The King's affection

The house call

6 years later…

Slap!

A maidservant’s face is turned by the force as she holds a hand over her cheek where she felt the sting. She turned back around to face her slapper. Fiery golden-brown eyes threw daggers at her.

“LOWER YOUR GAZE, MAID! HOW DARE YOU THINK YOU CAN TALK BACK TO ME?!” The owner of the brown eyes, Lady Lynne, shrieks.

“My apologies Lady Lynne,” another maidservant, says as she bows. “She is new here and is still undergoing training.”

“Then tell that old head maidservant to train her better! Or would you rather I tell Anderson that both of you are incompetent instead and have him fire you?” Lynne said. The girl that had been slapped attempted to take a step forward, but the maidservant who defended her grabbed her hand to stop her.

“Oh? What’s this? An act of defiance?” Lynne said as she grabbed the girl by her chin, digging into her cheeks with her nails while doing so. “Tell me, what is your name, maid?” she spat the last word like an insult.

The girl only looked on defiantly, causing Lynne to dig her nails deeper into her cheeks, “I asked you a question, b***h!” she shrieked.

“Now, now,” Killian said lazily as he leaned his back against the wall behind Lynne, “That foul language is unbecoming of you, Lady Lynne.”

The maidservants bowed their heads in respect, while Lynne paled in fear, “Your highness, I-,”

“Leave us,” Killian dismissed the maidservants. They scurried out of the room, leaving Killian alone with Lynne.

A beat of silence passed between the two before Killian pushed himself off the wall and started stalking towards a fidgety Lynne like a predator, “You know, you hurt me when you take my brother’s name,” he said.

“You do realize he is my fiancé, yes?”

“Yet, I take care of you. He couldn’t be bothered by your existence,” Killian said as he pulled her body flush against his own and sniffed her hair, closing his eyes in content. “What do you even know about him? Have you ever heard his voice? Seen him in person? Held his hand? Touched his face?” he said the last part as he raised her hand to touch his own face.

“For all we know, he doesn’t even want to be crowned prince. He’s been gone for almost 6 years. 6 years, Lynne. Yet father won’t name an heir – he’s waiting for him to come take his rightful place. But is he coming?” Killian asked.

Lynne only looked on at him but didn’t reply. She knew he was being rhetorical.

“I enlisted 3 years after him and I’m already commander, and I’m happy with that. He never came for my insignia ceremony and I’m his favourite brother. Do you think he’s even still alive?” Killian asked, concern etched onto his face.

“You miss him, don’t you?” Lynne asked in return.

“I do. But I miss you more,” Killian said, before crashing his lips against Lynne’s in a possessive kiss. “I hope you know that you’re mine, Lynne,” he huskily said when he finally pulled away, leaving Lynne in a dazed state.

“Maybe I need you to remind me,” she breathed.

“Gladly.”

He shoved her onto the bed, before stalking towards her like he was a predator, and she was prey. He climbed on top of her, capturing both her wrists in his one hand and pinning them above her head as he leaned down to kiss at her jawline and neck and down to her exposed collarbone.

Lynne squirmed in pleasure beneath him, giggling as his kisses sent pleasurable shivers down her body and tickled her simultaneously. She moaned when he reached one hand down to her privates and pushed her underwear to the side, gently grazing her soaked opening in the process.

“Say that you’re mine,” he said huskily.

Lynne only moaned more as she tried to buck her hips against his hand. He moved it away quickly before sternly saying, “No pleasure until you say it.”

“Yes Killian. I’m yours. Now love me.” Lynne raised her head to meet Killian’s in a kiss.

He put his hand back, resuming his gentle but firm strokes over her bundle of nerves. She moaned harder as Killian swallowed her moans. He slid two fingers into her, the sudden intrusion causing her to gasp. He thrusted them in and out of her as she continued to moan and squirm beneath him – her hands still pinned above her head.

“Who does this tight p***y belong to?” He rasped.

“To you,” Lynne breathed.

“Good girl,” was all Killian said before he let her go to free his hardened self from his pants. Before Lynne could complain about the loss of pressure to her core, he replaced his fingers with himself. Lynne gasped once again.

“We’ve done this so many times before, but I never get used to the feeling of you inside me,” she moaned.

Killian withdrew himself before thrusting back harder as a response. He grunted as he kept up the thrusting motion while Lynne clawed at his clothed back – eyes rolled back in ecstasy. He kept going until he was about to burst, at which point he pulled himself out and spilled his seed on the sheets beneath them.

He then collapsed onto the bed next to Lynne as they both panted, trying to catch their breaths.

“Did that remind you?” Killian asked as soon as he had calmed down.

Lynne blushed as she nodded a response. Killian kissed her forehead before he jumped up from the bed and fixed his disheveled clothes.

“What is this rumour I hear about a ball happening at the palace?” Lynne asked as she too fixed her hair and clothes.

“My father will be naming his successor.”

“Does that mean prince Anderson will be there?”

“I need to get going. I have a meeting.” Killian said as he headed for the door.

“But it’s nighttime,” Lynne protested.

“I know. I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight Lynne,” Killian closed the door to her bedroom.

Lynne flopped back on the bed. Her thoughts drifted to prince Anderson – her betrothed whom she’s never met. She wondered if he will be home for the ball and if she will finally get to meet him after all this time.

---

The sound of anklets could be heard jiggling above the musical instruments as Esmerelda danced on the makeshift stage. Her fellow courtesans played instruments to whose rhythm she danced, while others entertained the guests at the party.

She danced skillfully while other partygoers watched on and negotiated the price to have her entertain them privately for the night.

Badum!

A final blow to the drum sounded, indicating the end of her dance as she took her final pose in front of the people.

There was a moment of a silence before applause rang out and the master of the house, whose party it was, stepped forward to give Esmerelda a chunk of bills.

“The courtesans from The Midnight Muse never disappoint indeed. That was beautiful!” The man complimented. “Consider this a tip for your performance. I hope to see more of you on stage whenever I come to The Midnight Muse again.”

Afraid she might say something to offend the man, Esmerelda gave a slight curtsey to him and thanked him for the compliment.

She then went away from the makeshift stage and went to a room the man had provided for them for the party. There she found Stella and the others finishing up with getting ready for their performance.

“I hate house calls.” She stated as she walked in.

“Considering you’ve been doing them for years now, one might think you’ve gotten used to them,” Stella replied.

“I’m used to them. I just hate them.”

“Or maybe you’re just afraid that one of these days, a man will take a liking to you and decide they’re willing to pay the ridiculous bounty Madam has put on your virtue. Get changed quickly. You have a young master who paid for your company this evening,” with that, Stella and the others left.

Esmerelda sat alone in the room, lost in her thoughts.

For the past 6 years, she had grown from waiting tables to being a skilled dancer, which put her in the spotlight with the Muse’s clientele. It didn’t help she had developed into a fine young woman with naturally rosy cheeks and an overall milky skin. Her auburn hair and striking grey eyes only added to her allure. So, she hid.

Always wore some type of mask when performing and disappeared to her room immediately after. Madam Lee did not find it amusing at all, but Esmerelda always managed to make her enough money that she didn’t need to entertain clients to make up for it.

But she hated house calls because she couldn’t run away after performing.

Dejected, she got changed into an elegant, silk flowy, floor-length dress with a matching chiffon cardigan over it. She pulled her long hair into a neat bun at the top of her head. She then used makeup to enhance her very light freckles so they would stand out more.

“It’s not much, but it should make me undesirable without tainting The Midnight Muse’s name. Madam Lee would kill me otherwise,” she said to herself.

She then covered up the lower half of her face with a chiffon mask so that only her eyes are clearly visible.

“They only said I had to show up, not that I had to show skin,” she giggled to herself mischievously, before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. Walking down the hallway, she was too pleased with herself that she didn’t notice a man sneak up from behind her.

By the time she realized, it was too late.