Hidden Magic Ch. 12

After the ceremony the queen was escorted out to safety as we walked through the throng and shook hands. Beside me Tomass was stiff, vibrating with nerves.

There was a room prepared for us where Anderank waited with a smile. I had asked him to paint our formal portrait and my old lover was quite happy with the arrangement. He was a sweet soul and greeted us with a handshake for each, but I hugged him.

"Congratulations, Minn!"

Beside my Tomass growled. "Tomass, Anderank is a good friend of mine. He will sketch us now for our formal portrait. You have married nobility, this is how it's done." I thought he was objecting to the process where the first hour of our married lives would be spent posed and still.

Anderank pulled back and clasped my hands as Tomass growled. "Don't touch my...wife."

Anderank beamed, his green eyes sparkling. "I do think he's jealous."

I smiled and pulled my hands loose, putting one around Tomass' narrow waist. "Tomass, you mustn't be jealous."

He gave me a thunderous look and I chuckled. "How shall we be seated?"

"Traditionally you will sit in that chair there and Tomass will be seated at your feet."

I frowned at that. "Could we not get another chair and have us seated together?"

Tomass' eyes widened and I grinned up at him. "Your place is not at my feet but at my side and this portrait will hang in our home for all future heirs of Cassaman will gaze upon it. If we are to write the future, we must start now."

Anderank snapped his fingers and the young girl assisting him scurried to the corner and produced an identical chair. I escorted Tomass there and we sat.

The girl arranged us as Anderank bade, gazing at us with one eye squinted, measuring.

"I must say, the colors for you both are beautiful, but it is terribly bright, the gold and purple with the red and blue."

"I can change that," Tomass said confidently. With a wave of his hand his robe became purple and his sash as red as mine. The embroidered seal of his mother's house transformed into a jeweled pin like mine.

I clapped my hands over my grin as the artist and his helper stared, perplexed. "Oh, Tomass, the jeweled pin is for women only, men always bear an embroidered patch."

He leaned over to me. "If we are to write the future we must begin now," he said with sparkle to his blue eyes. I kissed him soundly, and Anderank made loud noises about having to reposition us.

We straightened and for the next hour held still as Anderank worked, sketching like a madman. Tomass remained stiff beside me and I had to wonder at his thoughts.

I knew where mine were. A wondrous feast of good drink and then, at last, I would show him what true pleasure was. It took all I had not to shiver and I saw Anderank's knowing look accompanying a shake of his head.

After an eternity he said we could move.

"All I need now is to get a sample of your clothes so I know what paint mixes to need. It's going to be beautiful."

"Again, I can help." Tomass waved his hand and on a smaller canvas appeared the color of his hair, his eyes, his skin, his clothes. He turned to me and touched my hair, and the auburn color appeared. He touched my face, stroking, and I leaned into the touch, ignoring his soft chuckle. He repeated the action for my dress, medals, everything, and the colors appeared on the canvass.

Anderank whistled. "I've never seen magic."

"Parlor tricks, really."

Anderank smiled and shook his head. "Talent is what it is. Are you the first sorcerer to marry into nobility?"

"The second," I said. "Anderank, I would appreciate it if you joined us at my townhome for the reception."

"I would be delighted," he cooed, and Tomass made a strangled sound. I slipped my arm in his and patted it. "Off we go then, see you in an hour."

Outside there was still a crowd and we were waylaid until my military friends acted as guards and escorted us out to my coach. Once inside, I tapped for my driver to head home, and Tomass and I were alone at last.

"The madness will subside and then you will see it's not so bad."

He gave me a sullen look, so I smiled and left my bench to straddle him. His eyebrows shot up as I settled on his lap, and I took advantage of his surprise to kiss him.

So sweetly he opened up to me and I sank in, tasting him deeply. My hands gripped his shoulders and he clutched at my arms. All we did was kiss, but the stimulating movement of the coach rubbed me against him and his hard length was most pleasurable, despite all the damn layers of skirt.

"Minn," he moaned out and nothing in the world could have been sweeter.

I nipped his plush lower lip and moved a hand to stroke his smooth cheek, and pulled back before I lost control and deflowered him in the damned coach. "You shaved."

"That man my aunt sent over made me. He tells me tomorrow I must cut my hair."

"I like your hair long. And I like your goatee. I will instruct him that if he comes near you with a pair of scissors I'll throw him quite naked into the street."

"Thank you." He kissed me then, most innocently, and I smiled back and settled into his body, cuddling.

"I cannot wait until everyone leaves."

"Oh?" He tried to sound nonchalant but his nerves were high.

"Do not worry, my sweet. I promise I will show you all you need to know, though you do seem a rather adept student."

He blushed and I laughed. Just then the coach stopped and reluctantly I climbed off and righted myself before opening the door.

There were dozens of people around, crowding us as I held the door for Tomass. They pressed so close I shouted and considered drawing my sword.

My buttress came out and helped, and we managed to make it inside.

"Thank you," I panted. "Is Hawls back yet?"

"Not yet, my lady, and congratulations to you, and you as well sir."

"Thank you," Tomass said, and my buttress beamed at him, half-besotted.

I chuckled. "All is set and ready to go?"

"Oh, yes, my lady, such a feast! Shall I pour you a drink?"

"I'll freshen up, if you wish to do the same...husband. Then we may have a private toast."

We both went to our rooms to freshen up. For me it meant removing the heavy sash with all my medals and splashing cool water on my face.

I wanted everyone gone. I wanted to be alone with Tomass. I wanted him like I had never wanted another man. He was my husband, and I had come to love him. In such a short time it seemed impossible, but it was true. I wanted to show him pleasure, love, I wanted to make him mine in every way.

My hands shook as I opened the door and headed down the stairs. I found Tomass there, his robe removed. He wore the formal loose black shirt and pants I had come to see him in most often now, and over it the red sash still, though he had made the edges purple.

I walked to him and kissed him for that.

He smiled down at me as I pulled away. "What was that for?"

"For being you."

He blushed and pulled down a tall narrow goblet from the mantel and passed it to me, taking one himself.

I held mine aloft. "To new beginnings, and a future unwritten."

He smiled with some doubt but clanked his glass to mine. We drank the bubbling liquor as a knock came. The throng had arrived.

"Do not drink too much tonight my sweet, nor eat overmuch. I have plans for you."

He blushed scarlet and I left him with the sound of my laughter as I joined my buttress in the hall to greet the guests.



***



After three hours of jokes, toasts, and gossip over the most wonderful meal I had ever known, those who would not stay left. Only Hawls remained behind, and he opted to join cook for a game of cards in the kitchen after the staff cleaned up.

Tomass followed me upstairs to where my room was prepared as I had directed. I had never taken a virgin before but I remembered my first time. I had been with a scullery boy three years my senior, sinewy muscle and wide grins. It had been a hurried affair in the pantry of my country estate, then my parents' home.

It had been painful and quick, slight pleasure beforehand, and after all I felt was soreness and relief. I had dallied with that boy a few more times and it had been sweet, but I had not felt a lasting tenderness for him.

I knew for men there was no pain the first time, but nerve and worries we women could not imagine. I wanted Tomass relaxed and well pleasured that night, and the room was set for it.

I enjoyed light while taking a man, and with Tomass I would always desire it. Candles were everywhere and most of the groupings of flowers sent as gifts were set up, perfuming the air with sweet nature.

Two potted trees had been added on either side of the bed. When I took him I wanted him surrounded by nature. A tray of sweet fruit, whipped cream, and water waited with a bucket of ice.

I closed and bolted the door as Tomass took it in.

"This is beautiful," he whispered.

"It is for you. Tomorrow night you shall see our country estate where nature surrounds us, woods to the back, fields to the east, and the lake to the right. Here in town I must import nature."

"Thank you," he said reverently.

I rose to my toes and kissed him softly. It was meant to convey my feelings of love and care but he opened, grabbed my shoulders, and quickly passion consumed us.

I ran my hands under his shirt to feel his hot, sculpted body, but could not get far. Like my dress his shirt laced tightly in the back, as did his trousers.

I pulled back shaking. "I want to get you undressed, turn around, sweetling."

He trembled but turned in my arms. I raised and kissed his neck and then found the laces of his shirt. Slowly I worked, exposing more and more of that broad back. I had always thought this practice silly but now I know just how powerfully arousing it was.

Inch by inch that warm, tanned flesh was exposed, and for every bit exposed I kissed it, delighting in his low moans.

At last it was open and I discarded it, ordering him gently to remove his boots. He sat and as he did I unlaced my sleeves, leaving only the bodice and skirt of my dress before kicking off my own slippers.

He stood and reached for my dress but I stepped back. "Not yet."

Smiling, I stepped to the ice bucket and gabbed a piece freshly chipped from the block downstairs. "Come here, my sweet."

He stepped nervously to me and I kissed him deeply, enjoying his large, rough hands and the now bare skin of my arms. While his mind was occupied, I brought the ice up and traced it across his collarbone.

Tomass shivered and pulled me away. I gave a throaty laugh and bent to lave the cold skin with my hot tongue. He moaned and his fingers tightened on me.

I repeated the action across his chest, over his nipples, down the ridges of his abdomen, licking behind it. I ended on my knees before him and looked up into his eyes. "Turn around," I whispered.

He did and I set to unlacing the trousers, exposing the firm globes of his behind. I granted it the same treatment and he gripped the bed poster, shaking it, moaning.

I helped him to step out of his trousers and then applied the ice to the outside of his legs, chasing it with my hot mouth. His breath was harsher now, panting.

I turned him once and repeated this to his inner thighs until the ice was a thin sliver. When I reached the juncture of his legs I slipped the ice into my mouth, gabbed his thick length, and covered him.

The twin sensation of hot mouth and cold ice made him jump. One hand remained on the bed the other tangled in my complicated hair.

I simply stroked my tongue and the ice back and forth, my lips sealed tight. I waited until he was close and finally stopped, the ice long-melted, and stood.

"Unlace me now."

He did, slowly, fumbling the first few tries. Soon he had it figured out, and as he went he too bent, but it was the nip of teeth I felt that made me gasp.

At long last he had the bodice open and his hands simply came around inside it. When he felt my bare breasts he was surprised, murmuring such, but quickly cupped them and set his fingertips to working magic.

I leaned back against his shoulder and sighed with it. I was most anxious, yes, but the pleasure was drugging and I did not want to hurry it along.

Finally he seemed to have enough and slipped my arms free of the bodice. Tomass pushed the full skirt down my legs with the underskirts, until I was bare but for the cloth supporting my breasts rather than pinning them.

I turned and he smiled. "I quite like that."

"Help me take it off, it ties in back."

I backed up to him and he undid the knot, together we unwound the cloth. His erection pressed into my behind and I smoothed myself against it as he once more cupped my breasts.

Reaching up behind me I pulled the tie from his hair and let the silken strands flow free and cool over my fingers. We stroked each other slowly and the madness flowed through my veins.

Tonight, tonight was about Tomass. His pleasure. I could not forget that, but the fight was intense.

I moved away and took his hand, leading him to the bed. It had been turned down, lilac petals laid across the red satin sheets.

I bade him to lie down and he was a picture in flamelight.

I knelt beside him and kissed him, feeling his smooth cheek and stroking down his chest. I found his cock hard, pulsing with his heartbeat, thick and heavy in my hand.

I could not wait.

"Tomass, look into my eyes. Let go. Do not hold back, my sweet, give yourself to me completely."

I covered his body with mine then and poised above him. He panted heavily, muscles bunched tight, eyes closed. "Open your eyes, I want to see them when I take you into me."

I felt the thick, turgid tip against my wet sex and he gasped, blue eyes flaring open. I sank down then, in one fell swoop and he filled me, stretching me more beautifully than I had ever felt before.

He cried out and sat up, nearly knocking our foreheads together. I smiled and resisted the urge to move quite yet, thrilled beyond all reason at the succulent pleasure of being filled by my husband.

"Hold still now, love," I whispered, and wrapped my legs around him and took him into my arms. He held me with an iron grip and at last, I began to ride him.

He gasped, moaned, and I felt him quicken. After a few short strokes he found his release, threw his head back and yelled.

It was good, so good, so sweet, so innocent. I moaned as well though far from my own peak. He shook for long moments, moaning and gasping. I held Tomass tight and kissed his neck and face gently as he came down from that delicious high.

When it passed I hugged him simply and felt my cheek slightly wet. Pulling back I saw a tear in his eye.

"My love, that was perfect."

"No," he whispered. "We are taught from birth to measure our releases. To not drain my power it must with you, together."

"And I know enough to know that when a man first feels a woman, warm and wet and snug around him, there is no force in all of nature that can make him last as long as she can. There is no shame in it, this was what I wanted most."

I kissed him then, long and slow and deep. He was still slightly swollen inside me and I shifted my hips ever so gently and rubbed my breasts on his chest.

His hands moved all over, cupping, caressing, stroking. The slow burn began again and I kissed him with force, biting, nibbling, sucking on his lips and tongue, moving back to his neck.

Tomass fairly purred, and rapidly his erection returned. I smiled; oh, the joys of a younger man.

Soon he attempted to thrust most awkwardly.

I reached behind him and pulled the pillows into a pile, then laid him back. Unwrapping myself I straddled him as he reclined on the pillows. The new angle brought my nubbin to rasp against the hair between his legs and he filled me so thickly.

I began to move in a grinding motion and he blinked at me, eyes swimming with passion. My own gaze fluttered closed as the pleasure sent spiraling tendrils of chills and heat through me.

I moaned his name and his hands grabbed my hips, moving me with a powerful flex of his arms. I felt the wet heat of his mouth at the peak of a breast and suddenly the madness crashed over me.

Moving faster and faster I strained against him, seeking my release, and tried to measure it by the tightness in his balls, the pitch of his moans.

Racing to it we climaxed as one, mouths fused together as we shouted. It was beautiful, the lightest and yet heaviest sensation of my life. The pleasure expanded from within, crushed me from without, and through it all I clung to Tomass.

It passed and my strength left me. I collapsed most ungraciously atop him, sprawled and replete. We panted heavily and he rested his heavy hands on me in a limp embrace.

"I had no idea," he finally said and I couldn't help but laugh at that.

I let him relax and pulled off, bringing forth the towel thoughtfully left and began to clean him up.

"The night is young. Why don't enjoy some fruit, relax, and talk?"

He blushed slightly. "But we can do...that again?"

"As many times as we want, sweetling, but first you must give me a chance to find my strength again."

"But I feel wonderful. There is not just magic in such a...culmination. There is energy. I feel like I could fly!"

I smiled at him, bringing the fruit closer and poured two glasses of water, passing one to him.

"So it seems you didn't know everything about magic."

He suddenly looked serious. "I wonder if there is anything else that has been kept from me."

"Do not worry so. It was not magic they kept from you, but rather the pleasure. I quite don't agree with it but in our society boys are almost never told of the pleasure."

"Why is that?"

I danced a plump strawberry across his lips. "Sweetling, if you had known could you have waited so long?"

He nipped at the berry and took a bite, licking the juice from his lips very sensually. "No, I could have waited, but not once I met you. If I had known..."

That admission warmed me. To cover the well of emotion that threatened to overwhelm me I took another strawberry and twisted the stem from it. Placing the thick end in my mouth I bent to him. Our lips met as we bit and shared a simple kiss.

In the end we did not get much talking done, but neither did we sleep, as I guided Tomass in every possible exploration of this new pleasure he was ready for...at the moment.