like all other Royal Couples, Lyndon and Amberly did.

However, it was also customary that The King and Queen retire to their separate chambers after The Honeymoon ended. Lyndon and Amberly never did. They spent every night together unless she was pregnant and showing after tomorrow that would all change. She hadn't slept without him by her side since their wedding night. Amberly was sure she'd find it impossible to sleep without him. Just the thought of being without him made her want to cry.

Just then, there was a knock at her door.

"Enter," she said. Upon hearing her, Captain Spencer walked in.

"Good evening My Queen, The King asks that you join him in his chambers tonight." He said, doing his best to keep his voice even. As far as he knew, Amberly had no knowledge of his feelings for her.

To his surprise, she gave him a sad smile before her response. "Yes, Captain, please inform His Majesty that I will join him momentarily." He nodded; moving closer to her, he bowed to her the way he always had on bended knee grasping her hand and kissing her knuckles. There were a select few men who bowed to her this way. Those who do are either most loyal to her because they followed her from her Father's Kingdom or were completely enamored by her. Some men like himself were both.

"Please rise, Captain; you needn't bend your knee to me each time you see me. A standing bow is fine." She said,

"My Queen, I always have and will always bow to you in such a manner. It is my pleasure to do so."

With that, he exited the room to deliver her message to The King.

Moments later, The Queen entered King Lyndon's chambers. "Amberly, Darling," he said, moving in to kiss her. When he did, she offered him her cheek. Frowning, he kissed it. "What's troubling you, love?" He asked.

"How is this to work, Lyndon? Do you expect to bed someone tomorrow evening, or are you allowing me time to decide whom it is you'll be spending your spare time with?"

He kissed her forehead before answering. "You're to take your time choosing Dear, as long as you need. I'll not pressure you." He said softly, trying to calm her fears.

"And then what?" She snapped, "you're going to stop bedding me altogether, aren't you?" Her eyes filled with tears. She was so angry for letting him see her this way, but try as she might, she couldn't stop the tears from coming. "Have you forgotten that I saw this happen with my Mother and Father? We've never spent a night apart Lyndon, I don't know how I'll sleep without you, and I've no desire to be next to you after you've been intimate with another woman." She said between sobs.

Lyndon closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he spoke. "I've no intention of spending every night away from you, Sweet. You're the air I breathe, Amberly. That won't change." He said, pressing his forehead against hers, breathing her in. Her scent was intoxicating to him.

He wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her as close to him as possible, pressing himself up against her. He kissed her lips softly before pulling back slightly to stare into her eyes. Cupping her cheek with his other hand, he brushed away her tears with his thumb.

"You can't know that Lyndon, you can't know that you won't fall out of love with me." She whispered.

"I can, and I do, Dearest, I can't sleep without you next to me either, and while I don't expect to lye with me after I've bedded another, I do intend to spend certain nights with you as well if you'll still have me." He said earnestly.

She nodded, "Okay." Amberly went to move out of his grasp. "No, Sweet, you're to stay here with me tonight. He said as he began nibbling her ear and leaving a trail of kisses down her neck. He kissed her deeply as he reached for the bottom of her nightdress. He only broke the kiss to lift the dress over her head and drop it to the floor.

He stood back a moment to admire her. She was so beautiful. Her dark hair cascaded in waves down to her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight streaming in from the windows. He craved her. He needed to feel her wrapped around him.

Amberly stood quietly still while Lyndon looked at her. He had that hunger in his eyes she knew so well; it was like fire. The flames of which were licking her up and down. It was then he began to undress. She watched as he peeled his clothes off slowly, his rippling muscles gleaming in the moonlight.

He walked toward her slowly and kissed her fiercely, letting her know just how much he needed her. He trailed kisses along every inch of her body, starting with her earlobes. When he reached her chest, he massaged her breasts before taking each n****e into his mouth, flicking it back and forth with his tongue. He lowered himself onto his knees, kissing her stomach until he reached the waist of her pantalettes and pulled them down. She stepped out of them one leg at a time. As she did, Lyndon covered each thigh in kisses. When she was completely bare in front of him, he kissed the center of her.

She threw her head back, running her hands through his hair. She moaned, "Please, Lyndon, she begged, I need you now." He stood and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist just before they fell into bed together. She hovered over him, kissed him, and slid him inside of her. She rocked back and forth on him, staring down at him lovingly.

"Tell me I'm the only one, Amber," Lyndon said. He knew that he was her only, and he always wanted to hear it when they made love.

"You're the only one, My Sweet." She whispered.

As soon as she said it, they both found their release.