My Life For Your Love

In the entire ballroom, no other woman had demanded his gaze so fervently.
Hundreds of women flocked around him, and yet, the innocent and graceful face of one woman held him captive.
He had already slowly moved in her direction for most of the evening, as though stalking his prey…
His thoughts were even irritating him. 

“Why am I following her?” 
Anger surged inside his heart at his lack of control…
“So Prince Michaelllll….” 

A sultry tone of one drooling woman interrupted his thoughts.

“I hear that your father is insisting you make a declaration in two days as to who you want to marry?”
His dark expression returned…”Yes.”
Michael knew all the women in the ballroom were out to try and land themselves the title of ‘Princess’.
The woman batted her eyelashes and took a step closer…”Always with the one word answers…I too am willing to answer with only one word, should you ever ask me a question.”
Michael, who was getting more frustrated with each word that dripped from the woman’s mouth, quickly turned to her…”If you will please excuse me.”
The lady nodded, but licked her lips, trying to tempt him into considering her for a bride.
“I freaking hate this…” he brooded furiously under his breath…
As he strode away, his eyes once again sought out the new servant…
Her hypnotic yet nerve-filled eyes that fluttered, her dark hair that was tied back pristinely…
And his eyes found her.
She walked with a gentle sway of her hips, one that only sparked forbidden images in his head.
Of all the woman that were in the room, all the beauties who were adorned with jewels and makeup, all the ‘politically correct’ suitors, he had to be drawn to a maid…“A servant…of all people…”
He rolled his eyes, hating his lack of restraint and control.
He never allowed a woman to hold his undivided attention, and he wasn’t going to start now.
“Prince Michael!” screeched another sequin-clad lady…
He turned to see a raven haired temptress approach him…
She was stunningly beautiful, curves in all the right places, and breasts that jutted out to press against his chest as she edged up close…
“Goodevening Lavanaya…” Michael’s voice was low and disinterested as he greeted her.
“When do you make your decision?”
He quirked his brow, feeling sick of her already…”it in 48 hours.”
“I see,” she exhaled, making sure her breath wafted over his cheek…”well…you certainly have your pick…anyone who you want…”
At that moment, he saw her again, slowly stepping past, keeping her eyes low…
“…not anyone…”
“What?”
Michael straightened, not realising he had spoken his thoughts aloud…
Lavanaya narrowed her eyes…”What do you mean, not anyone?”
Michael felt a headache start to throb in his temples…
What was this power that servant girl held over him?
He’d only JUST set eyes on her, and yet it was as though she held an antidote to all that he was suffering from.
Women were leering at him from every angle, and yet the one woman whom he wanted to lock eyes with did not meet his gaze.

“Why won’t she look at me?” his mind asked over and over…
Lavanaya was nattering on about marriage and not-so-subtley suggestive acts…
Michael didn’t want any of this.
He knew that he HAD to marry before his 30th birthday if he wanted to hold onto his title as Prince, but the thought of marrying ANY woman who was of his ‘class’ appalled him.
He recalled his father’s speech, one that had been drilled into him since his 21st birthday.
“You will marry. You will choose a woman of class, fit for royalty. If you choose someone of no class, the punishment is death. And no one, including those of the royal blood, escapes this punishment.”
Michael knew that if he didn’t choose a woman of stature, that he would lose his life, and that if he didn’t choose SOMEONE he’d relinquish his title…

And that was unacceptable.

He was the most feared warrior, the most skilled in combat, and he lived for this prominence and power, and he wasn’t about to give it up for anyone. 

But still, the thought of marrying any woman in the room, felt entirely abhorrent.
Sure he could bed them easily.
Seducing a willing flirt would be no feat at all.
And he knew it wouldn’t mean anything, least of all ‘love’…

He snickered under his breath… “Love…what a joke…there’s no way I will ever love any woman…”
Michael had gone along with his Father organizing this event, so he could just pick a random girl out of the crowd to marry.

All he wanted now was to get this stupid decision out of the way…

“May I offer a drink?”
His senses were thundered back to the moment by a voice that sounded like divine music, he looked before him and a full blown shudder that shocked his heart raced through his body…
The woman who wielded the power to shatter his control stood before him. 
And he didn’t even know her name…
“Ohhhhh more champagne!!” Lavanya cooed as she lifted a glass from the tray the girl was holding…”The drinks are simply superb Michael….”
Every sound around him was gone as he drank in the picturesque maid…

His eyes widened when her eyes flashed with an emotion he couldn’t place…

The servant girl kept her gaze low, but the commanding presence of the Prince was hard to ignore…

The sparks of energy that filled her just being near him were startling her as she could feel his power…

He was six and a half feet of huge shoulders and menacing muscle with eyes the color of the night sky…

She could feel his intense, ruthless gaze on her.
Lavanaya drank the contents of the glass down, and quickly grabbed another…”I can show you just how much fun life with me can be…”
As she downed more champagne, Michael’s eyes were still fixed onto the angelic woman before him…
But even as his heart beckoned to her, his eyes held a cold disdain for anyone who could unman him.
And this was one person who could…and WAS.
The servant girl felt the prince’s eyes on her.
She could feel his cold glare hovering over her like a dark cloud.
“…there’s no more…” Lavanaya whined like a child…
Her voice was grating on his nerves…
He was just about to excuse himself when Lavanaya dropped the glass to the tray in the maid’s hands…”GO servant! Get more!”
Michael’s head snapped up, instantly seeking out the girl’s reaction.
She was shocked, pale and frozen in place.
“What’s wrong with you, you idiot servant!!!”
Michael didn’t think, his body automatically whirled between the maid and Lavanaya…”You will quiet down.” he warned angrily…
“Your servant is incompetent!”

Michael could hear the maid start to breathe faster, as though desperate to calm herself…

His heart rate kicked up and he fought the need to take her in his arms…

Furious with his reaction to the maid, and livid with the spectacle Lavanaya was performing, he moved and stood defensively in front of her.
Growling low and dangerously, “You will not address her anymore, and keep your voice down.“

The moment the Prince stepped in front of her, Ellie felt shielded…

The sudden wave of his protection of her made her look up, and that was when she realized her mistake…

The woman who hired her for this attendant job demanded all the servers keep their heads down, and go unseen…

A harsh hand closed over her forearm and began to drag her away as the situation unfolded in front of the Prince…
Lavanaya’s mother was pushing her way through the crowd, rushing to her drunken daughters side.
“Get a hold of yourself! Stop it immediately!” the older woman grumbled, and looked apologetically at Michael…”I am so so sorry, I will take her home this minute.”
The entire time, Michael stood protectively in front of the young maid…

His instant need to hide her not only from Lavanaya, but from the belittling glares of the guests was stronger than his need to breathe…
As Lavanaya’s mother dragged her away, he was promptly surrounded with other crawling suitors, trying to show off their worth…
He began to pull at his collar, feeling as though he would explode with rage…
Turning around, he saw that the girl his heart was looking for, had slipped away…

……….

He’d had enough.

Striding furiously towards his father, he rudely interrupted…”I’m done. I’m leaving.”

“Michael, wait…” the King began, but his son had already woven his way through the crowd and disappeared out the hallway door.

The King rolled his eyes as he felt a hand hold onto his…

“Let me guess, He’s angry again…He’s been rude again…and he has stormed out?”

King Jonathan smiled at his wife and lifted her hand to his lips…”All that and more…I’m actually worried he is going to just pick someone here for the sake of his power and his position…”

Estelle, the beautiful tall queen, shuddered, “How can he be like this when you’re such a wonderful, loving man?”

The King grinned, “Was I really that way to begin with?”

A blush spread over her entire body as a smirk twisted at her mouth, “No my King, you most certainly weren’t…”

His eyes flashed with promise of what they would do later, “Rein it in for now, wildcat…For now, we have to mingle, and you’re tempting me to do things I shouldn’t…”

She laughed and nodded, “Fine, but please…if he chooses someone from this party, can we lock him in the jail?”

The king chuckled, “He will find someone…and I fear he’s going to be LIVID about relinquishing that control he has on his heart…”

Queen Estelle leaned in and whispered, “Like father, like son…”

……….

Michael stomped into his room, his attendant close behind…

He pulled at his tie and threw it onto the bed as it made a whipping sound…” this is STUPIDITY.”
The nervous servant knew of the Prince’s volatile temper and asked with a shaky tone, “Your Highness? Can I offer any assistance? Any Food or-“

Michael spun around to face him as he snarled…”Who is she?!” 
The attendant flinched…”She?”

His patience was almost non-existent now, “The new servant. The maid with the dark hair. Who served drinks to me when Lavanaya made a scene.”

Julius, the young server, began to sweat as he spoke, “…all I know about her is that she came here looking for work. Some severe family issues, and she needed money, basically begging to be hired…”
His pride was demanding he didn’t ask more, but the words kept spilling out as his fists clenched at his sides…”Has she been here long? I haven’t seen her before tonight…”
“She started tonight, and is being fired this moment.”
Michael’s expression changed in that split second, and the look of disgust on his face made a chill sweep the room…”Fired? Why? What did she do!?”
His servant was terrified but continued…”Be…because that is how Greta operates. She’s the head Maid in the kitchens and has a policy on servants and the rules they must obey. The girl was part of the scene that took place between Miss Lavanaya and yourself. No servant is ever kept on unless they basically go unnoticed. She was dragged away the moment you stood before her, because she looked up at you…”
“She looked at me…”

Michael quickly blocked out the thought as an even worse one dawned on him…

“Wait, she’s being fired because she LOOKED at me?! Does my father know of this rule?! It was Lavanaya who caused the scene! What kind of sick rule is that!?”

The attendant was now backed up against the wall, his nerves clearly showing, “Your Highness, I don’t think the King is privy to the rules set out, the person Greta would go through would be Sir Dwayne, the chief of security…all I know is that it IS a rule…”

Michael’s presence now crackled with anger, the fire in his eyes burning bright as he snarled, “…rules doesn’t apply to her!”
Julius was now utterly bewildered and blurted out…”Why?”
Michael opened his mouth to reply, but froze at the words he had spoken.

“Why DON’T they apply to her?!”
He had merely watched her serve drinks the entire night, and already she held more importance than rules and traditions?

Spinning on his heel, he angrily tugged off his jacket and threw it across the room, “Get out!”
Julius was now speechless…
Michael shot him a look, not sure if he was angrier at himself, or at the girl’s power over him…”DO AS I SAY!”
The man nodded, and quickly disappeared.
Now alone, Michael was immediately at war.“She needs money? …Family issues? …Fired?“

He prowled from one side of his room to the other…
Michael inhaled sharply at the memory of the girl’s wide brown eyes…
Upon first sight of her, he’d instantly wanted to be closer to her, to search her gaze…

And the moment he heard her voice, her purity and sweet innocence reared up and punched him in the gut…
“Screw this, It’s good that she’s getting fired…” he muttered to himself…
With his impending wedding closing in, he didn’t need his loyalties diverted.

He was pissed off that his best friend Jacob was away on his honeymoon and not here to distract him from all this unnecessary emotion…
“I don’t need this…I don’t need a wife for anything other than keeping my title…especially not a damn servant…“

He stormed towards his bed, fisting the covers angrily as he closed his eyes…
Michael’s heart, that he never knew he had, started telling him that this woman held something unique.
He could see uncertainty and trepidation in her eyes…
Beneath that lurked something different, determination.
She was determined to help her family…or herself?

Then he remembered what his attendant said, “She is being fired this moment…”
His stomach turned at the thought of how she would be tossed out on the street.
Anger and dismay vied for prominence in his heart…

He strode purposefully to the window and rested his hand on the glass, his eyes shut tight and his heart nearly beat out of his chest…

The image of her being tossed out cruelly was now more than he could handle.
He felt like he could barely breathe. 
Pulling at the shirt collar around his neck he pulled two buttons off as he demanded air. 
Fired now.
“No.”
Michael blew out a breath and marched from the room…

……………..

“Please! Please! One more chance, the disturbance was not my fault!”
The older woman who was in charge of the servants paid no heed to anyone’s cry.
“Arielle Kostov, you caused a disturbance…and dared to look upon the Prince! Like you are worthy of that! You are not above my rules. You will get your things, and leave immediately.”
Arielle fell to her knees before the woman, tears now streaming down, “Please, please…ONE more chance, I don’t care what the duty is, please give me one more chance.”
The burly woman, trod forwards and grabbed Arielle by the back of the neck…”You are getting OUT of here!”
Arielle whimpered from the pull and tug on her hair as she continued to plead…”Please! I need the money! My family will be left with nothing! Please, I will do ANYTHING!”
Greta opened the door to the servants house and threw Arielle out…”You’re FIRED you worthless-“
As the woman’s words died in her mouth, Arielle braced herself for a thunderous fall.
Holding her breath, instead of hitting the gravel, her body landed against something huge, firm and unyielding…
Something warm and protective that had a strong heartbeat.
Too shocked and nervous to open her eyes, Arielle remained still as her body shook against whoever was holding her…

Her soft sobs were now being overshadowed by the loud gasps echoing around…

Michael had turned the corner and reached the servants wing the second she was about to hit the stone ground…

His reaction was automatic, and he lunged to catch her, the need to save her EXTREME…
“Prince Michael!” shrieked the woman in charge, her eyes now drained of all her prior ‘power’.
A shiver crawled up Arielle’s spine…
“Is the prince nearby? Is he here to get rid of me personally?”

Arielle made an attempt to move back to see in whose arms she was being held, but the iron clad grip only tightened…
Before her wonderings could advance, she heard a stern voice boom out from the man who held her…
“Withdraw to your quarters and return to your business…this woman is NOT your concern, and I now know of your RULES. Be prepared for a complete inquisition. You come near this woman again, and you will be expelled.”
Michael felt her gasp against his chest, and his heartbeat quickened…
The older woman began to mutter…”Your Highness, please-“
“Return to your duties NOW.”
Arielle then heard the mean-spirited woman shuffle back inside and slam the door.
She was now truly frightened of what was going to happen.
Expecting to see a hoard of armoured security when she lifted her head, she was well and truly astonished when her eyes fluttered open…
Darkness, only a few lights shining around…
It was just her…and the Prince.

…….

Arielle couldn’t summon her voice to speak.
And Michael was well and truly hypnotised.
The moment he had touched her, her presence shattered his senses like kryptonite.
Trying to shake off the control she was holding over him, he gripped her upper arms and jerked her back an inch, forcing her head back, making her eyes pop open.
Finally his gaze hit hers and what she saw took her breath away.
He was a thousand times scarier and more frightening than any master she had, and yet he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
His cold detached expression was that of a killer, but it was his commanding presence that had her terrified.
He emanated such an authoritative presence it made her want to drop to her knees in surrender.
His hands went still as the air crackled between them…
Michael didn’t know what he was hoping for…
On one level he was hoping that once she was close, that his senses would kick in and he wouldn’t feel any desire for her…
But that level was instantly abolished…
She was so stunningly beautiful, every breath he took hurt.
His heart was now thundering…
His muscles tensed…
Her eyes were two black holes that were sucking him in at a devastating speed…
She wasn’t just vulnerable, her eyes showed how alone she felt.
Arielle blinked, trying to adjust her eyes to the darkness…
Murky shadows adorned each corner of the pathway beneath them…

Michael began to feel something he’d never before experienced…

A warmth began to fill his heart…

Along with complete and utter outrage.
“What is this WEAK state of mind she is giving me!?”

His hands braced her forearms tighter as he pushed her away from his body…
Seeing his anger, Arielle quickly forced out words …”I…I’m…I’m so sorry Sir…”
Michael felt his heart clench…
He usually loved invoking fear in people, but why did he not want her to fear him?
Disgusted at himself again, he grabbed her hand, and began to drag her away.
“What am I doing…!?” his thoughts kept screaming…
But senses be damned, he dragged her all the way to his room and bolted the door shut behind them.
She was visibly shaking, fear completely washing over her face…
He began to walk towards her…”You need money? You need money so bad that you declare you would do ANYTHING!?”
Arielle shook as she stumbled backwards, finally falling back onto…
She looked around her…
His Bed.
Her eyes were now wide with horror and embarrassment…
“I’m…I’m so sorry…I…I…”
Michael reached out and grabbed her hand, yanking her upwards against his chest.
“Anything!?”

Fear held her frozen in place…

The sick and twisted side of his character began to feel pleased at her fear…”ANSWER ME SERVANT!”
Arielle nodded…”My…my aunt…is very sick…she can’t work…I need help to pay for treatment.”
Michael now had a wild thought. 
He should send her away, immediately. 
He should give her a handful of cash and tell her to never show her face to him again.

But he’s also knew that he needed to keep his title. 

‘If I just marry her, then send her away, I can keep my title and get through this free and clear.”
 He sneered at his thoughts, because even though he had a plan, the thought of sending her away was like a zap of pain…

“So scared…eyes so gripping…”
The gnawing inside him continued to grow stronger…
His eyes roamed over her…
Perspiration beaded on his back, and a solitary drop rolled down his spine…
He tried to swallow, but could not force his throat to work.
He had never seen a more beautiful woman in his life.
Candlelight was now gleaming off her skin, her every breath caused her chest to rise and fall…
Her narrow waist blossomed into voluptuous hips with he felt himself desperate to caress…
He inhaled and reminded himself that me needed to marry to keep his title, but the punishment for choosing to marry below his class…death… 
But as he looked at her, he wondered if even the prospect of losing his life would stop him from wanting her…He had a lavish choice of women…but his heart didn’t pull to them like they pulled to this woman…

“Y…your…Hi…Highness…I…”

Snapping back to attention, he glared at her, almost in disgust…”QUIET!”

She recoiled, her hands shaking, her lips quivering…
Clenching his jaw, he steeled himself…

“Why do I want her!!!”
His mind was now playing out a harsher war than any he had physically fought in…

“How dare she have such an effect on me! I will break this…and I will break her…”
“…wh…what do you want from me?” her voice shook, cracking with fear…
“EVERYTHING…” Michael thought frantically…
Summoning his cold, emotionless heart forwards, he thought…“I don’t fall in love. I won’t sleep with her. I’ll marry her to keep my  my title…get her out of my system…and then before my father realises her class send her away.”
Standing tall before her, his eyes were stern and cold…
“I will pay for all your Aunts treatments, bills and anything else she may need…but you are going to do as I ask…”
He shook his head, his fury over his feelings was consuming him.
“There are rules here. And you have broken them. You SHOULD be thrown out and sent away…”
She was visibly scared but eyes narrowed and she burned her stare into him.
“Interesting, You have some destain showing…Good…” he thought…“this will be easier if you hate me…”
Grabbing her hard, he saw her flinch in fear as he began to pulled her from the room. 
Even though she put up no resistance, he gripped her wrist tight and dragged her down two long corridors and threw open a small door at the end. 
An elderly man stood up swiftly and greeted the prince. 
“ …your highness. Good evening. Is everything-“
Pulling Arielle up tight beside him, he growled out his demand. 
“Marry us”
Her heart began thudding and she began to rasp out…”Oh…no…no I can’t…”
Michael grabbed her hair and turned her face to his, “Yes, SERVANT, you will…“
Arielle began shaking, “I can’t!…”
Ignoring all her pleas, he turned to the judge and stared, “get on with it.”
The older man wasn’t about to question Michael, so he nodded, “as you say.”
Hatred for the man who was the prince began to grow inside her…“What kind of man is this! He seeks me out, just to do this!? He could have ANYONE! Why does he want me!?”“Prince Michael, do you take,” he paused and looked confused, “what is your name young lady?”
Arielle bit her lip and shook her head. “She was hired by Greta, for the party as a server.”
The Judge nodded and turned quickly to look through a few papers. 
He lifted his glasses off and stood back up, “do you take Arielle Kostov to be your wife?”
“I do” he growled out. 
“And do you Arielle Kostov take Prince Michael to be your husband?”
Arielle knew she should say no, slap him in the face, run from the room…
But she knew what kind of life awaited her outside the castle walls…she knew that she needed the money…but along with that came a fire…there was something about the prince that also set her heart burning…
Arielle pursed her lush lips and Michael’s gaze lingered there longer than it should have…
“I…I…” 
“ANSWER” he snarled out with predatory anger. 
“I do.”  
Arielle swallowed hard…
The rest of what was said was a blur until the judge said ‘I now pronounce you husband and wife.’
The judge tried to shake the Prince’s hand but Michael cuffed Arielle’s wrist once again and dragged her from the room. 
Arielle felt faint. 
Stumbling through the hallways, she was once again tossed into the Prince’s grand bedroom. 
Releasing her hand, he stared at her and instantly said…”I don’t want you. I want my title…I’ll take what I want from you and then pay you to leave.”
Her expression was now draped with sadness as her thoughts tormented her…

“I truly mean nothing. I mean nothing to everyone. Even now, I have the attention of a Prince, and he wants to take from me.”
The overwhelming, conflicting urge to soothe her, to punish her for driving him insane with desire and then, in turn, comfort her with kisses, gripped him viciously.
He breathed in deeply in an attempt to concentrate.
Michael walked and stood behind her…
He reached out and touched her hand, making her flinch…
“I will not harm you…I am going to use you…nothing more…because your hold over me, is unacceptable…”
“Hold?” Her lips parted but she remained quiet.
Michael shifted his weight from one foot to the other…
“Tell me to touch you…”
A ragged breath shuddered out of her lungs…

Her mind was at war with her heart…”Should I say it?”
“…say it…” he bit out…

And the words spilled from her lips…
“…touch me Prince Michael…”
His breath froze in his lungs…
The way she said his name sent jolting currents of desire directly into his soul …
“Don’t you dare say my name…you think you’re worth that?!”

Her countenance immediately deflated, and he knew had just bruised her heart…

His chest started to burn with pain but he clenched his teeth and snarled, “You will not say my name…understand?!”
He took a step forward, closing the distance between them…”Or I will personally throw you to the street!”
Arielle shivered, but was it from the threat, or from feeling the crowned prince stand so close…?
His chest was touching her back…

“Do you understand!?”

His roar made her jump and she quickly stuttered…”Yes…y…yes…yes sir…”
He lifted his hands, and slowly began to unbutton her black maid dress…
She twitched…”What…?”
“I going to look at your body…”
She blinked several times before finally surrendering and closing her eyes…
Her body grew taut.
She barely breathed as Michael gently began to undress her…
Arielle didn’t know what he was thinking or seeing…
“Thank God she closed her eyes…” he thought to himself as he slowly bared each divine inch of her body…
He walked around in front of her and simply stared…
“She’s…” he couldn’t breathe…“She’s beautiful.”
Repositioning himself behind her, he slowly lifted his hand and cupped one of her breasts in his palm…

His was now straining against his pants.

Arielle’s knees instantly buckled as strange and frightening sensations struck her…
Michael quickly wrapped his other arm around her holding her up against his body.
“Stand.” he said angrily…”Close your eyes…”
Michael began to gently massage her breast, slipping the palm of his hand over her nipple…
A whimper suddenly escaped her throat, hitting his senses like a tidal wave…

He walked around her once more…
She could hear him breathing harder, but he wasn’t touching her…
She waited.
The next thing she felt was something hot and wet closing over her distended nipple, making her shriek…
Michael’s groin tightened hearing her gasp…and his heart exploded tasting her skin…
Arielle looked down and saw his mouth, completely covering her areola and nipple…
She could have taken a step back.
She could have shifted away.
But she did neither.
She stood as still as a statue and let her eyes slam shut…
She could feel her nipple growing bigger in his mouth, like they did when she was cold…
But this time she wasn’t cold…
Her skin was shivering, and yet she was burning up…
Michael chanced a glance at her face…
Her forehead furrowed in fearful desire…
Her top teeth now pressed hard into her bottom lip…
The small nipple was hard in his mouth…
He knew he should slow down, but the incredible taste of her skin was making him powerless to stop…
As he moved to her other hard bud, some dark part of him wanted to hear her moan his name…
He wanted to hear her call out for him in the throes of passion…
Defiance knifed through him, “I won’t allow that!”
He couldn’t allow his heart to make decisions for him…
With a growl, he released her nipple with a soft suck and turned away. 
Her body was still tingling from what he just did…
“What is this feeling?” she wondered…
She squeezed her thighs together as she felt an unfamiliar ache between her legs…
He saw her bite her lip and he craned his head…”You wish to speak?”
Her slight nod had his voice soften without his consent…”Go on then…”

“I…I’m nothing like the women you can choose from. I am nothing special. I have never…never even been seen like this…never been touched like this…”
His eyes widened and she thought he might release her, but in the next breath she saw his eyes darken.“…never?”
Arielle shook her head, her cheeks going red.
Complete and utter possession slammed straight into the heart he didn’t even know he had, 

“She’s…she’s all MINE…”
Furious at himself once more, Michael scowled…”I told you why I married you. No matter how much I want to use you, it’s not worth my life to remain with someone of no class.” he paused as pain shot from her eyes…”I won’t do that because it would mean my life! I am to be legally bound to you to keep my title…but you…I want you for some stupid reason…and so I will grant myself this…” he glared into her eyes…”And you will get what you want…”
Arielle blinked slowly, sending more jolts of ecstasy through his body…
Hearing how little she meant to him, made her heart hurt…

And she already knew how little of her heart was left…
The torturous life she led had slowly been chipping away at her soul and she was sure there were only a few embers remaining.

“Why do I wish that he would care for me? Even a little”
Taking her hands, he pulled the scarf from her hair and watched in awe as her hair fell around her shoulders…
Arielle held her breath and looked away…
Using the silk scarf, he grabbed her wrists, tying them tightly together in front of her…
Her sharp whimper made him snarl with pride…
“What are you doing?”
Michael smirked hearing her sudden question…”Suddenly bold enough to speak without asking?”
Arielle went silent, her lips pressing together as shame covered her face.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he stepped up close. 
Her eyes shut tight, not wanting to see what was going to happen…
Michael’s erection throbbed in his trousers even as his heart tugged seeing her fear…”i won’t take your virginity. Even though it is rightfully mine …”
The began to tweak her nipple until it was so hard that it visibly throbbed…
“I…I…don’t…know…what’ going on…with me…” she moaned…
This was what part of him wanted.
He wanted to shatter her innocence.
He wanted her to squirm and plead that he let her go.
But as he massaged, she stilled.
Furious at her determination, he squeezed her nipple harder.
Wincing, she let out a soft whimper…

She was trying to control her breathing, and almost succeeded until he reached between her legs…
“What…no…no…you said…”
“Did I say you could speak?” Michael growled…

The prince’s actions were terrifying her, and yet the fire in his gaze was making her core get hotter. 
The look in her eyes was making the strange new ache in his heart get stronger…

He wanted to attack himself for his complete lack of control.
Never had he wanted a woman more…
But her beauty and innocence was making him fall for her…and fall fast…
He reached behind her with one hand gripping her bottom, holding her still…
With his other hand, he gradually trailed it downwards toward her mound…
Gently tapping her inner thighs, he whispered…”Widen your stance…”
Lifting one foot, she spread her legs…”Sir you said…”
“I will not take your virginity…I value my life more than anything you could give me…”
At his words, Arielle felt her heart break more….
But before she could mull on that, he slipped his fingers between her labia and pressed his finger at her entrance…
She knew she was leaking fluid and embarrassment cloaked her expression, but Michael growled with desire as he felt how drenched she was. 
Arielle tensed up as she felt him draw her wetness upwards towards an area that was painfully sensitive…
Michael’s heart filled with passion as he felt a heady dose of her cream coat his fingers…
“Her body is enjoying this…” he thought…
His penis continued to press against his pants as she began to mewl through tightly closed lips…
Her pained expression melted into one of bliss as he began to massage her hardening nub, but when the sensations became too much she tried to turn away. 
“Can’t handle it?” he taunted, “Not so tough after all…Want to tell me that you hate me?” his voice sounded harsher than he intended it to be…
Arielle cried out, the foreign stinging becoming too much…
He caught her face under her chin and lifted it to that she looked him in the eye…”Go on! Tell me that you hate me!”
Her eyes smouldered…
This close, he could see that they were a deep brown…almost black…
“No…Sir…” she growled decidedly.
He felt anger rise up inside his body once more at her fierce countenance…
Michael stood up straight…
Her soft bottom trembled under his hand…
And he began to berate himself…
Arielle could hardly breathe again…
Her clitoris was throbbing unmercifully and she was astounded that her body could produce such sensations…
“Look into my eyes…” he commanded…
Her heart thundered as she lifted her gaze to his…
The intensity of his slate gray stare made her tremble anew…
Something flashed in his eyes…
Compassion? 

Concern? 
“Why is he doing all this? All this in exchange for money? Does he hate me? Why with me!?”
Arielle looked at him carefully…
His collar was loosened and his shirt gaped to reveal the strong curve of his neck…
Locks of his blonde hair wisped across his forehead…
“God in heaven…” she thought unknowingly…“Why is he so handsome?”
Suddenly realizing what she was thinking, she blinked and started to avert her gaze…
“Look at me!…” he ordered again…
Feeling frustrated and completely out of control, she met his gaze again…

“I know where my journey  ends when I leave here…so I won’t go down without a fight…” she thought, and stared hard into his eyes…

Michael, however, was fighting an endless battle in his own mind…
“Why do I want and need her so badly…” his head screamed…“If she were important enough, or of higher class, I could stay married to her and be done with it!”
His thoughts were interrupted by her voice…
“Well…I am looking at you sir.”
She ground out the ‘sir’ with sarcastic intent and the warrior inside him sneered at her disrespect, while the animal inside him growled at her bite. 
“I’ll show him.” she thought…“I’ll show him that he can’t break Arielle Kostov!”The Prince suddenly leaned in close and breathed hot breath against her skin. 
Her body heated.
The places were he touched ached and throbbed.
She writhed involuntarily….
“Disrespect me again and you won’t like the consequences…” he growled…
Michael was now utterly dumbfounded by his attitude…

“What am I doing!? Why am I wanting her to the point of exploding!?”
She felt her body teetering on the edge of something…something huge…
Michael lifted one hand, fingering her nipple…
Her body convulsed and she moaned desperately…
Any anger she had felt before evaporated…
She had not expected to feel this way in the prince’s arms.
And then, she felt something at her side…something alive…something hard…
His erection.
“Oh my…” she thought…“is this the effect that I have on him!? Me?!”
But before she could think on that further, his hand, his body, and him pleasuring her took precedence…
The thought of what it would be like to feel his hard flesh inside her drove her crazy…
“What are you feeling?” he asked, his voice rough…
She began to buck…”I…I don’t know… I… everything… everything hurts…but…it feels so…so…”
Something that sounded like a growl came from deep inside his chest…
Pushing her backwards, she fell back against his bed…
Michael crawled hungrily over her and pulled her tied arms high above her, holding them there with one hand.
Her low groan of ecstasy was his first reward…
Her shriek of desire as he sucked her throbbing nipple into his mouth was the second…
His other hand began to explore her sheath once again…
Arielle sobbed helplessly…
It was too much, and yet her body was begging for more…
The elevated nipple instantly filled with blood, heating up rapidly…
“Aahhhhhhhhhhh oh my!”
Her other nipple disappeared into his mouth as he began to suck strongly…
Michael was losing his mind over her reactions…
The other women he had been with had been wanton, brazen women who were after him for a title, but this woman…she knew there was no title in it for her, and yet, she responded like no other…
As his mouth remained attached to her breast, his hand delved between her legs….
He speedily drew up a handful of her juices and began stroking her clitoris…
Arielle wanted to scream and yet she held her breath…
Something she couldn’t name built and built inside her, “Something…I feel…I don’t understand…” her voice was full of fear and panic, but Michael didn’t stop.
Increasing the pressure, he watched the fear in her eyes burst into complete arousal as she exploded…
Debilitating lightening coursed through her every vein, every muscle, every tendon, shooting outwards to the tips of her fingers…
Her blood thickened as the first orgasm of her life pulsed through her with a rapid throbbing burn…

Michael has never seen anything more captivating, but the anger in his heart has him to his distance. 
Every ounce of her body suddenly grew limp and she sagged onto the covers.
Her mind and body reeled with sensation…
With a gentleness that he didn’t know he possessed, he drew her arms down, untying her and pulled covers over her…

He felt a complete new persona overtake him as he saw the sated yet still frightened woman in his bed…
Arielle inhaled deeply and instantly smelled his scent…
Even though she had been completely shaken with a climax, she knew that there was much more to this…
She was beginning to crave him…crave his touch…
“Sleep…sleep…” he sounded as if he were searching for a sentiment to call her…
“Arielle…”, She yawned and softly and feel asleep. 

…..

“Arielle…”
Michael breathed out her name as if it were a sacred word…He remained beside her, staying perfectly still…
Fast asleep, she rolled onto her side and gave a soft moan…
Her every response triggered something desperate inside him…

His eyes drank in her beauty, memorizing her every inch of her flesh…

And the fury returned, “This is STUPID.” He grit out. 

He stood up and walked to the door.
He gave the servants bell a tug, and not more than a minute passed when he heard a soft knock.
His male attendant bobbed his head when the Prince opened the door.
“Bring me some food, and water…” he said quietly.
The man frowned, expecting Michael to angrily demand what he wanted…like usual…
But he respectfully acknowledged his request and darted away.
As Michael closed the door, he shifted his burgeoning erection…
He scowled and grimaced from the ache…
His eyes were again fixed on the bare beauty in his bed…
She wasn’t safe in his presence when he was like this…
Hard.
On edge.
He strode to the bed banister and grabbed hold with one firm grip…
Leaning against it, he roughly worked his hand down the front of his trousers and over his pained flesh…
His grip was no match for what he envisioned her body to be…but this was far better than enduring this raging desire a moment longer…
Heat flowed through his body as he worked his length, up and down…
His vision flashed with the memory of her dark eyes, her deep responses…
He wanted to thread his fingers into her dark hair, hold her head captive and thrust into her again and again…and again…
And a climax reared up faster than any he’d experienced before…
“A…Arielle…!” he gasped her name as hot semen oozed out of his penis and over his fist…
He snarled…”What was that?!”

Grabbing a towel to clean himself, “That was too   damn fast. What am I 16?” he righted his clothing, and soon heard a knock on the door once again…
He opened the door and began to take the tray of food…
“I will bring it in Sir, you need not-“
Michael stamped one foot across the doorway to his room…
“You will NOT enter…I will take it.”
And as he bolted the latch, he ignored the surprised expression on his servants face.
Placing the tray quietly down on the small table, he dropped to his chair and stared at the sleeping woman before him. 
He knew she was exhausted, hungry and shocked…
Even though she was visibly ashamed and shy, he admired her spirit and pride…
Other women were all about sex, seduction and greed…but none had ever reacted the way that Arielle had.
“Arielle…” he breathed again…
He stretched out his leg to accommodate his penis and scrotum.
Already he grew hard for her again…
He longed to feel her bare bottom beneath his hand and her wet sheath quivering at his touch…
He ached to hear her labored breaths and impassioned cries.
“This will never be enough…” he groaned…”no. I don’t NEED this woman…”

Almost automatically, his heart swelled with the new unfamiliar ache…

“WHY…?!”
He sneered at himself…
The women he had to choose from were no better than prostitutes, willing to sell themselves for a handsome husband and a title.
Each one of them telling him they would do anything to be his wife…
It didn’t make sense to him that this servant woman had him so completely…
He was Prince Michael.

He invoked fear.

He remained detached…
And yet he now wanted, no needed, to know more about her…
She had divulged that she needed money for a sick aunt…
But even though she needed money, she didn’t readily submit…
Still, something compelled her to comply, and Michael was bound and determined to find out what that something was…

“No one defies me, Arielle…I will break this hold you have over me…I will break you, and you will tell me what I want to know…”

……………

Arielle stretched, reveling in the erotic slide of silky sheets against her bare skin…
She inhaled and turned onto her back …
Her stomach began to growl and her nipples began to tingle, reminding her with jolting awareness what had happened the night before…
She bolted upright in the bed…
It was very early morning, and still dark…
The glow emitting from the fireplace cast a golden glow throughout the room, making her remember all too well where she was…
A married woman. 
in the Prince’s Room.
Her gaze shot to the chair beside the bed, and sure enough, there he sat.
Long legs sprawled out, his fingers laying casually over his abdomen which rose and fell with deep breaths…
Loose strands of his dark hair fell across his forehead…
Asleep, he was still eerily threatening…but her heart was enchanted…
Arielle’s body warmed at the memory of the feelings she had experienced…
Even though he had tormented her in every way possible, she had found an inner desire inside herself she hadn’t known she possessed.
As she continued to stare at him, he dragged in a rough breath and his eyelids slowly opened…
He his gaze found hers, his eyes widened…
He sat up straight, “Arielle…” he murmured, his voice gruff from sleep…
Instinctively, Arielle clenched the sheets to her chest…
Her womb clenched, and her breath hitched…
Arielle!?
Michael realized his mistake of mentioning her name…
Changing the subject, he lifted the tray from beside him…”Are you hungry?”
She eyed the food on the tray and nodded…
Warily, she watched him stand, lift the tray, and bring it to the bed…
Arielle’s expression displayed shock. 
“What?” he spat out the question.
“I…I’ve never…eating in bed…is it allowed?”
Michael softened for a moment but his mask of anger soon came back,  “This is allowed because I say it is allowed, or are you questioning my authority?”
Her mouth shut tight as she shook her head…

Even though more questions loomed in his mind, he climbed carefully on the bed…
Arielle’s heart skipped a beat at his closeness

Her nervous eyes latched onto his…
The Prince lifted the fruit to her lips, she leaned forwards and opened her mouth slightly…
Arielle wasn’t ready for the feel of sensuality as he fed her with his own hand…
She withdrew and chewed …
Arielle began to wonder what it would feel like for her lips to touch his fingers…
“WHY!” her thoughts screamed…”Why is this happening to me!?“
“Would you like a drink?”
“Yes, please…Sir.” she uttered carefully…
He paused, feeling a coldness tug at his heart…

“I want her to say my name…”

He lifted a cup of water to her lips and she drank down…
When he lifted another bite of fruit to her mouth, her lips closed around his fingers…
Michael instantly felt her lips on him and quickly withdrew his hand as if he had been burned…
“What do his reactions mean?!” she wondered…“Does he not like me? Was his reaction a rejection?”
Her eyes didn’t sway from his…
His chest expanded with a deep breath as he was held captive by their visual connection…
“Why did you come here…” he muttered..
“I told you why Sir…”
A muscle in his jaw twitched…”You said you needed money…you could work anywhere…why here?”
“I needed money Sir.”
Michael was beginning to get angry again, “you needed money…WHY?”
Arielle’s lips parted…
She didn’t dare try to confess…
His eyes narrowed…”I KNEW there was more. Tell me…now.”
Arielle felt pure terror begin to surface in her heart…
She didn’t move, didn’t breathe…
Michael quickly slammed the tray back onto the table and jerked the sheet away from her…
Baring her completely…
Arielle shrieked, quickly leaping off the bed, her gaze down at the floor…
“Head up. Eyes on me!” he said sternly.
She obeyed, but her stomach fluttered as she struggled to hold his stare…
Tears began to sting her eyes and she tried to bite them back…
“I said, tell me…now.”
Arielle felt agitated, but soon her anger melted into despair…
Her eyes were tormenting his…
She wondered how he could be so hard and so gentle at the same time…
Michael grew angrier and angrier when she did not answer…
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards his washroom…
“You have 10 minutes to use this room…then you will come back here, and be punished for not answering!”
As the door slammed in her face, she stood in the centre of the room feeling numb.

…………..

“Five…Four…Three…Two…One….” Michael counted out loud, and then flung open the door…
Arielle stood before him, her hair dripping, her body shining from the water…
Grabbing a towel, he summoned her forwards…
His own body was buzzing, seeing her glistening…
When he wrapped the towel around her, he gently began to dry her…
She was still warm from the hot shower…
Her hair smelled of lavender, and was making him heady…
Once dry, he dropped the towel to the floor and began to unbutton his shirt…“Oh my…” Arielle thought nervously…
But her nerves settled when she saw the breathtaking expanse of his muscular chest…
Michael enjoyed watching her reaction…
She looked well and truly captivated…
He wasn’t the most terrifying warrior for no reason. 
His body was that of a gladiator. 
Taking her hand, he led her to the bed once more…
As he seated himself, he pulled her to stand in front of him…
His gaze lingered at the patch of trimmed hair between her legs…
Tapping one side of the bed with his hand, he said…”one foot up on the bed…”
Her clitoris began to swell as she lifted her leg and rested her foot at the edge of the mattress…
Michael began to lean in and Arielle began to tremble…
She nearly lost balance and one of her hands landed  on his broad shoulder…
He stilled…
Every previous moment had been him touching her, and he was completely unready for her touch…
Lifting his eyes to her face, his eyes shot a powerful stare into hers..

Fear exploded inside her heart and she hurried to remove her hands…”I’m…I’m so sorry sir…”

Feeling completely shaken, he stared and almost said, “Don’t be frightened of me…”
She all but held her breath as he lifted his hands to labial lips…
Arielle’s head swam and her blood heated…
As he softly opened her folds, her cream began to drip down her thigh…
Her readiness astonished him…
As he ran one finger through her nether lips, she nearly doubled over, unknowingly resting both hands on his shoulders once more…

“HER TOUCH!” his heart began to burst…
But when he looked up, all he saw were her lips…
Dropping his hands away from her, he grabbed her shoulders and backed away…
His heart was hammering…
“This is…” his thoughts were jumbled…”This…she’s….she is…”
Arielle was suddenly worried…
What he displeased with her?
Was he going to break their deal?
“S..Sir…?”
Michael took a threatening step forwards…”Why!? Tell me why you need money!”
Arielle’s heart twisted…
Shame swamped her…
She couldn’t dare tell him that was even lesser than a servant. 
She was a slave. 
When she leaves the castle, current master was going to sell her to another vile man who would undoubtedly beat her too. 
She had already been sold too many times to count, but now, as she was older she had only barely escaped being sexually abused or raped, and she knew it was only a matter of time. 
Why would HE care that her Aunty had already died and she had no family?
Why would HE care that she was an orphan, and the only way she had survived was being passed from owner to owner.

She held onto what little self esteem she had left and resolutely said, “No. I will not.” and lifted her chin in defiance.
Again, the muscle in his jaw twitched and Arielle’s mouth went dry as he took a menacing step forwards…”You INSOLENT…”

He stopped.

He could see that she was ashamed.
And she was. 
She was Ashamed that not only was she of no class, that she was and item to be sold. 
Her entire life had been a series of trauma and shame. 
She took one last look at Michael, who stared as if he couldn’t stand the sight of her, but what was actually happening in his head was an almighty war of why his heart demanded to have her. 
Walking forward, he glowered at her…”Sure, you’re a servant who needs money, but YOU need it for another reason…”
She bit her lip, willing herself not to cry…
Michael felt his body grow tighter and tighter …“How DARE you push her and scare her more!”
Ignoring the screams of his heart, he watched as she squeezed her eyes shut.
Suddenly she felt his fingertips trailing over the curve of her bottom…
Down one trembling thigh and back up…
She throbbed…
Ached…
She emitted a feeble sob, and she felt one hand move to her lower back, his fingers splaying wide, as if to hold her in place…
Her stomach twisted into knots…
“Tell me why you will do anything for money…you said your Aunty needs treatment, but your eyes are telling me something else… “
He was giving her a chance to tell, but instead, she closed her eyes tighter…

And her refusal struck his pride.
He wrapped and arm around her waist, backed her up to the wall. 
Arielle cried out, her scream of panic tearing at his heart only made him angrier…
Fire surged through her body amidst the fear…
The burn radiated between her legs…
“Tell me…”
She shook her head…His hand slid down her abdomen and cupped her core. 
This time she groaned, unable to speak…
With his free hand, he wiped her hair away from the side of her face…
And she made a mistake of opening her eyes…
Their gazes locked…
Michael’s body went cold…

The pain in his chest was now slicing him to pieces…
Compassion began to rear it’s head in the icy eyes…
But almost instantly, anger once again shot in…

“NO! I’m the Prince! She does not control me!”
Her gaze held his stare as he began to snarl, and she whimpered through clenched lips as he saw her start to cry…
His hand froze.

Out of nowhere, tears formed in own his eyes, and he couldn’t drive them away…

A pain so great and so strong engulfed him and he found himself almost unable to breathe…
He lifted her up, and threw her to the bed…
Quickly righting himself, he stormed out of the room…

…………………

He stormed the empty hall outside his room, finally backing up against a wall and resting his hands on his knees, trying to concentrate on his breathing…
“Why!” his mind was in agony…“Why is she so…Why is she defying me!? Why!? Is she insane! No one dares do this!”
When she held his gaze, he felt something shatter within himself…
Even in surrender, she stood her ground.
Sparks lit up her eyes.
Her breasts heaved…
Michael remembered her arousal trailing down her legs…
“WHY DOES SHE REACT LIKE THIS!?”
He recalled her hands on his body and his nerves shot lava hot blood throughout his body…
“WHY AM I SO OUT OF CONTROL!?”
Michael’s eyes opened.
He licked his lips.

“NO WOMAN is allowed to do this. No. NO! I’m the Prince! How DARE she control me!”

His eyes turned black.
“You will tell me. I will make you tell me.”
It was time to push her to the breaking point.

 …………….

When he dropped her to the bed, she wondered why it bothered him so much as to why the money was needed.
“He married me but he doesn’t want me forever, so why does my reason assuage him so much!?”
She didn’t have long to wonder, because when he flung the door open, she was face to face with his terrifying gaze…
She gulped…
Michael could see that she was on the brink of tears…
“NO Michael! This is damn out of hand!!! Time to remind her who the PRINCE is and who the SERVANT is…”
A ragged hunger to force her to tell him was overpowering him…
Why did she anger him like no other ever had?
Why did the mere sight of her, and look of her eyes, drive him to obsession!?

The image of her beneath him, finding ecstasy in his touch began to flash in his head…
He blinked and shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thought, of something that could never happen…
As he walked closer, he could smell her core dripping…
He sucked in his breath, more fury at his reactions condemning him, and demanded her to stand…
“On your feet, and stand before me…”
As she did, he walked around her, letting his fingers graze her skin…
“You will stay standing for every second…if you fall…I will NOT catch you…”
Her breaths came in short gasps as he stopped in front of her, his hands slowly lifting to cover her breasts…
A shudder tingled over her skin…
“Good God…” he thought…“She is beautiful…beautiful…like a princess…”
Again, his uncontrolled thoughts infuriated him…
He snarled and began to roll her nipples harder between his fingers…
Tearing his gaze away from her eyes, he watched the sight of her breasts…
Darkening areolas…
Tightening nipples…
So hard that he could almost see the blood rushing through them…
Not daring to wrap his arm around her, he let one of his hands fall and begin to explore between her legs…
She began to shake…
“You. Will. Stay. STANDING!…” he warned viciously…
He drew up her cream and massaged her clitoris…
Arielle moaned, feeling her sheath oozed copious amounts of desire…
He suddenly yearned to hear her call his name…
His mind was not his own…”

…say my name Arielle… let me know that it is ME who you’re thinking of, that it’s ME arousing your body…
Her fists were clenched tight as he squeezed her nipple in his fingers as his hand rubbed faster…
Hips undulating, rocking with his hand, she cried out,”Ohhhhhhh ohh my….”
His pinch on her nipple grew tighter hearing her scream…
The sight of her about to orgasm was too much for him.
His own groin began to electrify…
He could see her visibly trying to stand, and also trying to climax…
Releasing her nipple, he pinched her clitoris, imprisoning it between his fingers…
She instantly came undone…
Her pearl throbbed between his grasp and her knees buckled…
Her mind was now flashing with fireworks as her body shook with extreme pleasure…and she fell…
But not to the ground…
Michael’s arms instantly reached out to catch her as he hoarsely growled as his own body erupted right along with hers…
As she fell against him, he sagged against her, holding her fast and secure…
The monster inside him was now free and he was consumed with rage. “How did I come without a single touch!?”
He had been unmanned, completely taken over by her pleasure.
The unity of their release had been far too great…

Something mighty and fierce was awakening inside him…

Something he could not control.
As he hovered over her, clinging tightly to her shaking body, he heard her whisper…
“You can do what you like to me…but I will not tell you…never…”
A chill crawled up his spine…
The determination and desperation in her voice frightened him…

“Arielle!”

Her head snapped back at him and her hair flew around her shoulders, “I can’t! I can’t tell you!” 
He summoned strength and grabbed her arms…
With sudden defiance, she wrenched away from him and tripped…
At first, Michael’s only concern was to stop her falling again, but when his hands swept over her skin, he saw her eyes close and he automatically pulled her against him…
This wasn’t like him.
He should release her.
He should punish her and punish her for the control she had on him and for her defiance.
But instead, he held her…
She whimpered softly and he cradled her closer, allowing one hand to hold the back of her head, and the other to caress her back…
Her body trembled…
“Are, are you ok?” he asked in a panic…
“WHY DID I ASK THAT!? WHY SHOULD IT MATTER!?”
She lifted her face to his…
Her tears.
His breathing almost stopped.

“No…no don’t cry…”
“I will do whatever you ask….” she said, her voice breaking…”But please don’t ask me about the money again…please…please…please Michael…”
His breathing halted…

As did hers…
She’d used his name.

Hearing his name on her lips provoked the strongest desire he’d ever felt.
“My name. MY NAME on HER LIPS. It belongs there…my name belongs…no…NO!”
Severe and unsparing brutality permeated his entire being…
As soon as she uttered his name she began to tremble.   
Her lips were red, from her biting them in worry…
“I’m…I…I’m sorry…sir…I’m sorry…sir…”

“What did I say about using my name!? Do You WANT to be forcefully thrown from this castle?! I’ll do it! I’ll toss you out without a second thought and you will fall way harder!” 

The grip on her now was unsparing, His words cutting into her soul deep…

“Sir…sir please…” 

And tears began cascading down her red cheeks…

The attack coming from his own heart was now savage, “You would NEVER throw her out…you KNOW that! Why do you want to scare her!? Why do you want to hurt her…!?”
The thought of her being hurt was like a stab to his senses…

“Why does her pain cripple me so? She’s so scared of me…and yet defies me…I don’t want her to be scared of me…especially when I am falling for…for her…”
And now, the overwhelming urge to kiss her sent his heart blazing…
Without thinking, he slanted his head down…
As her panicked eyes slid closed, Michael suddenly realized what he was doing…“What is it about this woman that causes me to lose every bit of iron control I have in me!?!”
With a growl, he swept her off her feet, gathered into his arms, and threw her back to the bed…
He seated himself on the chair beside the bed once more and looked away…
Arielle was completely confounded.
Her mouth was open in shock…
“He…he almost kissed me!“
She felt her channel tighten at the thought…

Even though he filled her with terror, the thought of being taken by him was making her core throb…
But she knew he only married her to keep his title. 
Besides, he had told her that he would not take her virginity…because he valued his life more…
Arielle knew she was in a dangerous situation, being undeniably attracted to a man who  seemed in complete confusion, who punished her, and yet who wanted to pleasure her, bringing her body to heights she’d never before imagined…”why is he only pleasuring me…why does he care that I need money…there is more to him…there is a heart that is hidden inside him…”
The prince held fast to his duty, but his desire was now raging harder…
And she realized that at that moment, her heart was feeling a spark of life…
After a lifetime of suffering, he had brought feeling back into her existence and she was now wanting to risk anything to feel one kiss from him…
His eyes wandered back to her…
She sat still, staring at him…
His body tensed seeing her raw expression…
“Why does she want me? I can see it in her eyes…” He was pissed off, “She won’t want me…not after this…all the pain…all the threats…I basically admitted to just using her…but…it’s not like that…It never was…I want her…why the do I suddenly want another human being!? I don’t need anyone! …but I need her.”
He sucked in a rough breath and fought like hell to restrain himself from pulling her into his embrace…
But a reminder hammered in on his heart….“do not marry lower class”
“NO WOMAN IS WORTH THAT!” he screeched inwardly…“What does this heart of mine want!? Now my own BODY betrays me!? I’m the Prince. I am FEARED. I am Powerful. SCREW THIS! This has to STOP!”
She searched his eyes…
All the compassion she had seen before, suddenly disappeared…
Now he glared at her with an icy, unfeeling stare that reminded her that this was an agreement, and no sooner had she taken another breath, he got up and stormed out. 

………….

The day was coming to an end. 
After the prince called for more food, he retreated into his washroom…
As his shower sprayed steaming water onto his body, he could only imagine the way her eyes looked into his soul, the way her lips parted with wonder every time he touched her…
And even though his rough demands had scared her, she hadn’t protested.
She just refused to tell him what he wanted to know, and then accepted her punishment…
The memory of the combination of terror and anticipation in her eyes haunted him constantly…

She was terrified to be thrown out.

“Because of her servant status?” his body grew hotter as his next thought made his heart swell…“Or because she wants to stay with me?”
Beating his flat palm on the wall in front of him, he snarled…”I DON’T WANT HER TO WANT ME! I’m sick of this!”
Michael breathed low…”You do not control me, Arielle…You aren’t worth my life. You will tell me.”
He stepped out of the shower and slipped on a fresh shirt and pair of trousers…
As he walked out of the bathroom, he saw her sitting on his bed, holding a pillow on her lap…
She flinched slightly and lifted her eyes to his…
He remembered nearly kissing her.

Clenching his fist, Michael knew what he had to do.
He had to take his control back…and fast.

He had to ignore ANY and EVERY reaction she gave.
Clearing his throat, he moved towards the bed…
Arielle still gazed up at him…
She looked like a wonderous, naked vision sitting against his white sheets…

But Michael was now ignoring ALL emotions inside him and brooding in his anger and fury…
“If you continue to refuse to tell me your motives for money, then I will make you climax constantly until you beg me to stop…because your body won’t be able to handle it…I KNOW you’re inexperienced and I DON’T care how much you will beg! You don’t matter!”
Arielle blinked out unconscious tears as she tried to swallow…
Michael felt a harsh jab of pain at the sight of her tears, but kept his expression hard as he grabbed the box of clamps and tipped them onto the bed…
“You have 10 seconds…” he warned…
Feeling emptier and hollow, Arielle stood up and walked towards him, closed her eyes and waited.
“You refuse to tell me?!… You refuse?! …again!?”
She nodded.
Michael was enraged.

Capturing her harshly by the waist, he snarled out his rage…”Do you really think your problems are of any consequence to me!? Do you think you matter at all!? I demand respect and that fact that you defy me, and refuse to tell me why you want my money shows your insolence!”
Angrily, Michael lifted his hands to her breasts, and pinched her nipples…
Arielle bit her lower lip and held back a moan…
He worked her nipples with deliberate eroticism, tweaking and twisting until he plied her taut buds into submission…
“Ahhhhhhhhhh….ohhh….aaarrghhhh…” she moaned out loud…
Everything inside him raged…
He wanted to push her onto her back and slam his mouth to hers…
He wanted to know for sure that it was HIM that she thought of…that she wanted…
“NO!” he growled inwardly…“I DON’T WANT HER TO WANT ME!”
Spreading her legs, he reached between her thighs and pinched her clitoris…
He spread her folds wide so that he could feel every inch of her sex…
Swollen.
Instead of crying out, Arielle exhaled silently as tears spilled over her cheeks.
Her hot breath waved over his neck…
Instantly, he felt his body betray him once again…
“You’re legally mine. I could easily take what is mine”
His stomach rippled and he grew harder than he ever felt before…

His heart was calling out to her, screaming out in need for her…

“NO!!!”
Grabbing her lower back, he hauled her brutally against his body…
Her eyes, now wide, looked up into his…
He knew she could feel his flesh pressing into her abdomen…
“You feel me?” he whispered angrily…
Arielle didn’t so much as blink, but nodded…
“Do you know bloody why!?”
She flinched at his hard words, and gradually shook her head…

His words were now automatic…
“Because I want you…Because you…you are…you’re so damn beautiful…”
“…beautiful?” she choked out the word…
“She doesn’t know?”He could feel his heart breaking…
“Yes…so very much…I desire you like no other…and I don’t know why…”
He was about to explode…
“No one has ever called me that before…” she whispered…
His blood turned cold…

“You are…I have never felt this way…and…and you’re…”

He ground his teeth and felt his muscles tensed…

“This has to STOP MICHAEL!!!!!”

Pulling her closer, he narrowed his eyes….”Why won’t you tell me!?” 
Arielle swallowed, determined to remain silent…
His fingers probed her, and she pushed her hips into him, letting him know she was willing to take his punishment…
“You IGNORANT bitch!!! Fine…you will STAY standing…you mention my name one more time and I will drag you out of here and throw you to the streets myself…” he ground out…

Her tears glistened down her cheeks and this time Michael paid no attention…

Avoiding to tear her hymen, he carefully entered her with one finger, and pressed down hard on her gspot…
Arielle cried out at the new devastating sensation…
“You’re new to this…so I doubt you will be able to withstand the intensity of one gspot orgasm…” his tone was scornful…”let alone hundreds of them…and I won’t stop…even if you beg me to stop…”
She bit her lip harder to keep from speaking…
He began to massage the inner spot that would soon torture her…
Her arms hung at her sides as she gulped in deep breaths…
Soon enough though, her body began to experience a strong pull….
It never lessened, but for every move he made, only became reinforced…

Her hard gasping breaths tortured his shattering heart…

“NO! I am the Prince. She does NOT control me! She doesn’t matter!”
He pressed harder, and shuddered seeing her fear of the new sensations…

“God Michael STOP doing this to her…”
Her breathing was becoming harsh and irregular…
A gspot orgasm was devastating enough, he knew she wouldn’t be able to take it…not when all this was already so new to her… her body wasn’t conditioned for this. 

“STOP DOING THIS TO HER!”
He roared as his pride desperately wanted her to break, to tell him what he wanted to know…
Her body involuntarily tried to back away from the pressure of his fingers, but he pressed his hand against her bottom, holding her to his tight grip as he rubbed in a circular motion…
Perspiration broke out down the length of her spine, and her hands flew to his shoulders, but she didn’t speak…
He hissed and moved faster as he commanded, “Get your hands OFF me!”
Arielle shook with fear and screeched in breath as her arms dropped to her sides…

He held her closer already condemning himself for refusing her touch…

Eyeing her nipples, he saw how engorged they were…
Red, dark, and swelling harder and harder…

Then lifted his gaze to her face…

She was utterly terrified and on the verge of a fatal orgasm…
“Release her you heartless prick…!!!!!” his heart commanded him…
But the anger he had lived with for so long made him refuse…
“I do not need you! I need control!” he snarled into her ear..
His thumb moved up her cleft and began to flick at her clitoris, even as his fingers heightened the pressure inside her…
Arielle instantly let out a loud, animalistic moan that echoed throughout his room…
“RELEASE HER!” he gritted his teeth and told his heart to shut up…

He pressed harder and yelled …”Tell Me!”
“NO!” she responded instantly…

“Then I’ll break you.“
As his words broke her heart, the most annihilating sensation began to take over…
He felt her gspot swell and at that moment her eyes shot open, wide and utterly terrified…
“I’ll…’ she whispered, but she couldn’t get the words out in time…

Michael saw the sudden will to tell him in her eyes and before he could stop, her core exploded…
She screamed out savagely as the destructive intense orgasm knifed through her body, and he knew it was worse because she was mentally alone, used and in fear…
His hand was forcefully shoved out of her core by the sheer power of her gushing fluids…
As though electrocuted, she shook, pulsed and throbbed as he caught her against him…

“No…” he breathed out, the pain of his heart now coming out of his mouth…
“She is terrified…I don’t want her to find pleasure like this!”
Michael pressed his palm to her sex to try and stifle the striking sensations, but he only ignited another instant climax from inside her that hit his palm with force…

She yelled out loud and wrecked.
Her mind had completely fractured from all her other senses. 

Strength vanished from her body as she shook violently in his arms…

The new sensations had broken her…

He won.
“…no more….please…sir…please...” she begged hoarsely…
Utterly mortified with himself, he hurriedly lifted her in his arms and lay her down on the bed. 
Michael bent down and covered one of her nipples with his mouth but then heard her cry out again as he felt the hard, hot bead grow bigger…
“Oh!!!” And her core shot forth again as she shook hard, another torrential orgasm pulling her under…
Stricken with need to hold her, he gathered her into his arms, holding her tightly against him…
Sweet ecstasy, and unnatural amounts of electricity thrummed through her heavy limbs, but the terror and fear was now outweighing it all…
His held her body close as he tried desperately to calm her…

“Shhhh….shhh….sweetheart….shhhh….”
She shivered, almost as if cold, and Michael rolled his body onto hers…
The need to comfort her was now so strong that he was powerless against it…
“Arielle…”
Tears fell from her eyes as she opened them…
His face was so close he could see how broken she was…

Angry pretences now completely gone, only his heart remained…
“Arielle…” he uttered her name again, making her take an unsteady deep breath…

“Tell me…” he paused…
Her body trembled, so frightened that her tears were now constant…
“Trust me…I WILL help you…”
His tone was different as his voice soothed her.
He rested his hand against her cheek gently and looked deep into her eyes as he whispered a word he NEVER used…”Please…”
Arielle saw something warm and true in his expression…a glimmer of an emotion she had never seen in another person’s gaze…
Her defences crumbled around her as she realised that he was now her last hope…

She would give anything to remain in the prince’s arms…
Broken and hope almost gone, Arielle lost all control and said…”I…I have no family. I’m not servant…I’m a slave, and I am being sold…”
His heart began to pump faster as all color drained from his face…
“I have been a slave all my life…My aunt died months ago…and I…I have no money left…the man that we both worked for has sent me across the country working for money, and decided to sell me as I can’t finish as much work as when there were two servants…this job was my last…when I return to him, he will sell me…and I will be going to another master, who is more brutal.”
Michael was in shock.
“SOLD!? SHE’S A HUMAN BEING!!? WHAT THE HELL!?”
But he knew all too well that this was the custom with servants.
Especially those of young girls.
And because of the trade markets and what was done in private, there was no way of controlling it. 
Most servants were housed and cared for, but he knew that not every employer was kind and would torture or beat.
And as primal, possessive anger filled him, his eyes began to flash with fury…
“No.” he commanded as he was now in his full regal mindset…”I will NOT let that happen.”
She began to cry…”If…If I return with money, then at least I can stay on with my master a short while longer, and hope to find other work…I will work as hard as I can, but…he has threatened to hurt me worse on my return if I do not repay for the loss of my aunty.”
Michael tensed, his muscles now ready to pop, the need to protect her becoming more important than his next breath…”You will not be harmed…”
“He…he said he’d come find me.”
“NO.”
She was about to speak again, but he interrupted.
“No more.” he said forcefully…”you’re legally mine.  You will NOT be sold…NO harm will come to you.”
He said the word ‘sold’ as though it were the worst word he’d ever heard in his life, but then felt immense shame knowing he was no better.
He was using her. 
He was abusing her. 
Tears flooded her eyes as she felt her body begin to grow weary…”Forgive me…”

Frowning, he realized exactly what he’d done, how far he had broken this innocent girl…”Forgive you?”

“I…I have…have shown…disrespect…I…I am sor-“
He gathered her closer, feeling her shiver, but his heart felt lower than dirt, “Shhhh….shhhhhh sweetheart…”

Unable to speak anymore, Arielle wept quietly, and he held her until she drifted to sleep…
…………….
She slept so peacefully in his arms…
“Sweetheart…”
Did he really call her by that name?
 He knew he did, but also knew that he could not help himself…
Her bravery and determination to face adversity and work hard, made his respect soar for her.
No wonder she had been afraid to tell him.
Any woman who was constantly sold, was considered of ‘no worth’ and basically abominable to be seen with.
“She was humiliated…and I…I only humiliated her more.”
His stomach knotted at the punishments he had given her, at the words he had spoken to her…

“You don’t matter!… You are worthless!…You aren’t worth my life!…”
The memory of those words cut him deeply…
“You’re a bastard Michael…” he muttered in disgust at himself…

Arielle took a soft breath in, and he held her closer…”I won’t let anything happen to her…anything…she’s legally…she’s…my…”………….
Arielle felt entirely sated when she woke up…
Even though her mind was awake and ready, her body was limp …
She glanced at the clock on the wall and saw the time…
It was only 3am…
As she craned her head, she saw him.
He slept beside her…
But as he lay there, she noticed that his hand was entwined with hers…
A softening smile appeared at her lips…
She tightened her hand in his and he sighed in his sleep…
“You are a good man…I can see it…in the way you want to protect me…in the way you touch me…even though it is rough…and I…I care for you…”
As if hearing her thoughts, Michael’s eyes slowly opened…
This time there was not anger…no fury…no demands…
Arielle felt liquid desire unfurl throughout her body just from his glance…
When Michael saw her looking at him with such strong emotion, he was overcome with the urge to give himself to her…
He knew what it would cost him, but suddenly the need for her was stronger…
He moved his body over her, and slowly lowered his head to her breast…
She felt his moist mouth soothe her stinging nipple and she sighed…
But he soon released her and moved lower…
“Wh…what?”
“shhhh….”
Soon, his breath fanned between her legs…
And suddenly, his lips touch her labia…
Her heart rioted in her chest as Michael’s heart began to ignite…
She was ready for punishment, ready for anger, but right now, she couldn’t even think as his soft mouth gently made love to her core…
It was too much.
Too intimately divine…
His tongue moved insistently through her folds…
A ragged breath heated her clitoris just before he pressed his lips to it…
Arielle wilted…
She had never felt something so wonderfully exquisite in her entire life…
As he began to suck softly, her hips bucked up, and Michael quickly cupped her bottom to hold her against his tongue…

His only thought was on her as her scent and taste drowned out everything else…
She had only ever found her release through submission, but now, as he softly and gently kissed her sex, she felt a strong current pulse through her, warming her all over…
Michael’s heart stuttered with shock as he had the sudden onset of tears as he mouthed her sheath…
Her every response was honest…
Her every move was true…
He finally felt her clitoris harden and he very carefully sucked harder…
That’s when her release burst through her body, her gentle whimpers making his tongue circle wider and he held her against his mouth until the last pulse faded…
Licking his lips, he revelled in her…
Rising above her once again, he lay beside her staring into her eyes…
Arielle had never felt anything so consuming…so intense and yet so gentle…
The need to express herself was becoming hard to contain…
“Kiss me…”
She uttered the words before she could stop them from tumbling out…
His jaw hardened as an instant heat crawled up his body and every nerve was on fire as his heart ached to feel her mouth against his…
With a grating unsure tone, he said “I… I don’t…”
Arielle quickly tried to take back what she asked…”I’m sorry…I…” 
Her eyes filled with sadness…”I’m sorry…”

She stopped talking, because the look in his eyes was now scaling…

His gaze was hungry.

“Her lips on mine…” he was losing himself…

His heart took over.

Possessed by her, Michael slid closer…
His hand moved under her neck, and his fingers entwined in the hair at the nape…
His other arm tugged at her waist, holding her tight as he lowered himself onto her…
Arielle whimpered…
He was going to kiss her.
“Oh…” she whispered just before his lips covered hers…
She only expected a quick press of his mouth to hers, but she was mistaken.
The second their mouths touched, they were transported to another dimension…
He didn’t merely kiss her, he drove his tongue into her mouth and took charge.
Every stroke was an assault to her senses.
His mouth possessed hers, his body grinding.
His tongue teased against her lips the same way it had made love to her core…
He curled his huge arm around her and held her to him, not as if he merely wanted her but as though he needed her desperately.
They held each other bewitched as the kiss turned plunderous.
Michael never dreamed a kiss could be so overpowering, so all consuming.
Arielle’s heartbeat thudded loudly as she began to writhe against him, moaning into his mouth, wanting more…
All knowledge that he was to marry another woman slipped from her mind until there was only her.
The hard ridge of his erection pressed into her abdomen…
As their mouths broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers…”i…I can’t think…I can’t think about anything right now except thrusting inside you and showing you what it truly means to be loved by a man…by me…I’ve never needed anyone, but I need you… “
Arielle froze as all the implication of his statement sank in…
She shuddered as she read the expression in his eyes…
Her heart was fused to this man…

Her soul was joined to him on a higher level that was so strong and so unmistakable that the realization of what was inside her burst out…
“I love you…”

Michael went completely still.
His life split in two.
Before he had kissed her….And after.
Dark, light.
Bad, good.
Hell, Hope.
There was no inbetween. 
He didn’t know if he was panicked or ecstatic.
All he knew was that his senses were now fully alert and he felt an earthquake of unrecognisable reactions explode inside him…
But Arielle instantly began to panic…

She felt like a fool…
“I…I’m…” her voice was a whisper…”I’m sorry…I have no right to say such things to you…I am of no place to say that…”
Every muscle in his body tensed as her words broke the trance he was in.
Her heart began to shatter, because she realized that she did truly love him…with all her heart…
He shook and suddenly rolled off her…

Unable to speak, he stood up and walked to the door grabbing the handle…
Anger now slammed into him, silencing his heart…
Bitterness and fury at his complete loss of control, he spat out the words, “HOW DARE YOU! You were only here so I could keep my title!”
He opened the door just as Arielle asked…”Forgive me! Please…please?”
But he refused to answer, as he disappeared and slammed the door.
Arielle burst into tears…
“Why…” she sobbed quietly…”I am so stupid… Why did I confess something I have no right to confess…I have NO right to feel love…”
The memory of her words turned her stomach…
“Why would he love me back…Loving me would mean his own demise. He TOLD me I was nothing…that I wasn’t worth his life…and I’m not…I AM nothing…”
Arielle pulled the sheet to her chest, feeling completely cold and alone, but that feeling was nothing new to her…

Silencing the pain, she breathed, “If nothing else, I got to experience and feel passion…before I am to go back to what’s left of my life…”
Exhausted, she cried quietly until sleep took over…

…………..

Michael paced back and forth outside his room.
He had not reentered.
He had called up for food, and when he heard her even breaths, he quietly entered and set it on the table…
As though he were her own private watchman, he paced outside his room…
Her words repeated themselves over and over and over in his head.
I love you.
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply…
 I love you.
With the taste of her still on his lips, his mind warred with everything he had ever trained himself to feel.
He was going to tell his father the next day that he married to keep his title but send Arielle away. 
But the mere thought of letting her go made him sick…
Michael began to clench his fists so hard that his knuckles ached…
He longed to strike something, to throw something, anything to release this anger…
“DAMN IT!” he snarled through clenched teeth…
Any attempt he made to push images of her from his thoughts proved to be impossible…
Visions of her in ecstasy smashed into his mind…of her body trembling beneath his touch… of her joyous expression when she ate…of her succulent lips as he kissed her…

“…Kissing her was…heaven…” he leaned against the wall…
I love you.
“How can she love me?” He shook his head…”She can’t love me after what I’ve done to her! I used her…”
He clenched his fists, squeezing tight, “She’s so innocent and perfect…she’s…my wife…and I…”
Taking a deep breath, her words echoed in his mind once more.
I love you.
Pacing, he felt completely dazed…”How can she mean that!?  What does she know of love…!? I didn’t even know love until-“

He froze…

“I’ve never known love till…”

His breath began to quicken, as though he’d been running for hours…

Heart now in overdrive, he realized he’d never known love until now…
His entire body staggered backwards and his back hit the wall as words rushed from his lips, “I love her.” 
From the first time he saw her, she had haunted his thoughts, and from the first touch he had been lost to her.
The cold realization that he never stood a chance struck him.
He never possessed the control…she did.She had won, and defeated his power, control and pride.

“Mine…my wife…”
He heard the clock strike and glanced upwards…
9pm.
He envisioned himself trying to tell annul their marriage…
His stomach turned.
Death would be a far better fate.

“She is worth far more than my life…” he growled…
He could not be bound to any woman that wasn’t the treasure who was in his room this very moment…
And he made his decision.

…………..

Arielle woke up with a start. 
Her mind was racing.
Was he going to return to her?
To punish her for her declaration…to scream at her…to berate her…anything…
When it got late, she finally accepted that it had finished…their deal was over.
He had to use her to keep his title, and would soon find someone new.
Renewed despair washed over her…
The thought of being sold no longer burdened her, nothing mattered.
Michael had awakened life inside her, and now, even that would be taken away…
The thundering crash of the door banging against the wall as it was flung open startled and shocked her…
With a gasp, she bolted upright in his bed…
Michael stood before her.
She didn’t know what was going to happen…

“Is he angry that I’m not dressed and ready to be thrown out? Is he back to punish me?”Her thoughts were spliced in two as his voice snarled out from the shadows, “Did you really mean it?” 
His voice sounded demanding and hopeful…
Arielle didn’t have to ask what he meant…
“Yes…I meant it…”

“How?” his tone was now tortured…”…after everything I’ve done to you, after how I’ve treated you,after what I’ve said to you …

How can you love me?”
Her eyes were a window to her heart…”I don’t know how…I only know that I do…”
For a long moment he stared at her…
Then he slammed and locked the door and strode towards her, tugging off his shirt and undoing his trousers…
Arielle’s heart pounded…
In fear and confusion, she pulled the sheet to her chest and watched as he stopped at the foot of the bed.
Her eyes were glued to his , and she saw the intent…he was going to claim her…

The sudden knowledge of this filled her with such yearning, love and fear that she could do nothing but stare…
His eyes were clinging to hers, no anger, no malice…

Something far different, and far stronger…
He surged. 
Yanking back the covers, he hauled her into his arms and fused his mouth instantly to hers,  consuming her with a savage hunger…

His hands roamed all over her body, possessing her, crushing her against him as he began to pull his erection free…
She tried to speak…”I thought…I thought you were angry at me…that you came back to throw me out…”
“No never…That was never going to happen…” he crooned as he coaxed her down onto the bed…
He moved over her and it was then that Arielle suddenly realised …
The punishment no longer rested on her…it was now all on him…
“Wait…wait!” she yelled out in protest…”you can’t do this! You can’t seal this marriage, you’ll be killed!”
His eyes blazed as he parted her knees with his and guided the head of his throbbing flesh through her folds…
The need to possess and claim her in every way possible was his only objective. 
Her body hummed with need, but her mind desperately tried to maintain control, “No! Please!” 
She screamed and tried to wriggle from beneath him but he gripped her wrists in one large hand and held them above her head…
“Please don’t! I can’t let anything happen to you!”
If Michael needed any more proof of her love for him, that was it, no woman has ever said no to him. 
Controlling her easily, he growled, “…I have refused to listen to my heart this entire time…that stops now…”
She writhed and pushed, desperately trying to stop him…”You…You can’t do this!!”
He held her fast as his jaw tightened as his gaze locked with hers…
She shook her head, struggling against him in a last pleading attempt, but his mind was made up…
“I can do whatever I want.” he swooped lower, “you’re my wife…”
His words hit her with full force…

She was now sobbing, “i know the law. You can’t remain married to me…I am worth nothing…”

Stopping was now beyond his capabilities.
Michael could feel her body vibrating as he held her still…”Do you want me?”
He wasn’t going to take this time…he wanted to give himself to her completely.
Arielle blinked out tears, “I want you…with all my heart…but you’ll be killed…I can’t be the cause of that…Because you’re right, I’m nothing, I’m not worth anything…”

Hearing her say the words he had said to her sent splinters right through his heart,.
Snarling, he leaned down lower, “…never say that again…”
Her mind was screaming out in horror but her body was dripping…
“Breathe.” he ordered.

She unknowingly obeyed and sucked in a deep breath…

He held her immobile as his hips came down, his mouth crashed over hers, and he pushed the head of his cock into her…
Arielle screamed and jerked hard…”Oh…it…it will hurt …”
Michael felt it instantly, and knew that he had to breach her hymen that was stopping his entry. 
Ultimate possession, more powerful than anything he had ever experienced now consumed him as he grabbed her thigh, his fingers pressing in…”Breathe.”
“I’m not worth this, please don’t…” she pleaded as her body tensed, trying to resist the intrusion…
“You’re my wife, and I’m sealing this. Now.”
Before she could reply, he took her mouth in a deep kiss and thrust forwards, spearing her virginity in one powerful move. 
She screamed into his mouth as her entire body began to burn, stretch, and felt full…so so full.

Arielle’s eyes strung as she felt him push deeper, and the burning turned to pain. 

A groan, so guttural shook his chest as his heart finally felt whole as the tightest, most perfect heat engulfed his flesh, squeezing him hard like a fist…
Exquisite pleasure rocketed through his body and his heart beat spiked.
Only one word now dominated his senses…”Mine!”
He felt utterly consumed by her but the sudden taste of salt against his lips stopped him cold.
Raising his head, he gazed down at her and forced himself to stay still and not thrust.
Tears ran down her face.
“Feel my touch Arielle…” he commanded.

Her head swam, her vision narrowed as she couldn’t summon a breath…
“Feel me inside you…” he demanded as the pressure of his hands increased…

The terror in her mind at what would happen to him was warring with the intensity of having the Prince inside her and it started to shake her soul as she gasped with difficulty..

Keeping his body firmly inside, he fisted a hand in her hair and barked out, “take a breath. RIGHT NOW.”
As if her body knew his words and understood them, air filled her starved lungs…

“Another.” he demanded.

She sucked in and he pulsed inside her…

“Oh…Oh…” she panted, “…big…deep…” 
Her breath hitched and her shocked core convulsed around him.

“Oh sweetheart,” he grasped the back of her knee, “This isn’t all of me…”
Slow, deliberate, pushing her leg up, he sank deep and hit her cervix…
Her jaw dropped, but her body responded instantly and fluid surged between her legs as she sucked in a hard deep breath.

His hand eased off her hair, and he held her face softly, “Look at me…”

Easing out a few inches, he slowly stroked back in, her eyes watering as he ground his hips against her clitoris.

His voice dropped low as he touched his lips to hers, “Stretch…Accept the pressure, accept the fullness…Feel my body fit perfectly inside yours…”
Moving his mouth over hers, he swirled his tongue gently, conveying his emotions so fluidly and she felt more tears drip down her face.
The burning eased only to be replaced with an ache so intense that she grabbed his arms and tried to pull him into her…

Instantly fearful, she gasped in panic and released him. 
Michael snarled, sliding deep and hauled her arms back around his neck. 
His lips hit her ear as he growled, “Never be afraid to get close to me…I’m your husband…”

Holding her closer than she thought was possible, he started a slow sensual rhythm.

His chest brushed across her hard nipples, his hips ground against her clit with every thrust.

Continuously kissing her, his tongue swirled through her mouth as he consumed her.

Every way a man could dominate a woman, he took her.

Driving into her, hitting that spot deep inside she never knew existed, she began to feel an almighty orgasm begin to knife through her nervous system…

Holding her steady, he pulled his lips from hers…”Look at me…”

She nervously tightened her arms around his neck, needing him closer, needing him to ease the throbbing between her legs.

His dark eyes, darker than she’d ever seen them bore into hers as he drove in deep.

“I’m coming inside you.”

A promise, a warning, she didn’t even know. 

It didn’t matter.

She wanted all of him.

“You…” he thrust hard, “Are Mine.”

He drove deep into her and her orgasm burst from the depths of her soul and shattered her.

Her back arched, her nails dug into his shoulders, and she filled the room with her scream.
The sheer size of him sent her vagina muscles into a frenzy as her climax contracted around him in shockwaves. 

“…You feel……perfect…”, Rearing back, he drove into her pulsing channel two more times, then every muscle in his body tensed.

A roar so primal and feral tore from his chest and shook her to her core…

As her orgasm gripped around him, his hot seed pumped deep into her body as he climaxed…
He came inside her, something he had never done with any other woman…

Even though he had touched her intimately for the past 2 days, nothing had prepared her for his surrender…

Tears streamed out from her eyes and disappeared into her hair…
It was done.
Done.
He’d signed his own death warrant.
“…oh…no….no…what have you done…” she murmured brokenly…
Not giving thought to his punishment, Michael cared only that she was under him, fully his, his seed and cock inside her…

Leaning down and kissing her gently, he then bent lower and laved her nipples with his tongue…
Arielle only began to sob louder…
He kissed up her neck…”Be still…and listen to me…”

“No…No what have you-“

He silenced her as his mouth suctioned to hers…”I want you…only you…” he whispered.

Gently wiping tears away from her cheeks, he kissed her slowly…”Mine…”
More than just accepting her, he had joined their hearts…

“But you…you’ll be…oh NO!” she screamed as she tried to move away…
Michael shoved his pelvis harder into hers making her hiss…

His insides twisted seeing her pain…
“Arielle, you belong to me…you’re my wife!” 
Grinding his hips against her clitoris, he felt a jolting throb as her body let down fluid over him…

“… yes…You feel me?”

She nodded fast…

“Its all for you…”

Her channel contracted and he groaned…

He held her face carefully…”Are you hurting?”

Her servanthood conditioning immediately responded, and she tried to ignore how she felt, “No…no..I am fine.”

Michael knew that she was scared to tell the truth and he growled fiercely, “Don’t you dare lie to me.” 
Blinking fast, her breathing picked up, “I…I’m…”
He demanded her gaze, “answer me honestly…are you sore?”
“…a…a little, sir.”
Her fear was still evident, and he tried to keep the fury regarding her past at bay, “Arielle…my name is Michael…Say it…”
Her lips parted but she bit her lip and remained silent.
“Come on…” he nodded, “my name.”
On a shaky breath she whispered, “Michael…”

He kissed her softly as his flesh began to swell inside her…

Feeling completely full, she began to pant as he said, “My name is meant to be on your lips…it belongs there…”

Her hands were resting on his chest and she felt that familiar ache begin to rise inside her…”Ohmy…”
“Say my name again…” He commanded her as he pulled out and started to penetrate again…
His hard muscles rippled beneath her fingertips…

Her eyes were glazing over as he could feel her body start to clutch his phallus…

“Say it…” he moved faster, “Say my name…”

The loud slapping of their bodies echoed in the room as he started to thrust hard into her…

And she said it.

“Michael…” her voice cracked with emotion. 
“I’m sorry…Arielle, I’m sorry…”

Her chest tightened, “You have nothing to be-“
He held her tighter…”Nothing? I am sorry for the hurtful words I said…I am sorry for how I have treated you…I will make sure that you never again have to struggle to survive, that you live in happiness for the rest of your life…” 
Arielle tried not to cry…
“My God, you’re beautiful…” he murmured…
Moving down her body, he latched onto one of her nipples and sucked it gently between his lips, flicking his tongue over the hardened tip, until she arched beneath him…

For every moan she made, he thrust faster inside her …
His kisses were completely different to the bite of the clamps, and they invoked a much stronger response…
Michael grasped her legs and put them high around his waist…

“Wrap around me…” he demanded, his voice rougher than he intended.
Panting, her face full of wonder and surprise, she locked her ankles behind his back.

He kissed her once, twice and drove into her, “I’m coming inside you again…take my seed deep…”

Her small hands grasped the sides of his face as her hips matched his rhythm, “I want all of you…”

Shocked to life, he fused his mouth back to hers and kissed her like a madman…
His tongue pushed into her mouth, tasting every corner…
His flesh speared non stop into her body, hitting her most vulnerable spot consistently…
She began to cry out against his lips…
“Come sweetheart…I need to feel you contract around me again…” he growled. 
His words only doubled her arousal…
And Arielle plummeted over the edge…
Her hands gripped him around his neck as stars flashed behind her eyelids…
Her channel vised and clenched violently around his erection as a searing climax tore through her body…
Staring down at her flushed face, Michael’s heart was drinking in her gasping mouth and pulsating lips…
His rhythmic thrusts continued and continued, rendering her mindless beyond anything other than the eruption of pleasure flowing through her…
He drove into her, withdrawing until the head pulled out, and then plunged back into her…
Arielle clawed his back as he ravaged her, his dick  thrusting right against her cervix…
Her eyes snapped open wide…
“Give me one more…I’m here with you…I’m inside you…”
And as a multiple climax began to unfurl inside her, Michael’s own detonation struck and right then, only that moment existed.
His balls tightened to the point of pain and he slammed his mouth to hers…

He drank her moans into his soul and held her perilously close as he filled her once more…

Never in his life had anything ever felt like this.

His heart was now hers.

Her body under him, tight and his, opening to fit his length, his width, the trust she gave him…nothing else would ever compare.

“I’m yours Arielle…”

Arielle inhaled and her voice clearly showed her true love, “I’m yours…Michael.”
Utterly exhausted, Michael kissed her softly as he slowly pulled out…”I want to stay inside you forever…”
Holding contact with her glassy eyes, he rolled their bodies and lay on his back as Arielle rested on his shoulder…
It would be morning very soon.
At dawn, he knew his father would expect an answer, and he knew he had to confess his deed and accept his punishment…
But first, he would make sure that Arielle received no blame…
He intended to lie, and say that he had taken her against her will.
His whole life, he had lived with unwavering control…
He had lived to fulfill his duty, to do exactly what was expected of him as a Prince.
Any contact he’d had with woman had been meaningless and fleeting…
He’d never felt anything for any of them.
But With Arielle, love had claimed him – despite his best efforts to hold it away…
He gently moved his thumb along her cheek and saw her eyes flutter open…
A tired smile graced her lips…
His body began to quicken…
“What is this unending desire inside me!?” he wondered in earnest…
Feeling bold, the unity of their emotions driving her, Arielle pressed her warm lips against his chest…
He groaned and threaded his fingers into her hair as she kissed her way down his body, lingering to kiss each nipple before trailing down the line of hair that led to his arousal…
His breath caught as she swiped her long hair behind her shoulder, and then without a touch from her hand, parted her lips, and engulfed his thick, now iron-hard penis in her mouth…
A tremor shook his body. 
Unable to say a word, he watched every move she made…
His eyes grew wider as her fingers encircled his shaft at the base, and began working his flesh up and down…Slowly and thoroughly she sucked his length deep into her throat, using her tongue to caress the head…

His flesh felt like iron in her hand and against her lips…

Her actions began to shock her and she started to tremble, fearing he would soon change his attitude and command her to get her hands off him…
Michael, however, was overwhelmed with intense passion, and was ready to devour her…

“Arielle…stop…”

The beating of her heart stuttered…
Michael saw the sudden panic and fear in her eyes…
He sat up fast, holding onto her waist as he lifted her onto his lap…”No, don’t be afraid…”
“I’m sorry…I have never done this before…I don’t know what I’m doing…I just wanted to…I should have asked…Am I allowed-“
Michael interrupted immediately…”You have all rights over me…What you did was exquisite…you have no reason to fear me…ever…I just can’t…I can’t hold back, I need you.”
He lifted her over his pelvis, and lowered her steadily onto his erection…
He’d never seen a more beautiful sight than the look of pure ecstasy on her face…
“Arielle…” he whispered as he pulled her hips down hard, making sure he speared her deeply…
Her eyes squeezed shut as the sheer size of him began to make her burn again.  
“shhhh…just breathe…”
He felt her inner tissues slowly stretch and fluid begin to coat his cock. 
When she became accustomed to the position, he stared longingly at her entire body…
Her loving expression, her dark eyes, her erect nipples peering through the long hair over her shoulders…
When he lifted his eyes back to hers, he saw her tears…
His body hardened, desperate to stop her pain…
He wrapped his arm securely around her lower back as he gripped her hard and began to pump her up and down on his rock hard penis…

“Concentrate Sweetheart…”
Her cries turned into moans of pleasure…
Her nails bit into his shoulders…
And when her core contracted, only then did he finally release his own climax…
He arched his hips, lodging himself harder inside her, and crushed her in his embrace…
One hand held her head, cupping it against his chest…
Arielle trembled in his arms as her channel throbbed around his flesh…
His heart was pounding in her ear, and the sound terrified her.
That very heart, that was beating life into him, could very well be stopped as a consequence for his act with her.
A knot formed in her throat at the utter fragility of life, and for the first time in her existence, she felt that her heart was beating outside of her body…
Reality crashed into her…
When the King found out what Michael had done, he would be put to death.
Panic gripped her soul…
There had to be some way she could save him…
She lifted her head…
Michael fused his eyes to hers…
“I can’t…I can’t let you take the punishment for this Sir…”
Michael held her tighter…”Arielle…” he warned, “you are to only use my name from now on…and it’s better I take punishment than you…”
Her eyes filled with fire…”NO! It’s NOT better!”
Michael swung her around so that he was back on top…”It IS. It’s time to rest…I will take care of things…”
And he would…for her…
He was more than willing to give his life for her, as long as she was safe, and happy…
She shook her head, “I can explain that it was my fault, I can…”
Her words stopped as she felt his length slowly penetrate her…
His gaze bore into hers, holding her captive…”You are innocent, and I will protect you with my life.”

“But…” she began and stopped when he pulled at her waist…

“I said that I will take care of things…control to protect you is now the only kind of control my heart will allow…”
Her lips parted as if to protest, but he pressed his mouth gently to hers, silencing her…

“Shhh…” he crooned as he made gentle love to her…

…………..

They both fell asleep in each others arms…
When Arielle awoke, she saw his handsome face instantly…
Tears instantly burned at her eyes …
“He wants to take care of things?” she thought…“But how? I can’t be the reason for his final punishment…wait…He wouldn’t be blamed if I just disappear?…”
Every time she thought of him being punished, she was burdened with gut-wrenching agony…
Her insides hollowed, “I will not allow a Prince of his character to be killed for this. I can see his soul. I can see his heart…He has SO much to offer…He is a good man…And I can’t be the reason he loses his life…”
The last thing she wanted to do was leave him, but she needed to…
Quietly slipping away from the heat of his body, she shivered and paced towards the chair her clothes…
The moment she stood, her abdomen began to ache and a warm substance dripped down her thigh. 
Quickly reaching for the handkerchief in her skirt, she wiped between her legs and saw his semen mixed with her blood.
Looking back over her shoulder, she breathed in deep as she gazed long and hard at the man she loved, “I gave to you the only things I had left to give my Prince…my virginity, and my heart.”
She dressed as quietly as she could and finally walked towards the door. 
Pausing, her eyes began to drip as she took one last look back at her Prince…
Mouthing the words I love you, her spirits crushed as she left the room…Leaving her heart with him…
Now an empty shell, she felt aches spread through her core, the last proofs of his touch on her…

The thought of never seeing him again made her die inside even more…

“My heart is now with him…what happens to the rest of me no longer matters…”
It was dark, and as she crept out quietly through the servants wing, any eye that caught her movements shot out judgement…

Greta saw her and spat in her direction muttering the word, “Whore.”

Keeping her head low, she walked out of the castle grounds.
The outside air chilled her to the bone as she slowly headed to her masters house.
She wasn’t sure if the Prince would be angry at her disappearance, but she did know that he wouldn’t come after her.
He had to marry, he had to fulfil his duty, he had to be a prince.
For every step she took, she found it harder to breathe…
Venturing one final look back, she whispered…”Be safe…my prince…”
As she continued her journey, tears dripped endlessly from her eyes…
“Be safe…” she chanted over and over…

Her feet ached and she was shivering by the time she arrived at her owners house, and the first face she saw, was that of her master…
He stared down at her as if she were the ugliest thing he’d ever seen…”You are over a day late!”
Arielle shuddered at the disgust in his eyes.

The sudden remembrance at what it felt like to be hated overtook her, “I am…I am so sorry…”
He snarled as his arm reared back and he slapped her hard across the face, knocking her to the ground…

Too shocked and winded to react, she let out a gasp of pain…

Grabbing her arm, he dragged her towards a tall man, who was clad in black leather…
“You have shamed me enough! The Baron has come to take you now…”
Arielle’s body went numb…
The Baron turned to face Arielle and eyed her up and down…
“What a filthy, disobedient maid…” he said angrily…
“She’ll clean up better! She’s just weary from a long walk…”
The baron glared at the man who was gripping Arielle’s arm and then grabbed her face and surveyed her…

Her eyes didn’t meet his, as there was no spark left.

“Fine…She’ll serve her purpose when I get her back to my castle.” and he tossed her backwards.
As the Baron climbed back into his carriage, he turned to his footsman…”Tie the girls hands, and attach her to a rope. She can walk along behind the carriage as we return…”
Arielle heaved breath into her aching body, “Please… Please…I have been walking so far, I am sorry for my late return but I beg you-“
All pleas were useless as a thick rope bound her hands tight…
“I do not care for your excuses,” the baron growled as he gripped her jaw hard…”I’ve been waiting far too long…I deserve a nice leisurely ride, and you will walk behind…and REMEMBER YOUR PLACE.”
Arielle felt tears drip from her eyes, as she bowed her head and nodded.
As the horses were gently whipped to begin their journey, the rope that tied Arielle’s wrists began to tug her along…
And the embers of her soul began to go out…

……………..

At that same moment, far across the countryside…
Michael shuddered as a chill stamped brutally into his heart…

“Aarghh…” he stuttered as he pressed his hand to the pain in his chest.
His head spun to the other side of his bed, searching for her…
Gone.
He sat up fast, rubbing his eyes as panic began to set in…
“Arielle?” he called out.
Standing up, he rushed towards the bathroom, hands shaking…
His palm slammed onto the door of the washroom and it hit the back wall with a crack.
“Arielle?!” he yelled…
His eyes widened and he turned to the wooden chair in the corner…
“Arielle!!!”
When he saw her dress and shoes gone, terror beyond anything he’d ever felt engulfed him…

“No…no…NO!!!!!!“

………………

Arielle was on the verge of collapsing by the time they arrived…
What was only a thirty minute journey felt like an entire day…

The carriage had sped up briefly and she had lost her shoes as she tripped to keep up…

She could feel the sticky blood that was coming out of the scrapes and cuts on the bottom of her feet.

The Baron jumped down from the carriage and summoned for her tether to be undone…
As the end of the rope was handed to him, he roughly pulled, and led her into his castle still bound.
“Behold the new maid!” he roared as he entered…”She thinks that she is far above us, and returned late to her master.”

The Baron noticed the blood on the floor and catching Arielle off guard, he spun around and whacked the palm of his hand across her face…
Stifling, cold pain streaked down Arielle’s cheek…
“You want to bleed in MY castle!? Time to pay. Sex till bloody.”
Arielle felt her heart begin to thud.
“No…Oh God Please don’t let this be happening…” she thought urgently…
Seeing her pause, he grew more livid and withdrew his arm only to strike her hard again on the opposite cheek…
“Not only did you defy your previous master by returning late with no money, but you defy your first command from me!?”
Tears welled up and spilled down Arielle’s face…
Her life was again one horrible nightmare…
But she knew that her disappearance would save the Prince’s life.
No matter what he confessed to, if there was no proof, she was sure he would be spared…
“I SHALL ONLY ASK YOU ONCE MORE! Go to my bedchamber, and wait for me…”
Arielle held her head high, and shook her head, “I refuse.”
The burly man’s face turned ugly with rage…
“Insolent wench! I WILL have my way with you, but first, you will be taught a lesson!” he yelled and grabbed Arielle by her hair and began to drag her towards a murky corridor and down a dark staircase…
Unbolting a thick wooden door, he dragged her inside an empty room…

Pulling her bound hands, he grabbed her by the jaw and squeezed her face tight, “You are WORTHLESS! You think you can refuse ME!?”

Pushing her hard up against the stone wall he raised his hands to her breasts and began to squeeze her chest tight…

“NO! GET OFF ME!!!”

Clasping her breasts tighter and digging in his fingers, he laughed, “You will get the harshest treatment when I finally take you! You will bleed out…”

Releasing her with little care, he vised his hand around her neck and slammed his hard palm across her face once more as he pushed her to the ground…
She screamed as her body hit the floor, her head banging onto the hard concrete…
When he closed the door, darkness flooded the room…
“You will remain in there until you beg me to let you out! And if you never call for me, THEN YOU WILL NEVER COME OUT!”
Arielle broke down…
Her hands flew to her heart as if she could prevent it from shattering, the pain becoming more than she could tolerate…
“Master, It…it is dark…” she uttered feeling scared…
But he had already gone.
Pulling her knees up under her chin, she closed her eyes…

“I will endure it for him…be safe…my prince…”
Hours went by as she went in and out of consciousness.
Arielle had been in the cold darkness for so long that she no longer had any feeling in her limbs…
Her body was exhausted…
She was shivering and almost sure that she had blood dripping down her face…
And the impact from the fall was now making her head throb harder…
“Be safe my Prince…My love will never leave you…be…be safe…”
And she fainted to the ground…

………………..

Nearly two hours.

And they still hadn’t found Arielle’s owner…

“Owner,” Michael spat out with hate…

His anger and panic was now apparent to everyone who saw him.

He had already shattered half the furniture he could get his hands on when he had found out for sure that she had left.

The castle servers avoided him, and his own soldiers steered away…

He was raging at his second in command almost every 5 minutes asking for updates…

Almost ready to kill, he fisted Corey’s shirt and snarled, “You better bloody know where she is!!!”

“Yes Michael, YES! We have finally located the man who sent us the girl…”
Michael’s blood pressure surged, “Where! TELL ME NOW!”
Corey, Michael’s second in command, rattled off the address and The Prince strapped his sword to his waist and sprinted out…
Michael furiously grabbed the reigns of his horse and jumped up, with Corey following close behind…
“Son?” The King appeared at the castle gate, “Why must you know of this man?” 
Michael’s expression was deadly…”Because he has something of MINE…”
And jamming the heel of his boots into the tall animal, Michael galloped away, leaving a cloud of dust…
He whipped his horse to go faster…
After waiting so long for her location, he was in the most destructive mood of his life.

If she had been harmed, he was ready to maul and exterminate who ever touched her.
Michael charged onto the grounds, and without waiting for an announcement, he jumped off his horse and pulled open the doors…
Immediately, he saw the owner and marched up to the him…
“Where is she!?” he growled urgently…
The thin, snobbish man was now rattled…”…who? Who my prince?”
Michael was becoming primal…”Arielle! The maid who returned early this morning!”
“…Her?…she has been sold already.”
Cold horror shot into his soul…
“To who!” he yelled…

Arielle’s former owner didn’t reply fast enough and Michael grabbed the man’s collar, nearly choking him…”I said to WHO!?”
“To the Baron in the next county. He had been waiting for her many days, and was furious when she arrived late with no money. He took her away instantly.”
Michael couldn’t breathe as he remembered her saying she would be harmed if she returned without money.
“Was she hurt!? What was done to her!?”
“She…she was…She…”
Corey saw Prince Michael ready to kill and intervened fast knowing they needed information…
“Answer man! Was the girl hurt!?”
Michael refused to blink, his heart was spiraling…

“Why did she do this!? I wanted to save HER! I didn’t want her to save me!”
He was willing to give up everything for her happiness…
“The Baron was livid, he hit her, and bound her hands and made her walk behind the carriage…”
Michael was struck with pure, manic rage…” what did YOU do to her?”
The man shook and cowered back, “Nothing… I didn’t-“
Michael hissed and bared his teeth, “What. Did. You. Do.”

“I struck her.”
Lashing out fast, Michael knocked the man to the ground, then pulled out a dagger and flung it into the man’s stomach…
Eyes darkening, he turned to Corey beside him…
“You will summon one hundred men together THIS INSTANT, and meet me at the Baron’s castle…”
Saluting, Corey sent out the order to one of the other guards who mounted his horse, and galloped back to the castle…
Michael couldn’t get onto his horse fast enough.
“My God…Lord in heaven” he kept uttering…”Let her be okay…I beg of you…Let her be okay…”
As he stormed towards the Baron’s castle, he heard a rumbling in the distance and knew that a small army was assembling behind him…
Enough men to take down a castle…and they had every intention of defending whatever their prince was fighting for.

“I’ll fight ANYTHING for her…”
When the black castle came into view, his heart lurched.
It was dark and frightening…
What was the Baron doing to her!?
“Faster!” he howled, only a short distance away…
Finally he was there…
Before any other guard had a chance to follow him, he jumped from his horse, sword in hand, and stormed into the building roaring…
“Baron!!! SHOW YOURSELF NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Michael’s second in command soon rushed in and called out…”An Audience is requested for Prince Michael!”
Servants were rushing from one room to another, but none were Arielle…

His eyes zoned in on the floor and noticed the dried bloodied footsteps.

Violence was now the only reaction he had.
He began to storm through the building, kicking in the doors, destroying anything and everything he could see, screaming at anyone he saw if they had seen Arielle…
“My Prince! The Baron is here…”
Michael turned and pushed past his guard and charged towards the Baron.
He could see that this man was an angry vile person, just by the way he stood.
Grabbing a fistful of his collar, Michael lifted his sword to the Baron’s neck snarled…”Where is She!”
The baron was now shaking with terror…”My prince, I don’t know who you’re talkin-“
Michael slid the blade of his sword over the man’s throat, making a shallow gash…”The new ‘maid’… Arielle… WHERE IS SHE!?!”
The baron lifted his hands in defence…”My prince, I paid for her! I paid for her fairly, a good price! I didn’t steal her!”
That anyone could put a price on his Arielle was sickening…
Michael’s eyes turned wild with hate as he asked once more in a frightening voice…”Where. Is. She?!”
“Please…” the man shook, “Please release me, I will take you to her…”
Michael harshly let go and stepped forwards threateningly…”HURRY!”
As the baron began rushing down a dark corridor, Michael’s insides began to churn…
“It’s so…so dark…where is she…what has he done to her!?”
“I knew this girl was bad news My prince,” the baron stuttered nervously…” …she blatantly refused to obey my very first command of her…”
Michael was losing his control…”What command!? What did you do!?”
The baron slowed and turned back to face Michael, “She is just a servant, and one who was late returning to me. She was pretty enough so I was going to sleep with her. When she refused, I hit her as hard as I could…she’s nothing but a worthless whore anyway who…”
The beast inside him broke free and Michael lifted his clenched fist and struck the baron’s jaw violently hard…
He staggered back, slumping against the brick wall as Michael dealt a harsh uppercut fisted punch to the baron’s jaw, completely snapping it…
Stopping suddenly, he roared…”Tell me where she is RIGHT now!”
“In that room!” the baron groaned out as he gripped his broken bone…
As guards apprehended the Baron, Michael instantly rushed to the door and barked out, “Arielle! If you can hear me, stand back from the door!” 
Michael didn’t bother to wait for a key and flexed his chest, lifted his huge leg and kicked brutally. 
Kick…kick…
CRACK!
The thick wooden door gave way and Michael was met with darkness…
As low light started to seep in, his eyes instantly drained of life when he saw her…
“No…”
His voice was hoarse and devastated with emotion as he bolted to her side…
Servants began to swarm inside the room with lamps, and Michael saw the state of her…

“Oh God please…”

Her clothes were muddied, torn and damp with blood.
Her cheeks were swollen and red with a large bruise turning dark purple…
There was a gash on her forehead and a hot lump forming on the back of her skull…
The soles of her feet were scraped and bleeding and her hands were bound tight…
She had been crying, the salt from her tears mixing with the salty blood that dripped from her wound…
Carefully sliding his arms around her, he lifted her gently against his chest…
“Ari…Arielle…”
He ran his fingers over her pulse, and felt it beating faintly…
Letting out a quick sigh, the relief didn’t last long as his body began to fill with a rage that bordered on mania…
He pulled out the small dagger that was in his belt and carefully cut through the rope around her wrists, all the while chanting to her…
“Arielle…I’m here…I’m here…”
When the rope gave, he gently rubbed her hands, making the blood flow.

His gaze shot to his second in command, “Get me a carriage, now! I’m taking her away from here instantly!”
“Right away, where would you like to take her?”
Michael looked up sternly…”To MY castle.”
Completely bewildered, Corey nodded his head and asked…”Do you want half of the sentry sent back? Or do you need them still?”
Michael didn’t want to pay any attention to anyone other than to Arielle, but he ground out his answers…
“Send half back. See to it that a my physician is waiting for her immediate assistance…Understand!?”
Lifting her fingers carefully to his lips, he tried to wake her…
“Arielle…Elle…please…please wake up…”
He began to hyperventilate as he clutched her to his chest…
His guttural gasps were shocking everyone around…
“Arielle…” his voice broke…”I’m here…Damn it wake up…”
“Your Highness…?”
An older maid approached him carefully…”Your Highness…The servant girl is alive…she has obviously merely fainted…”
Michael held Arielle closer as his voice turned brutal…
“Merely fainted!?! Look at her! Look what that bastard has done to her!!”
He lifted one hand to her face, carefully avoiding her injury, and moved her hair away from her eyes, her face was hot, but the rest of her was cold as ice.
“You’re freezing…” he was breathing harder…”Blankets! Bring me blankets right now!”
Servants rushed in all directions as Michael kept his gaze pinned on Arielle…

“I’m here sweetheart,” he rocked her in his arms…
A servant passed a blanket over and he snatched it fast…
Wrapping it around her cold body, Michael was more careful with her than he would be with a baby…
He delicately lifted Arielle as he stood, his heart was tearing to pieces for her…

Corey came into view as he took her out of the dark room, “Sir, the carriage is prepared.”

He was about to leave when he heard a voice that kindled his fury…
“This isn’t fair! I paid for her!”He halted, pulling Arielle closer, and turned back to the baron…”Fair!? You will be punished severely for what you have done to her!” and he leaned closer as his voice turned savage…”She’s my WIFE.”
And cradling her against his chest, he marched out of the castle…

If she hadn’t have been in his arms, he would have murdered the Baron there and then.

Michael climbed in and positioned himself carefully in the carriage seat so she wouldn’t be hurt…

As the attendant closed the door, he growled, “You keep this journey as smooth as possible.”
The horses took off as fast as they could.
When the wheels hit a ditch or a rock, Michael held her tighter, the need to protect her so severe inside him it was beginning to strangle him.

His hands were sweating as one held her close, and another caressed her face…
“Arielle…” he felt a wave of emotions holding him imprisoned…”I’m here…I’m here…you’re with me…” 

His lips pressed to her forehead, “Why…why did you do this? Why would you go back to that kind of life just so nothing would happen to me?” 

He studied every single wound, letting each one fuel his determination to avenge her…
………………..

The carriage finally came to a halt at the castle.

Cradling her close, he carried her inside…

Swarms of nurses, and his personal doctor were now at his side as he carried her as fast as possible to his room…

“My Prince,” the doctor spoke carefully, “Do you realize you are heading to your own quarters?”

Not bothering to reply, he lay her limp body onto his bed and nearly staggered backwards, “Help her… Fast.” 

He collapsed in the closest chair, dropping his face in his hands as he tightened his jaw trying desperately not to breakdown…

He listened carefully as the nurses and doctor worked, knowing that if he looked up, he wouldn’t be able to handle it…
He had never had to deal with these kind of emotions before. 

After 5 minutes, he finally heard his name called…

“Prince Michael?”
His head jerked up, and his eyes immediately darted over to Arielle who was now in a white cotton shirt, the rope burns on her wrists glistening with the ointment they had put on her…

“Is she ok…?”

“She’s stable…the nurses have gone, and so I can now explain her condition. We cleaned her up carefully as she is quite badly beaten. We removed small splinters and shards of glass from her feet…”

Michael’s heart shrivelled in pain as much as his anger sky rocketed…

The Doctor continued, “The knock to the back of her head isn’t severe but I gave her a shot of painkillers to help with any discomfort. The trauma was quite a shock to her system and that is the reason she is unconscious. The gash on her forehead isn’t as deep as it looks so no stitches were needed…and the markings on her chest aren’t serious but will bruise. She is shaking slightly so I also administered a sedative to help combat the shock in her system…”

“Wait …” Michael felt pure terror fill his heart…”marks on her chest?!” 

Leaning over her in an instant, his shaking hands lifted her top…

“My Prince, Please…”

But Michael heard nothing…

The moment he saw the red handprints on her breasts, his fury began to explode….

Turning to the doctor he fisted the mans shirt…”Was she raped?! Tell me FAST!?”

The doctor shook slightly, nervous and shocked at the Prince’s attitude, “We found dried blood around her  torn hymen. It looks like she was deflowered last night. I would assume, with this other fresh abuse that she was-“
“no…NO.” Michael fell beside her…
He knew it that is was he himself who took her virginity, but now he was terrified that she had been sexually abused and that he wasn’t in time to stop it. 
The doctor didn’t know what to say…

He’d never seen Michael like this…
“Your Highness, The girl will be alright, but I can’t speak for how she will react when she wakes. Clearly she is a servant, but I definitely know that she should not have been treated this harshly, it would help to know exactly what happened, just to make sure that all her ailments have been tended to…”

Michael stood up, standing tall towering over the older man as he ground out through clenched teeth, “This woman is not a servant.”

The older man cowered back, “I apologize, I don’t know the full story and I misspoke.”

The Prince clenched his teeth, “I will find out what happened from the Baron’s staff…but for now…I will thankyou for helping her…”

Seeing the doctor to the doorway, he called out to Corey who hurried over.

“My Prince?” He stood at command.

“I want to know exactly what happened to Arielle, and I want to know as fast as possible. Ask everyone.”
“Yes sir.”

As he shut his bedroom door, he instantly rushed to her side.

Michael was still in shock as he sat beside her.
She was once again safe in his bed, but his soul twinged painfully just thinking how close he had come to losing her forever…
Lifting her hand into his, he kissed her knuckles over and over…
Noticing the torn skin from the rope burns on her wrists, he felt his heart smoke with fury…

Trying to keep his voice as tempered as he could, he spoke…”Why did you leave…I want to be angry with you but…” he took a shaky breath, “…but how could you actually love me so much…to go back to a life like that…My God, you don’t deserve this…”
He placed a kiss on her reddened wrist and she winced from the pain…
Michael sat up straighter, gentling his hold on her hand…
“Shhh…shhh, you’re okay…” he crooned at her…
The image of her, trapped in the dark, bound to the point of cruel pain, being molested by another man made him want to beat his own heart brutally…
” I have never been this angry…” he said as fury erupted from his eyes…”I know you love me…but…Don’t you understand that I love you more? MORE…and…God I almost lost you…”
His eyes went back to her torso…

“Mine.” he whispered…”And that asshole touched what is MINE. If I find out that he raped you…” he paused as violence sinewed through him, “I will make him suffer more than any other human being I have ever killed.”

Lifting her shirt once more, he pressed his lips between her breasts, feeling her heartbeat against his mouth…

He trailed his lips delicately along her chest, licking and kissing, taking his time…

Once he reached each nipple, he flicked his tongue along the tip and suckled gently…

He stayed by her side, not knowing how long he had been staring at her, unable to tear himself away until a knock at his door jolted him back to reality…

The interruption sent a zap of anger to his soul, but he kissed her forehead and stood up slowly…

He came face to face with his second in command, Corey.

“Your highness,” he nodded, “ I have the information you asked for.”

His eyes turned dark.

“We questioned everyone in the 2 hours since you returned…The staff all basically said the same thing, until we heard from the older guard from the cell where you found her. When she arrived, he hit her for her leaving blood on the floor then demanded her to go to his bedchamber, to which she refused and he threatened to have sex with her till she bled out.”

Corey paused when Michael snarled and grabbed hold of the doorframe, the wood slightly cracking under his grip.
Violence was now oozing from Michael’s breath on his every exhale.

“He proceeded to strike her and then drag her to the lower levels. Once there, he struck her again and threw her into the stone wall and began to physically abuse her, mainly her torso. The jailer said he was too frightened to intervene. The baron then threw her into the cell, she fell to the ground and he locked her inside. The guard informed that she was there mumbling, about you actually, for awhile and then passed out. You found her three hours later.”

Michael’s fists were clenched tighter than steel as he ground out, “Three Hours?” 
“Yes, he was going to leave her there unless she begged to be let out…”

His eyes turned black with hate…”Not only was she in that room, bound and bleeding for…for three hours, but he was going to leave her there!?”
“Yes sir.” he repeated.

Michael then breathed the question that was terrorising his soul, “so…she wasn’t raped?” 
Corey shook his head, “No sir…but he definitely would have, had you not saved her…” 
“Get that man…” Michael’s words were brutal…”And throw him in the lowest part of the dungeons we have….and do it fast…Before I find him, and tear him apart…”

Corey nodded, “It’s as good as done, I hate him myself hearing all of this…”

The Prince was vibrating with fury…

“sir,” the soldier attitude slipped and Corey addressed his friend, “are you alright? I’ve never seen you like this…”

“I…I just…I’ve never had to, never felt…” Michael ground out…
Corey spoke carefully, “Mike, someone said that you called her…your wife.”
The Prince’s eyes shot up and and locked with Corey’s as though they were firing arrows, but he didn’t say anything. 
“Sir, you know I’m loyal to you…no matter what.”
Michael’s nostrils flared as new strength filled him, “she is my wife.”
Corey’s jaw slightly dropped as his commanding officer said words that no one ever thought he would utter. 
“I won’t say a word.”
Michael looked back at Arielle, his entire heart shuddering. 
Corey carefully spoke, “Is she ok?”
“She will be…” he took a shaky breath in, “ I just…I can’t believe this has happened…look I’ll talk to you later.”
“Yes sir.”
Not able to say anymore, he withdrew into his room and bolted his door.
Reseating himself as close as he could, he took her hand gently in his and felt fire burn his soul…
“I’m so sorry…I didn’t come fast enough…three hours…My God…“
Roughly swiping his fingers through his hair, he brought her hand to his lips once more…
“If I had only realised that you were willing to go back to a life like that, I could have stopped you.”

It never occurred to him that her life had been this bad.

But he once again remembered all he had said to her, all he himself had threatened her with…

He pulled at his hair and slammed a fist into his chest, the pain sleucing through his heart now hitting extravagant levels, “I’m a moron…I knew the moment I saw you that I wanted you…I’ve never had anybody break down the walls around my heart like you…And look what I did…”

The shame he felt was acute as he vowed, “I’ll protect you…You belong to me…”

“Be safe…”
Michael’s eyes darted up when he heard her voice…
“Arielle?”
He tenderly brushed her hair away from her face…
“Be…be safe…Michael…” She suddenly gasped and shook with fright…”Sir…”
He could no longer bear hearing her fear of him…
“No no no…It’s Michael… I’m yours. Please, please Arielle…no fear…wake up baby…” he whispered desperately…
“Be safe…” she murmured again…
He moved over her, and softly pressed his mouth to hers…
Arielle’s lips began to tremble…
He pulled back, seeing her begin to stir…”Arielle…?”
She could hear him calling her name…
But her heart was lurching, knowing it was just a memory…

Her instant knowledge was that she was now alone, and would die a servants death.
Despite her swimming head, and feeble arms, Arielle tried to push herself up. 
Michael slid his arms under her back, “Whoa…slow down…”
The moment she moved her hands, she hissed, instantly falling onto to his ever strong grip. 
Her lips parted as her eyes opened and tried to focus…
Too sore and shaky to move, she lay motionless in his embrace as his palms pulled her possessively closer.  
Shock permeated her heart as she was, once again, face to face with the prince…
“..what’s going on…” she wondered, feeling dazed and confused…“is this real…?”
Michael’s fingers pressed gently into her back as he whispered…”Arielle…?”
Tearing her eyes away from his, she slowly glanced around the room…
He waited for her to realise exactly where she was…
“I…can’t be here…” she breathed…
Careful not to hurt her, he pulled her nearer as her eyes locked with his “Oh you’re here…” and he slowly closed his lips over hers…
It took her a few moments to respond, but when she did, she opened her mouth, gasping hard as her tongue began tangling with his…
“ yes,” his thoughts raged…“I would do anything, say anything, give up ANYTHING for her…”
Arielle suddenly tried to jerk away, her fingers flew involuntarily to her lips…

Her face scrunched up in agony as her wrists began to burn…
Michael held her firmly and tried to reassure her, “Hey…slowly…it’s alright…you’re safe…”
“No…No! Why did you do this!?” she screamed as she continued to try and pull away, groaning as pain radiated throughout her body…
Michael whirled her closer, her face now dangerously close to his…
Her hands were shaking as her strength failed her…
Immobilised, Arielle bit her bottom lip to keep from crying…
“WHY?” The intensity of his stare was powerful…”Did you really think that I would let you go!? That I wouldn’t come after you!?”

The look in her eyes confirmed it.

“Seriously!?” His expression showed how appalled he was, “I told you. I told you that you were mine. I have never fallen for anyone! You think I’d let you go?!  Let you be sold!? As if a price could actually be named for you!?”
She blinked, more tears rushing out, “But…but you-“

“I don’t give a damn about me! I care about you! You’re my WIFE”

Arielle forced her voice to work, “Sir… I…I would have…”

“Michael. My name to you is Michael. Anything I threatened you with was a 

lie! It was never real. You are in no danger. You were mine the moment I 

felt you near me.”
She tried to shift in his embrace only to have sharp pains spread across her body, making her cry out…

“Shhh…shh…I hate seeing you in pain..when I found you in that dark room, I…I have never been scared before… but seeing you, like that..I was terrified.”

Her eyes poured out her brokenness, “I would have been fine…I would-“

“FINE!?” he roared…”FINE!? If I hadn’t saved you when I did, he would have raped you! You needed saving! Why didn’t you explain to me that you lived a life like…like…that!?””
Her heart felt like a stone…”I have always lived as a slave! I have had nothing since my childhood! I have been beaten and tortured and for so many years my heart hasn’t  felt anything! You finally make me feel and then bring me back just to watch you, the only person I have ever loved, be killed!?”

She tried to move but everything burst in pain and she collapsed in his embrace and cried, “No! I hate you! I hate you for this!!!!”
Arielle hung her head, as tears rained unchecked down her cheeks…
Michael turned her face to his, lightly brushing the pad of his thumb over her bruises…”You aren’t allowed to hate me…” 
Arielle stared…

“I will not lose the woman I am in love with!”
Her entire being froze, “You love me?” 
The genuine shock in her voice made him freeze in furyas he realised that he hadn’t actually told her yet. 
Holding her gaze he firmly spoke, “I’m in love with you.
I would search the world over and drag you back to me, to my arms, to my protection…I protect what is mine…and Arielle…” his open mouth was now speaking against her trembling lips…”You…are MINE.”
The impossible was happening, and she couldn’t hardly believe it…“

he loves me…maybe I am worth something… even if just for this moment.”
Launching herself forwards, she ignored all pain as she clutched his shirt fiercely and fused her mouth to his…
Michael wrapped her safely in his arms, and tried to pry her fingers away…”Relax your hands.…”
“I…I…” she sucked in a broken pained breath…”I don’t hate you…I don’t…I’m sorry…I’m so sorry.”
Michael growled into her mouth…”Shut up…”
Any move she was about to make was futile, as he plastered their bodies together…
Her head fell back into his waiting palm, and he lowered his lips to suck on her neck, not caring of the wet marks his mouth left in it’s wake…
“I love you Sir…” she whimpered…
Angst filled his heart hearing how far he had pushed her to fear him…

Dragging his lips up her neck, he spoke against her mouth, “Arielle…I know you’re scared…I know I’ve scared you…but listen to me…My name, is Michael… you are never going back to such a horrible life. Never. You are eternally safe with me…” he pulled her closer…
The new feeling of hope was terrifying her and she gripped his shirt harder and moaned out in agony…
“Shhh, Arielle, be still…” He tightened his grip, restricting her movement…

Her voice was tremoring, “He…he hurt me…”

“I know…” he snarled, “I know exactly what he did…” 

Arielle felt lower than the dust…”I tried to stop him…I tried…I’m sorry…”

“The only thing you need to be sorry for, is leaving me.”

The abrasions and bruises that were appearing on her face, stabbed him in the heart…”Arielle, I beg your forgiveness for how I spoke to you and for how I acted when we met…I am so sorry for everything I said and did…Listen to what I’m saying now…I love you…and you are mine…”

She began to sob and he shook his head making shushing sounds, “No…no no…Calm down my love, I was going to get you back, I was going to save you…”
“I wanted to save you…”
Not paying attention to her sad words, he eased her back onto his bed…”It wasn’t me who needed to be saved…”
Michael lay her down carefully as he slowly opened the cotton robe she was in…

She looked down and saw how clean and bandaged up she was…

A shiver went through her and she felt momentarily cold as the air now touched her bare skin…

Her eyes closed as she began to pant..

He came up over her, gently parting her legs…
Her desperate eyes met his as he lowered his body onto hers, the heat from his skin now spreading across her faster than the speed of light…

“You should never have left me…” he whispered sharply as he held her thighs apart…

Blinking slowly, she whimpered, “I would have endured it all to save you, I would have-” and she moaned…
“That’s it,” he said as he pushed his hard flesh inside her, “…quiet now…I want to feel your tight body gripping and holding me…I need take your pain away…I need to convince your heart that you’re mine… that I’m yours…”
Her eyes fluttered shut as he withdrew and pushed back in…

The baron’s threat to have sex until she was bloody lurked in her memory and she shook with fear and disgust…

“He…He was going to…” Arielle began…

“No…” he growled in the most frightening tone she’d ever heard…

He knew exactly what threat she had remembered…

“No he was not…I was going to find you.”

“Michael…” 

Her weak voice made him determined to send her soaring…

The way his body held hers down, and the way his erection stretched her core, ripped her of reality and sent shudders over her entire being…
Michael’s sheer power was now plain as day.

“The only person to ever be inside you…” he flexed his pelvis and lodged his erection deeper, pushing down on her cervix, “…is me.”

He leaned his torso lower and gnarled…”Do you understand that?…”

His exterior was roaring rage and power, but his eyes were screaming love.

Michael felt her inner muscles flutter around him, and instinct took over…
He braced himself on his elbows and rhythmically penetrated her…
Pushing all thought of his impending punishment from his head, he focused only on the woman in his arms…
Arielle sucked in a shrill breath as her fingers entwined in his hair and she bit back a hiss…
“Arielle let go…I don’t want you hurting more…”
“Let me hold you…please…I thought I’d never see you again…I thought…Oh…Oh my…”

Never see her again…
Those words echoed in his head and he nearly ignited with pain…
The thought of her disappearing again suddenly terrified him.

On the edge of her explosion, he somehow managed to hold himself still, the head of his arousal pressed firmly against her womb, his girth stretching her wide…
Frenzied with denied release, Arielle’s body jerked as she tugged on his hair…
Muttering rasped pleas, Michael demanded her gaze…
“You will never run from me again…promise me this right now…”
Her tears were stabbing his heart, but he held firm…
“I…I can’t watch you die…I can’t…I love you…I love you so much!”
Michael slid his hands under her top, baring her breasts …

“Don’t…I look-“

Her words stopped the second he felt his mouth on her…
She whimpered as the over sensitive tips stung with pleasure…
Lowering his head, he flicked his tongue over her tingling nipple…

“You will promise me…”

Her breath caught in her chest and she grimaced, “But…”

“You will promise me!”

The dominance in his voice had the words spill from her throat…
“I won’t leave you…” she said breathing hard…
He rained kisses over her soft chest as he began to piston his hips…
Arielle was as distraught as she was impassioned…
Her arms wound around his neck, pulling him closer…
Michael sank into her body…
And yet she clutched him tighter…
She tried to lift her legs around him, but she was completely worn out…
Knowing what she wanted, he trailed his hands down her hips and to her knees…
She felt his strong hands lift her legs up around his waist…
“Arielle…” he rasped…”I’m not letting you go…I’m not letting you go…”
Turning animalistic, he thrust inside her with all his strength as his tongue pried her lips open, kissing her deeply…
Her fingers pulled at his damp hair once again, sending his own desire higher…
“…yes…” she murmured…
He slid an arm beneath her waist and pulled, arching her back…
Arielle felt him slide deeper, grinding consistently on her gspot…
“Oh…no…” her eyes went wide with fear, “that…that feeling…I…I can’t handle…”
Michael’s motions only increased…
“Yes you can…the sensations will help you recover…”
Recover…
The very word made her heart clench…
“Why should I?!” her words were bitter and anguished…”I will only have to live without you!”
Michael snarled, refusing to let up…”Your life is worth living Arielle! You are perfect, and I would rather die than have you live in any more pain…”
He thrust against her most sensitive area without pause…

“Oh…Oh…Oh…no…no…no….”
Michael’s eyes held hers…”Yes…Arielle…”
He felt her channel constricting as her gspot swelled up…
“I…I couldn’t…handle it…last…last time…”
Michael leaned down, covering her chest with his…
“Last time, I was angry…” his lips hovered over hers…”But I knew even then that I was in love with you…this time I’m inside you…come.”
Arielle screamed as her body ruptured…
Holding her a close in his arms, Michael watched as she was possessed with a climax that sent her body reeling uncontrollably and he arched her back further so he could remain inside…
Arielle’s heart was overflowing with love just as her body was overflowing with heated blood…
As the unyielding forceful climax ripped through her, Michael suctioned his lips to hers, letting out jets of semen…
He held her tight, taking solace in her…
“Arielle…” he breathed, even though she was still high in the clouds and could barely focus…”I love you…I’m here…I’m with you…”
Arielle’s heart could hear him, even though her body was being held captive by merciless sensations…
Michael felt her contractions, and for every pulse, he gently kissed her neck, her face, her chest…
“Mi…Michael…Michael…” 
Hurriedly pressing his lips to hers, he whispered…”I’m here…You’re with me…”
“I don’t…want to lose you…”
His heart broke…
He knew the law.
And no one was above the law in his country.
No one, but he had a plan. 
If his father wouldn’t understand, he was going to give up everything, and disappear with her. 
“Sleep my love…you need to…I need you to be alright…”

He could see she was already drowsy but still she tried to talk, “I will…take…the…bl…blame…”

Shaking his head, he kissed her nose, then her lips, “I love you…sleep now…”

And she drifted…

…..

When Arielle awoke, Michael was standing by the window, fully dressed, his sword sheathed in the leather of his belt.
Nervously she looked up…” hello?”
Instantly turning, his eyes clung to hers as he moved towards her…
“Hey sweetheart…” His voice was quiet as he touched his lips to hers…

“Here…” he gently spoke…”Let me help you get dressed…”
Cold dread shot through her body…”Why…? What’s going on?”
Michael remained calm…”Firstly…You’re safe…No matter what happens here.”
Reaching over to the end of the mattress, he lifted up a silk blue dress…
He had sent for soft clothing that wouldn’t hurt her body…
Her eyes widened as he helped her sit up.

Sudden fear began to overtake her, “Sir…” she squeezed his hand…
His eyes were firm, and flashed with warning…”Arielle don’t call me that…You call me by my name…”

“I…I just…”

He came over her, bending her back over his arm…”MY name…understand? Get it through your head, I’m yours…you use my name…”

“I…I’m sorry…” 

Shaking his head he held her gently and kissed her forehead, “How you have had to live, is unacceptable… and I treated you unforgivably…but Arielle, I will remind you of your infinite worth as often as I need to…”
Placing a kiss on her palms, he smiled softly…
Gently lifting her arms, he replaced the cotton shirt with the silk, letting the soft material fall over her head…
It felt as though he was wrapping her in one of his smooth sheets…
 Sliding the sleeves carefully over her scraped wrists, he looked down at the dark blue fabric that now pooled at her waist…
He smiled, moving the covers of the bed down to see her legs…

“Please tell me what’s going on…”
Trailing his palms over her skin, he rested his hands on her bare waist…”I’ve called for my father…”
Arielle felt his grip harden on her waist, as if ready to restrain her…
But she only bowed her head…
“I will not allow for any injustice towards you…i have a plan. I don’t want you to worry at all…”
Finally she raised her head high…”I care nothing for my life, if you are not in it…”
Michael felt his heart shatter inside him…
Drawing the covers down, he lifted her leg…

One of the bandages had loosened…

“I care about your life Arielle…” 

Michael took one of her feet in his hands…
When he surveyed the scrapes and cuts, he was furious…
Feeling shameful, she looked away…
“Arielle,” he commanded her attention…”You will hold your head high! I am in love with you! Your life holds the most importance to me, and I will make sure that you are avenged for each and every wound that has been given to you…”
Readjusting the bandage, he delicately placed her foot back down and moved up towards her…
Her trembling hands lifted to rest on his chest, “Please… Let me take the blame…I would rather die with you than live without you…”
His arms came around her, and held her close…”No. Way.”
And his lips brushed hers…
Footsteps approached outside…
Arielle flinched when she heard a knock at the door…
Michael held her body still as he called out…”Who is it?!”
“It’s your father.”
Arielle began to tremble and he lowered his mouth to hers quickly, then he released her and stood up…
She grabbed for his hand, and he paused to kiss her palm before gently placing it back on the bed…
He walked away, knowing full and well that he was about to risk everything…

When he opened the door, he came face to face with his father…
“Dad…”

The King seemed calm as he patted his son on the shoulder and walked into the room…
“I trust that you got back what was yours from the baron?”
Michael nodded, as his Father smiled towards Arielle who was pale and silent…
“And who is this young woman Michael?”

She could see that the King was a strong man, and yet she saw that he had a kindness about him…

“Please…spare him…” She thought over and over…
Holding his ground, Michael answered, “This is Arielle Kumari Gupta…”
“Well,” the king smiled, “it’s lovely to meet you my dear…”

She merely stared, her nerves obvious…

The King looked back at his son, “I am assuming you called me to talk about her?”
Michael knew the time had come.
He gave one last look to the love of his life and even though her eyes broke his heart, he turned back to face his punishment.
Michael lifted his head high and stared hard into his father’s eyes…”I married her. I love her. I won’t be with anyone except her…”
The king remained silent as his lips twitched and his heart filled with hope…
But Arielle looked on, unable to breathe…
She wanted to scream, to disappear, to give her life to save him, but she couldn’t move.
Michael took a deep breath and continued…”Arielle is of no distinct class, I found her as she was working here…I am willing to accept the punishment…but I demand that you do not hold her responsible for anything. I sought her out. I fell for her the moment I saw her. I will not have her punished for my actions…”

The King was astounded as he was basically seeing a replay of his own life happening before his eyes, a life that his son had no clue of yet.
But Arielle felt horror attack her body as she realised that this may be the end…
“NO!” she tried to yell, but it only came out as a hoarse moan…
Fearing desperately for his life, Arielle threw back the covers and rushed towards Michael…
Pain instantly struck her body and she let out a low groan…
“Spare him! Please!!!” Arielle voice was laced with agony as she crumpled beside him…
Michael had already grabbed hold of her and steadied her as she was shaking…
“Arielle…stop…” he lifted her into his arms…

“I can’t…” she shook her head as tears sprinkled off her cheeks…”I can’t let you do this! Not for someone like me! I’m just a worthless servant!”
Michael suddenly pulled her close, gripping her more harshly than he should have making her whimper…
“I love you!”
Arielle’s hands clung to his collar….
“I love you, and I will not lie about this! Nor will I hide my feelings for you! You are of more worth than a thousand women of higher status!! If I am to die, I will die loving you.”
Her chest began to shake with sobs…
Joy and heartache fused inside her as her gaze clung to his…

The King was silent…watching in awe as his son, the man who knew nothing but anger and hate, showed strong and pure love to a woman.
Michael walked back to the bed and placed her carefully down…
She sat brokenly as her tears were now unstoppable…
He wanted nothing more than to comfort her, but he needed to secure her safety first. 
Taking her hand, trying to assure his closeness, he then turned to his father and stood tall in front of her…”Father, you can punish me…But I won’t allow her to be hurt anymore.”
The King remained where he stood, his expression truly surprised and yet still regal…”Wow…” he cleared his throat, “Michael, why are you under the impression that you are to be punished for falling in love?”
Michael frowned, his head swam with confusion…
“Father, You told me that if I choose a woman of lesser class, that I would be punished…the law…”
The King took one step forwards…”I knew you weren’t really hearing what I meant…Listen to me carefully…I told you to choose a woman with class…I wasn’t talking about status.”

King Jonathan continued, “A woman with true beauty, true character, and true class may not come from a wealthy family. I merely wanted you to choose for love. And the fact that you are willing to risk your life for her, shows me that you truly do love this woman…”
Michael stood aghast, looking from his father back to Arielle and then to his father again…
He could hardly breathe as he asked…”Wh…what…? But…I…I broke the law…”
Arielle tried to get up once more, but Michael spun around and stopped her…”Arielle, Don’t…”
She writhed against him as she bowed her head towards the King…”Please Your Majesty. I am to blame! I beg forgiveness for how I am speaking, I only know that I will should take his place…I implore you! I am nothing.”

Michael now gripped her hair tight, and she moaned, “Don’t you dare say one more word, I’m warning you…you are under my protection now, MINE! …and I protect what I love!”
Her gaze connected once more with Michael’s…”I… I can’t let you face this alone…”
“Well!” The King shifted from one foot to the other, “You have chosen extremely well Michael.” 
Holding Arielle close, Michael faced the King.

“Dad, what is going on? What are you saying?”
“Son, I didn’t want you to marry for the sake of duty…even though you technically did…”
Michael stuttered as he spoke…”I…You…you said…but…but the traditions!? The laws?! I…I don’t…How?”
The King took a step forwards, making Michael’s defenses rise…
He wound his arm further around her …”She is not to blame. I can’t and WON’T go down without a fight…I will protect her at ALL cost…”
The king smiled…”Michael, I already know she is not to blame for anything other than bringing true love into my son’s life…” he looked at Arielle, “For which I thankyou.” He saw that she kept her gaze on the floor, while breathing fast, “Just stay calm my dear.”
Bewildered beyond belief, Michael asked, “…Father, are you saying that…that…everything is fine?”
His father rolled his eyes and nodded…”YES you headstrong young idiot!”
Holding her tight to his body, Michael felt fire heat his heart, “why not just ask me to marry for love?”
The king lifted his eyebrow…”And would you have done that? You, the angry young prince…? Who argued and defied all authority? Who basically lived only for control and duty?”
Michael knew that he wouldn’t have, he would have done his duty to keep his title.
“…it is quite clear that you love this woman…”
Michael was astounded, but he bit back, “I told you I do.”
Michael glanced back at Arielle whose innocent expression made his heart ignite…

His eyes were starting to sting as he kissed her forehead gently…

“Michael, your mother and I only want for you, what we ourselves have with each other…You need a woman who will be your equal, not just after a title. Someone with true beauty, and this young lady appears far superior to what we had even hoped for…”

“Yes.” his eyes remained on Arielle, “Yes she is…”

Finally turning to his father, emotion choked his voice…”I don’t know what to say…”
The king smiled, “I’m just glad you have allowed yourself to love. Now you can stop being such an asshole who only cares for himself…” he looked to Arielle…”My dear?”
She flinched in Michael’s embrace, as she bowed her head…

An emotion flickered in his dad’s eyes, one he hadn’t seen before…

The Kings voice grew gentler and he spoke again, “Arielle?”

Michael kissed her temple, “It’s alright…”

Lifting her head, she apprehensively looked at the king…

He smiled, “I can see you are quite shocked, but let me assure you that you are safe. My son seems like he will make sure of that, seeing as he was willing to demand your protection.” 

The king could see the fear in her eyes, “don’t be afraid, I will leave you with my son for now…but my wife and I would very much like to meet you properly later…”

Her lips parted but she couldn’t summon any words…

The King turned to Michael, “Just reassure her, I can see that she’s been quite badly hurt…”

Michael turned to Arielle and saw her glazed eyes and tear stained face…

Holding the back of her head, he kissed her forehead, “Arielle, take a breath…I’m here…”

She drew in a short breath, but still couldn’t muster the courage to speak, her emotions too fragile…

He glanced at his father…”I have the man responsible in prison…”

The King smirked, “Angry young prince indeed, but now angry for the right reason…I’ll be going now…look after her…”
“Always…” 

And his father quietly left the room…

…..

The queen had been pacing outside Michael’s room and when she saw the King she grabbed him by the collar and dragged him down the hallway.
He grinned and let her pull him, knowing she was nervous about what decision their son would be making.
Stopping at one of the empty study rooms, she pushed him up against the door.
Her hands landed on her hips and she stared, her eyes obviously demanding answers.
The King started to chuckle and he very quickly turned the situation to his advantage.
In one smooth move, he spun her around and she was now the one trapped against the door, his arms bracing her in…
“What a wild cat you are.”
Her pupils dilated and she was about to respond when he shook his head, silencing her.
Leaning closer, he let his lips touch hers lightly as he said, “…you’re not going to believe this…”

……………………

The moment his dad left, Michael immediately turned to Arielle and saw that she was pale with anxiety and confusion…
“Arielle….Arielle?”
She felt faint as she tried to catch her breath…
“This can’t be happening…?! Can it!?” her thoughts screeched…
Michael softly touched her face…”Look at me, sweetheart…”
Her clouded eyes looked up at his…
Holding her delicately, he stared down at the beauty before him…”Do you understand all that my father said?”
Speechless, she stared…
Michael smiled, unable to believe it himself…”Arielle, you are safe, and nothing is going to happen to me…”
She took a nervous breath in…
Seeing her vulnerability, he became desperate to soothe her…
Sliding forwards, he captured her lips with his…
He opened his mouth over hers, brushing, teasing and sucking…
Her lips were pliable, but she barely moved…
He knew she was in shock, in pain, and in denial…
Dragging his mouth from hers, he said…”Arielle, please say something…”

Instead of speaking, her eyes poured out her tears…

“Arielle talk to me, you’re scaring me…” he said shaking her carefully…
Blinking slowly, she finally uttered…”You…you’re really safe?”
Michael felt his heart swell up almost painfully with passion for her…
He nodded…”I’m safe…you are safe…nothing is going to happen to either of us…

Letting out a long guttural breath, she began to cry hard.

Her shoulders were shaking as she heaved with repressed trauma…

“Oh God…Arielle…shhhh…” he felt gutted, “sweetheart no…” 

Michael was beside himself to comfort her…

This woman, who owned him completely, was overwrought with pain and he could do nothing but hold her.

Her hands hung by her sides as he gathered her in his arms…”shhh…”

He didn’t know how long it took, but he held her close until she finally began to calm…

“I…I’m…”

He moved back and held her face as delicately as he could…”Talk to me…you can say anything to me…”

“I’m…so sorry…I have acted disgracefully…”

His eyes were widening as he started to feel pissed off…

“I am of no place to show emotion, and my behaviour has been…”

Michael gripped the back of her head and swung his body over hers, straddling her…

She had no other choice but to look deep into his eyes…

“I’m warning you Arielle…Stop talking like this about yourself…”

The screaming words held more power, because he said them with such control, and frighteningly quietly…

“You are not a slave. You may have lived with this mentality till now, but the second you were born, you were the most important woman alive, and the second my eyes locked with yours, you ceased to be anything other than the love of my life. I will not allow anyone to speak this way about my wife…” his mouth moved closer…”even you…”

And his lips touched hers in the most gentle of caresses…

Stark contrast to how strong his grip was on her…

When he pulled back, he demanded…”Say something.”

She could only say one thing…”Wife…”

Her tone was wary and nervous…

“Yes…” he kissed her again…”Wife…”

Slowly he moved away, kneeling down beside the bed…
Taking her hand in his, he kissed each finger…
Arielle held her breath as Michael looked up, running his free hand over her thigh…
“Arielle, I know you are already my wife, but I took that from you too …so I am asking now …will you marry me?”
Without blinking, tears dripped from her eyes…
Never in her life did she think she’d be here…
Her life was an unending series of pain and heartache.
Feeling frightened and ashamed, she tore her gaze from his…
“No Arielle…look at me…”
She couldn’t bring herself to…
Michael lifted his hand to her face, carefully avoiding her abraded cheek…
He turned her gently, but she closed her eyes…
Michael remained on his knees, but moved closer…
His voice was now a whisper…”Arielle? Talk to me…”
Her lips trembled…”I…I…”
His thumb smoothed over her hand…”You’re what…?”
“My parents were killed, and the woman who found me was the woman I called ‘Aunty’. She took me in and hired me out for work until she herself ended up losing everything…we have passed from owner to owner…but even she belittled me, saying that nothing would ever come of me…that I wasn’t worth anything…because I am truly no one…“
Her tears began to fall on his hand, like sharp daggers in his heart…
“You are so WRONG…” he ground out…
Crying quietly, she shook her head…”You only wanted this to save your title as Prince-“
Michael snarled, and clenched his teeth holding back his fury as he began pressing kisses along her inner thigh…”When I saw you,  I wanted you…and when I touched you, I needed you…a marriage in name only was never going to be enough Arielle…” his hand moved up over her bare hip, caressing her bottom…”you shattered my control…Arielle, a lifetime with you won’t be enough…I am Prince Michael, and I was ready to risk my life for you…don’t you realise what I’m saying?…”
She opened her eyes, staring in to his…
“If my father hadn’t have responded the way he did, I was ready to take you and disappear. Give up EVERYTHING…”
Her heart was thudding seeing the devotion in his eyes…
“YOU mean everything to me…” his voice was a whisper…
“Sir, I love you…” she rasped…”But-“
“MICHAEL..” he growled, intimidating her with his power…”Stop fearing me and use my name!”
His voice was harder, commanding her attention…
“Arielle, to me, you deserve even more than even I can give you…you deserve to be kissed,” he rose up higher and pressed his lips to hers, “you deserve to be loved…you deserve to be told how beautiful you are…you deserve to be happy, every day, every hour, every minute…You were never meant for that life, and you’re not going back to it…ever.”
Arielle whimpered as he climbed back onto the bed, lifting the hem of her dress…
Pulling the silk over her head, he let the material slide onto the floor…
He held eye contact with her as one of his hands cradled her head…
She whispered…”I’ve never felt so much in my whole life…my heart isn’t used to having anyone care about me…I don’t know how to be anything other than a slave.”
“You’re a princess…”  
Arielle stuttered, her heart beating even faster, “Mi…Michael… I…I love you…so very much…l  just -“Her Prince held her close, her heart raced, beating so fast she thought it might explode in her chest, “I want to be yours…”
“You already are,” he snarled as he pressed her into her, “ you’re my wife…but I’m asking you now, will you marry me?” 
He waited and then saw her bite her lip as she nodded. 
Without uttering another word, Michael crushed her mouth beneath his…

………

The castle swarmed with guests.
The people of the land knew that their Prince was to announce the name of his bride.
Women clad in jewels were out to show off their worth.
The King and Queen had entered the grandiose room and were instantly surrounded by attention seekers…
Royal family and distant relatives had also journeyed in for the occasion.
Refusing to enter with a royal announcement, Michael appeared under the arch before the closed ballroom doors…
And right beside him, stood Arielle wearing one simple necklace, one silk blue dress, and one shining ring on her finger…
His eyes and heart were bewitched once again as he looked her up and down…
Michael knew she was nervous, and also still in pain so he had been hovering around her, tending to her every need.
“Are you sure you can walk Arielle? I don’t want you hurting.”

“I’m fine…Michael…” her shy smile made his cock ache…”and I will walk beside you…I refuse to bring any disgrace to -“

His eyes turned dark, “Arielle, don’t you dare think that you would be the cause of disgrace…screw it,” he pulled her close…”even if you were, you’re MINE, and not one thing will ever change that…”

Arielle merely blinked and in an instant, his mouth was on hers…

She was unprepared for the gentle touch of his lips seeing as he was holding her so tight…

When he pulled back, he nuzzled her nose with his and added, “Also, If I see your forehead wrinkle with discomfort, or hear a hiss of pain, you will be in my arms and back in our room in the blink of an eye, because I’m not having you hurt anymore…”

Her hands that were clutching his jacket were now trying to smooth out the lapels, “I will be alright…I promise…”

Michael was now desperate for this night to be over, he wanted nothing more than to just have her to himself…

“Shall we?”

Her soft words brought him back to the moment…

“Yes my love…” And he opened the doors…
He had promised not to have a grand entrance, and kept his word.
He knew she wasn’t used to this and also knew she had only ever entered a room as a servant.

They walked in slowly, Michael gauging her every step, knowing her wounds still hurt her…
But soon enough, he was spotted by someone…
The very last person he wanted to see…
Lavanaya began bounding up to him…
Michael was disgusted by the sight of her, and graces be damned, he wasn’t going to let this woman anywhere near Arielle, let alone near him…
But before he even had a chance to address her, Arielle stepped in front of him, her head held high, her expression hard and dynamic…

Arielle had instantly recognized the woman who was making a play for Michael, and the instinct to protect what was hers rose like wildfire…
Lavanaya stopped short in front of Arielle, visibly furious…”Get lost you plain bitch!”
Michael was livid at Lavanaya’s public degradation of Arielle, but he still didn’t get the opportunity to speak…
“I will not.” Arielle’s voice  was shaking as she stood her ground. 
Michael’s heart exploded with pride as he took one step forward and stood close behind her, his chest pressing up against her back, making their union take on a commanding force as he growled with fury. Lavanaya’s hands went to her hips, “How DARE you bitch!”

Arielle felt Michael holding her, his anger a living thing that he was only barely restraining as she spat out, “Back away from us.” 
Lavanaya was now delirious, “Us?! Who are you to speak this way!? You have no right over the Prince!” and she reached out and was about to strike Arielle. 
Michael’s reaction was instantaneous. 
He wrapped his arm around Arielle’s waist and spun her out of the way.
“Don’t you dare!” Michael demanded with a shuddering roar.
He held onto Arielle as gently as he could, shielding her from anymore accusations…
Michael’s eyes were flashing with a warning that had Lavanaya flinching backwards.

“You want to know who this woman is!? The woman who you claim has no right over me?!…the woman who, had you struck,” his voice became terrifying, “I would have killed you!”
The room went eerily quiet as Michael’s muscles rippled across his body as he held on tight to Arielle.
Arielle suddenly realized that the one thing she didn’t want to cause, was the one thing she DID cause.

Her face was red as shame shrouded her…

But she soon heard the Prince’s voice boom out…
“It’s time everyone knows that this woman here is Arielle Kostov, my wife!”
No one dared make a sound…
Lavanaya went pale as Michael snarled, “Come near her again, and I won’t give your existence a second thought…”
Soft gasps were heard all around the room and finally the king stepped forwards, a smirk on his face…
“Ladies and Gentlemen, in regard to what my very volatile son just announced…a private and intimate wedding ceremony was held here within the castle grounds this very morning…and now, I would like to present to you all, my Daughter in law, Arielle…Your Princess…”
And a cry of applause resounded throughout the castle, as well as unending whining from the women who realized that they had lost their chance.
The congratulations and cheers flew back and forth…
But when the guests looked back, the Royal couple had disappeared…

The King chuckled and said, “…but it seems as though they have disappeared…”

The music started once more and the guests fanned out.

Estelle came up beside her husband, “Well, well, well…it seems that ‘Like Father, Like Son’ was the PERFECT analogy after all…”

The King smirked, “We shall tell them tomorrow…”

She nodded, “I think she’s a sweetie pie. WHAT ATTITUDE! I love it!”

Jonathan pulled the Queen close, “Ofcourse YOU would love it…”

…..

When all eyes had turned to the king, Michael swept Arielle up in his arms and whisked her away…
She was nervous and frightened all over again…
Her own behaviour had shocked her…
Michael, however, was completely turned on…
Her jealousy and desire to stand up for him shook his soul and heated his blood…
He stopped short in a darkened corridor away from any guards and propped her up on the ledge of a window…
Arielle’s eyes were closed, her cheeks burning…
Suddenly he parted her legs and moved between them…
Her eyes opened and she blinked a few times, awaiting his anger…
“You have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?”
Arielle stared in shock…”Wh…what?”
He frowned…

His arms came around her and felt her shaking…

Genuinely concerned by her wariness, he moved closer, “…hey, what’s wrong?”
She shivered as she tried to apologize…”I…I’m…”

He moved closer and pulled her body closer against his…”It’s okay, you’re okay…talk to me…”

“I’m so sorry…” her voice hiccuped, her nerves raw, “I know you can handle yourself…I am sorry for causing a scene again…Oh no, I will be thrown out for this…”
Michael was staring hard into her eyes as he realised why she felt so repentant.

“Oh God when they find out what I have done…I’m going to be-“

Pulling on her waist hard, he gripped the back of her head successfully purging a gasp from her throat…

Michael growled…”QUIET.”
Even though the ledge of the window was high, she still needed to look slightly upwards into his eyes…

“Arielle, listen to me very carefully…stop thinking you are to be thrown out…”
Her pupils were dilating as she stared at him…

“Think back to a few hours ago…remember how we renewed vows? You’re my Wife…you’re protected by me…and even when you drive me crazy and when we eventually have a fight, you’re still protected by me. Your safety is now secured forever. You now rule over anyone who you thought could ‘throw you out’…”

She took a shaky breath in as Michael continued…”Don’t ever think that anyone would dare lay a hand on you…because Arielle,” his eyes turned darker, “I am feared for a reason…my own army fears me…

no one dares to take me on…and I swear, I will kill anyone who tries to take you from me…”
The hope in her eyes was now starting to shine out as she realised that this man, her husband, meant every word he was saying.
“Now…Why did you stand before me? Tell me what you were feeling…”
His voice was feathersoft, not foreboding in anyway…
She kept her gaze on his as she replied…”I…I saw her approaching you…I felt…I was…”
“mmm?” he encouraged …
“I felt that…I didn’t want her near you, not after…after what first happened…” her words became choked…”I…I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…”
“Stop it Arielle…” he ground out.
Her eyelids slammed down as her arms attempted to slide off his body…
Gripping her forearms carefully, he hauled her even closer…
Arielle could now feel every inch of his body against hers…
Before he could reprimand her, he was once again stopped by her sheer perfection…
He sucked in a breath…
Drawing on the fortitude of God not to lift her dress and thrust inside her, he gently touched her cheek…
“Arielle…I do belong to you…you did nothing wrong…”
Tears spilled out as she opened her eyes…
“No…no Sweetheart…shhhhhh…” he wiped away her tears…
Her blood was now pumping in slow warm bursts, but her mind raced frantically…
“I don’t understand…I thought you were angry at me…you took me away as soon as we were introduced…”
“Damn right I did…You are the Princess. You are my Wife…but more importantly…I love you, so much…and that is the reason I took you away…because since our marriage this afternoon, I have not had one single moment alone with you…and I cannot wait another minute longer…”
Arielle let out a moan as he suddenly lifted her off the window’s ledge and carried her towards his bedroom…
Kicking the door in, he dropped her to the mattress and rushed back to close and bolt the door.
Not pausing for anything, he marched right back towards her, loving the look of anticipation in her eyes…
Grabbing a fistfull of her dress, he pulled it swiftly up and away from her body…

“Wow…” he uttered, completely taken away…”You’re so damn beautiful…”

He knew she had no bra on as the pain was too much for her…
She felt her insides clench as his eyes carefully appraised her mesmerising body…
“Even tho I have these red marks on my…”

He swiftly came over her and said …”You think that anything can take away from how beautiful you are?”
Reaching out he swept a wandering strand of her long hair out of her face…
His fingers lingered there and then trailed downward over her neck, her collarbone, down towards her bare chest…
When he brushed the back of his hand over one of her already hard nipples, she involuntarily arched into his hand…
Michael snarled out a sound of animalistic approval…
His caresses were setting her on fire as she felt the pulse between her thighs…
“…my wife…” he murmured as his fingers reached the lace of the panties she wore…
Moving down, he tugged gently and pulled them away from her trembling body…
Before moving back to her, he stood up unbuckled his belt, letting it drop to the floor.
He started to unbutton his shirt and Arielle drank in the sight of him…
His body was so ruggedly beautiful and powerfully muscular, she had to bite her bottom lip to keep from whimpering with need…
When he pulled his shirt off, he grew harder seeing her hungry gaze…
His arms were twice as big as her thighs…
Dropping his hands to his pants, he unbuttoned and pushed them down…
Arielle began breathing faster…
His entire presence was taking over her soul…
Well shaped calves, thick, powerful thighs, a rippled abdomen, and his enormous erection…
“You’re…” she began…
Michael climbed over her…”What do you feel when you look at me?”
She trembled, she didn’t know where to begin…
There were so many thoughts racing through her head…
“Tell me, my love…because everything you see is yours…” he said again…
Breathing in, she filled her lungs with the scent of him…
“Everything about you, causes my body to tighten…”
He watched her as she inhaled again, trying to grasp for words…
“I look at you, and all I can think of is how much I love you…how you feel when you’re inside me, filling me, stretching me…”
Michael let out a harsh roar and could take the wait no longer…
His mouth found hers, instantly devouring, coaxing her to respond faster…
Heat spread like wildfire in Arielle’s veins and she opened her lips, kissing him hungrily, admitting his tongue, delighting in the man she loved…
When he moved half over her, she gripped his shoulders, arching beneath him, bringing one hand up to thread her fingers in his hair so she could hold him in place…
A groan rumbled up in his chest when she slid both hands down over his muscled arms, trying to urge him onto her…
But Michael remained where he was, continuing to plunder her mouth…
His lips were demanding and yet giving at the same time…
Arielle began to writhe, and tried to lift an aching leg over his body…
He reached out his arm and lifted her sore limb the rest of the way, but he still didn’t bring his body onto hers…
“I…I need…”
He smiled deviously, “I am loving how much you want me…but I’m not going to let you hurt anymore than you already are…” he said against her lips, his voice hoarse and husky…
Arielle was growing more and more agitated…
Michael caught her face in his hands and said, “…everything you just described about me…is yours.”
Instantly his head dipped and he softly sucked one of her nipples into his mouth…
Gripping sensations flooded her…
She cried out as she arched beneath him, but her moans were soon interrupted by a hiss of pain…
Instantly everything stopped and he lifted his head…
“Where do you hurt?” he asked firmly.

“I…I’m alright-“

He moved closer, “I said, where do you hurt?”  his eyes were firm and not willing to play games when it came to her pain…
“My…my…wrists…I held onto you too tight and…”
Michael’s hands gently wrapped around her elbows and pulled her arms from around his neck…
He felt instantly colder, but that thought was forgotten as his sight caught her raw, burned wrists…
He felt primal…
“How could anyone want to hurt her?” 

“Is that the only place you felt pain?” he asked, no humor in his eyes, only a demand for the truth…

“Yes Sir…” his eyes flashed and she hurried to correct herself, “Mi…Michael…”
“That’s better…” 

He held her arms down as he lowered his head to her other nipple, teasing it with his tongue…
Arielle’s arousal was rising rapidly, becoming too much to bear…
She struggled against him, trying to urge him on, but he held her still…
When she started to kick and wriggle, he moved his body over hers and held her down with his weight…
His rock hard penis reared against her thigh…
But he wasn’t ready yet, he wanted to taste her, to take his time and draw every possible spark of pleasure out of her body…
His mouth blazed a path down her stomach and lower still…
Breathing in the scent of her femininity, his gaze seared hers as he parted her legs…
A blush spread over her face and Michael felt the need to protect and pleasure her rise…
“It’s me Arielle…don’t be shy, your body is so beautiful…” his voice was a silken whisper…
Her head dropped to the pillows beneath her as his head descended and his hot tongue laved her, running from the depth of her core to the aching precipice, only to dart downward again…
Her back bowed when he reached her clitoris once more and she lifted her hips…
“Yes…oh yes…”
Michael pushed two fingers inside her, and curled them upwards, making her cry out in shock…
Her arms instantly lowered to try and push him away…”Oh…no…not that-“
He lifted his head, staring into her eyes straight on…”Arms beside your head…NOW.”

She replaced her arms, and began to shake her head…”Please…”

“I won’t let any harm come to you…”
Without waiting, his mouth closed around her swollen clitoris, sucking, licking and then sucking again…
He didn’t press hard, but gently massaged her gspot and felt it swell until it was ready to burst…
Arielle felt the sensations building and building…
Her breathing was harsh, and her moans continuous…
Michael sensed that her body was ready and he pressed his fingers upwards firmly…
Arielle screamed and instantly shattered…
Brilliant lights flashed behind her eyelids as the devastating orgasm overwhelmed her…
Michael watched her sheath drip out a surging stream of her own ejaculation…
His eyes saw her channel contract and release and contract…
Smoothing his hands over her stomach, he crooned to her…”Let it come…I’m with you…”
Arielle reveled in the strong and encompassing sensations that only Michael could give her…
In the last few days, she had discovered that not only did he own her heart, but he owned her body completely…
Her orgasm lasted until she could stand it no more and she slumped limp and shuddering against the sheets…
Slowly, as her body regained it’s awareness, she felt his head resting on her abdomen, his arms wound beneath her hips…
Her legs still lay open, the muscles burning from their impossible contractions…
Arielle swallowed hard and lifted her shaky hand, entwining her fingers in his hair…
He had done this for her.“For me…for my pleasure…” she realized…“Why? He could demand so much, and yet, he takes the time to put my pleasure first…”
Still unable to force out words, she softly tugged on his arms and he raised his head instantly…
His eyes had grown darker, filled with emotion…
“Are you alright?” he asked…
Ariellei nodded and began to sit up…

He moved upwards to help her…”What’s wrong…?”

She looked up at him and tried to ask something quietly…”May I…”

Michael squinted slightly…”Ask.”

“May I…I…touch you?”

“Arielle…” he kissed her hard and fast…”You don’t ever have to ask…whatever I said in anger before, was a lie…You own me…”

Overwhelmed with love, he slowly moved onto his back….
She could hardly believe she was doing this, but she wanted, needed, to give him pleasure too…
She swept her long hair behind her shoulders and tried to bite back a groan of pain as she resituated herself on top of him…He quickly gripped her arm…”Wait…you’re hurting, I can see it…”
“I want to do this…please…” her voice was a soft plea…”I have given you nothing…”
His body tensed, and he flipped their bodies back to have her laying under him…

“No! I…I wanted to…ohhhhhhhhh”

She was silenced as Michael guided his hard flesh inside her …

At once, he filled her to capacity, and she trembled with ecstasy…

“You’ve given me nothing?” his eyes drew her in…”You gave me the most precious gift I could have ever received…YOU…Your love. Your life. You gave your virginity to me…I can never repay you for what you have given me…”
A primal moan rumbled in his chest and Arielle took in the look of passion that covered his face…
Michael kept a steady hold on her as he thrust his thick arousal in and out of her soft body…
Savage desire welled inside him, breaking down his defenses, and their gazes suddenly locked…
“I love you…” he said breathlessly…
He continued to pump his hips against hers…
Her eyes were glazed as she whimpered, “I lo…love you…”
“My God, you’re the most beautiful thing I have ever seen…Come with me…I’m going to explode…”
Her breath froze inside her…
His words sent a delicious quiver from her nipples straight to where his erection speared into her…
Between his words and their labored breathing, she could hear the sound of wet suction as he pulled all the way out of her and then drove himself back in again…
Michael looked down at their joined bodies, then back up at his wife…
He tightened his grip on her lower back and watched in rapture as her climax spiralled inside her…
And with her freedom, came his, and a volcano of semen erupted from his penis, shooting deeply into her clenching sheath…
The feel of his hot seed filling her sent her shattering all over again, her core was constricting until she was only aware of that feeling, of Michael, of complete and utter, absolute satisfaction…
When pulses were all that was left of their climax, he held her close…

He slowly withdrew from her body as his mouth tasted from hers…
“Rest my love…You’re in my arms…”
“I love you…” she said on a yawn…”So much…” 

He gathered her tightly against his chest…
Michael lay awake, stroking her hair, savoring the feel of her beside him…
“I saved her…” he thought proudly…“I married her…the woman I love…”
He smiled…“I fell in love…”
Arielle sighed in contentment, and Michael looked down at her…
“My princess, my sleeping beauty, you possess me, heart and soul…and all I can ever hope for, is that I am able to give you the happiest life…you deserve everything…”

…………..

The next morning, over breakfast, Michael held Arielle’s hand under the table as his mother spoke to her…
“Are your hands and wrists alright Sweetie?”
Arielle looked up, her hand tightening on Michael’s…
He carefully lifted their joined fingers and kissed her hand. 
He winked at his mother…”I’m taking care of her…”
The Queen smiled…”I know you are, I have every faith in you my son…” she then looked to Arielle and began to coax out some small talk…
“So…is there anything in particular you would like for lunch? I’d love to include some of your favourites.”
Arielle blinked slowly and felt her heart twinge with pain. 
She didn’t know what she liked as she had never eaten properly before, and if she did eat, it would be whatever was leftover or were scraps. 
Michael had turned away to talk to his dad but had continued to listen in on the conversation next to him. 
He could see that Arielle was still too scared to communicate freely and when he looked over at her, the pain that filled her expression broke his heart. 
Her eyes started to sting with tears and the Queen quickly tried to intervene, “It’s okay sweetie, how about this? What if we did a tasting platter and you can tell me what you like? Maybe we can find some favourites together?”
Trying desperately to hide her tears, she quietly replied,“I…I would like that Your Majesty.”
His mum quickly shook her head , “oh no…you’re my daughter in law. I’m your mum now, so that’s what you will call me.”
Arielle felt her heart almost bursting with new sensations as her new mother started rattling off all of her favourite dishes. 
The sass and spriteliness of the Queen made her lips quirk with a smile. 
Michael turned in the other direction and looked towards his father…
“Thankyou…” his voice was shrouded in respect…
His father let out a small chuckle…”Son, you’ve said that word more in the past few days than you ever have in your entire life…”
Michael grinned…”I know, but I can’t seem to stop…I mean, you let me break a law, a tradition…”
“Let me tell you something Michael, there never was a law.”
The expression on Michael’s face was priceless, making the king work hard to hold back his laughter…
“What do you mean!? You said that it was a royal law!”
The queen quickly interrupted, “Arielle, how about we both take a walk in the garden while your husband and mine have a talk…”
Michael instantly saw how nervous she was and pulled out her chair, taking her into his arms, “Nothing is wrong sweetheart, I just need to talk to dad…I love you…”

Smiling softly, she turned to the queen…

“Come on sweetie, I’ll show you a fun and interesting feature to the back garden…something my husband gifted to me…”

Arielle was still obviously unsure how to act, but the way that the King and Queen were talking to her, already showed how much they loved her like family…
The moment the ladies disappeared into the garden,  Michael spun back to his father…”What the HELL are you talking about?!”
The King smirked and seated himself back down…
Michael remained standing, feeling  genuinely confused once more…
“Michael, I never wanted love. I hated my life. I was actually at the end of my rope…I actually didn’t care about life anymore and then I met your mother…”
Finally sitting down, Michael listened…
“I had never seen anyone with such strength of character, such passion, such craziness and yet such humility…and I fell for her instantly…”
Michael smiled…”Where you told of this law?”
The king began to smirk…”I was…In fact, it was drilled into me day after day…”
“Then you also risked everything?”
The king nodded…
“How were you spared then? What happened? How did you convince them not to punish Mum?”
The king took a deep breath in…”Your mother was never in any danger. Only me.”
Michael was bewildered…
“It was only I who was going to be punished for making your mother fall in love with me…”
Michael stood up, raking his fingers through his hair…”I have no clue what you’re saying anymore!”
The king knew the time had come to reveal HIS secret.
“Son, I was the servant. Your mother was the Princess.”
Michael went still, completely speechless as his father continued…
“For a servant to lock the princess in her room and make her fall in love with him, was an quite an offence,  punishable by death.”
Michael’s jaw dropped…”You…You locked my mum in her room!? What the hell were you two doing?!…”
His words stopped, as he realized exactly what his parents would have been doing…
He shook his head hard…”Dad, fucking hell!!!!!”
The king laughed…”oh stop overreacting, I am mainly telling you this because, YOU are so much more like me than your mother…And to feel completely unmanned by a woman was something that truly offended me. But I had to have your mother, I had to…I just…I felt as though I couldn’t breathe unless I were with her…”
Michael apprehensively nodded, “I know that feeling…but YOU were the servant?”
The king nodded, “Your grandfather only wanted true love to rule in his family…He encouraged his children to marry for love…and I was praised for risking my life for your mothers love…”
Still in a daze, Michael dropped to his chair…
“Son, your mother loved me so much that she married me, even knowing that one day I would be the king…more powerful than her…”
He rested his hand on his son’s shoulder…”when your grandfather passed, I made him a promise…that I would continue to rule his kingdom with fairness, honesty, and respect…and that I would make sure that the royal legacy, be carried on by love…”

Michael planted his hands on his hips, “So you lied to me…”

His dad snickered, “I guess I misled you, but that was your mother’s idea…She’s always been a conniving woman…”

They both began to laugh…
The women came back into view, and Michael now realized the deep necessity of love, the emotion he denied himself to feel for most of his life…
“And so…I wanted you to feel the same driving need…and to have the same desperation to find love…”
Michael instantly stood, throwing his arms around his father…
“Thankyou…”
The king embraced his son tight…”No more need to say that…I KNOW how love can change a life…and I thank the Lord above that you have found it…”
“Is everything okay in here?”
The men looked up hearing the Queen’s voice…
Michael looked to his dad, then back to his mother…
He rushed over to her, hugging her…”I love you mum…you’re an amazing queen.”
Her arms came up around her son, “I love you too…and I love my new daughter in law…she is a treasure…with quite the sense of humor…just need to get her self esteem back up after the horrible life she’s been living…”
His gaze caught hold of Arielle…
And as his mother let him go, he immediately took her in his arms…
The queen walked to her husband, and started pushing him out of the room…
“What!?” he said, letting her nudge him out…
“Give them some time alone!”
“You’re telling the king what to do?!”
The queen smiled…”You bet I am…”
And grabbing her hand, the King grinned as he led his wife away…

……..

Michael rested his forehead on Arielle’s, breathing in the scent of her hair…
“Have I ever told you how divine you smell?”
Arielle smiled cautiously…”I thought I might smell like antiseptic…”
Michael withdrew and lifted her hands…
He saw the slight traces of medicated ointment on her wrists…
She yelped as he suddenly lifted her up in his arms…
“Even that makes you smell divine…”
Her hands smoothed up around his neck as she laughed momentarily.

The music of her laugh was heady.
Walking out into the garden, he set her down on a white iron bench and knelt down before her…
Arielle’s eyes widened…”Why…why are you down there?”
Michael sighed…”I am showing respect to the new princess…”
She tried to pull him up, as she said…”I’m not used to this…If I am showed any more love and affection, I may faint…”
“Then I’ll be ready to catch you, because I haven’t even begun…”
Blinking slowly, Arielle smiled…”I really do love you…”
Moving closer into her body, he brushed his lips against hers…”I know, and I love you my Princess…I’ll never regret risking my life for your love…”

This story continues in 

Eternal Love Part 1

Eternal Love Part 2
Eternal Love Part 3
Eternal Love Part 4
Eternal Love Part 5