“You can dare anything you like,” I whispered, “even hope. That's how magical you are.”
Barret's mouth was suddenly on mine, his lips rubbing tenderly across my lips before his tongue flicked out to taste me. Then the kiss became bolder, a pressure along the seam of my mouth, a clenching of his hand on my waist. A moan rising from his chest as his tongue twirled with mine. I was dizzy with the tenderness in it, sighing through the delicate attention he was lavishing on me. I could kiss Barret all day, never worrying about taking it too far. Not because I didn't want him, but because I wantedthismore. This sweet, gentle caress of mouth on mouth. The slow drawing of tongue across tongue. The shy questing of his hands just beneath my breasts. It was heaven. A lot like my time with Hugin in the garden.
Barret pulled away as carefully as he'd begun, and I was surprised to see the rapid rise and fall of his chest.
“Adelysia,” he said.
“Addy,” I corrected.
“Addy,” Barret smiled. “Will you come with me to my bed chamber?”
“Yes.”
He took me by the hand and led me through the door set in the left, back corner of my room, and down the stairwell. We came out of another door, and into his bedroom. It was spacious, as a prince deserved, and appointed in deep emerald silk and velvet. His bed, a behemoth of dark wood and green tapestry, crouched against the wall to our right, like a predator about to pounce. On our left was a balcony, with a large window looking out upon it. It was tempting, but Barret led me to a wood dining set near the window, instead of out the archway to the balcony.
Barret pulled out a chair for me, and I glanced out the window at the moonlit kingdom on display there. It was so much more beautiful now that it was colored by my happiness. Everything seemed brighter, more alive. Or perhaps it was just I who was more alive.
Barret placed a fabric bundle on the table before me. It was tied together with a red silk bow. I smiled up at him as I undid the bow, and he took the chair beside me, watching me closely. The fabric slid back to reveal little scraps of lace and silk. They were a creamy white, and when I held one up, I saw that they were seamlessly formed. But what were they? I put the triangular shaped one down and picked up another. This was more evident. It was a chemise, like the ones I wore beneath my gowns, except much shorter. I lifted an eyebrow at Barret.
Barret cleared his throat, “They are for you to wear beneath your bridal gown. This one goes on the bottom,” he held up the tiny scrap.
“On the...” my eyes went round as I realized what he meant. “My legs go through here?” I had never worn anything so close to my womanhood before. Only when my moontime came. But on a normal day? My flesh touching the silk? Scandalous.
“Yes, exactly,” Barret cleared his throat again. “And here are stockings for you, seamless like the rest. And garters to hold them up,” his breath was coming so rapidly it was fluttering the garments. “I want desperately to see you in them. I hope you will agree to wear them for our wedding.”
“Perhaps I should try them on now,” my voice was the barest breath of air. “Just to be certain they will fit.”
“Perhaps you should,” Barret swallowed hard. “Do you require my assistance? I, above all, will know how to fit them to you.”
“And you'll need to make sure they are laying correctly,” I nodded.
“Yes, indeed,” he got to his feet.
Barret's hands were shaking as he reached for me. He helped me to my feet, but then just stood there, looking at me as if lost.
“I suppose I should remove these garments first,” I suggested.
“Of course,” he scurried around to my back and undid my laces.
It took him a few tries, but Barret finally managed to slide my dress down to the floor. Then I stood in only my shift. I had a fleeting memory of Saunder forcing me to strip, but I pushed it away, deciding to replace it with this one. I would form new memories to replace the ones Saunder had forced on me. Determinedly, I lifted my arms over my head.
Barret's hands brushed my heels and a zing of excitement shot up my legs. He gripped the hem of my shift and slowly lifted, fingertips trailing along my skin as he stood. He finally pulled the fabric free of my body, and I listened to his breathing hitch. I looked over my shoulder at Barret. His eyes were flowing over me from top to bottom and then up again. He settled on my stare and smiled, suddenly more sure of himself.
Keeping his eyes locked on mine, Barret turned me to face him. Then, very deliberately, he looked down. His throat worked as he swallowed hard, and his hands clenched at his sides. I noticed the bulge rising in his breeches and the tightening of his shoulders. I didn't feel ashamed; I felt proud. I was reveling in the effect I had on him. I loved seeing his nostrils flare, his pupils dilate, his lips part. Finally, Barret reached for the tiny piece of clothing he had made me.
He bent and held the thin straps open for me to step into. I braced myself on his shoulder and stepped one foot in, and then the other. Barret reverently slid the silk up my thighs and settled it in place. It fit perfectly, the triangle of fabric covering my womanhood while the delicate lace angled over my buttocks enticingly. His hands slid down my thighs, then back up over my ass to feel where the lace ended. Barret's breath was hot on my skin, his mouth so close to that silk, I was tempted to angle my hips forward and press the silk to his mouth.
But Barret drew back and stood. He picked up the stockings next and knelt this time so that he presented me with one of his thighs. I placed my foot gingerly on his thigh, and he slipped the stocking over it. Barret eased the nearly transparent material up my calf, then placed my foot back on the carpet. Another slow slide of fabric and the stocking was covering my thigh. He took my hand and placed it over the band, urging me wordlessly to hold it in place. I did so as Barret took a garter and rolled it up my leg.
By the time Barret finished with the other leg, I was shaking with desire. But he didn't seem to notice. He just stood and picked up the shift. He took one last, long look at my breasts as I lifted my arms up for him. With a groan Barret covered me, sliding the shift over my head and then settling it over my hips. It came to mid-thigh only. A seductive garment that I instantly loved. I couldn't wait for him to take it off again.
“A perfect fit,” Barret smiled and picked up the red ribbon. “Would you allow me to try one more thing on you?”
I frowned at the ribbon and then decided he must want to bind my hair with it. I smiled and nodded, turning my back to him. I heard him inhale excitedly, his hands going to my hair. But they didn't bind my hair with the ribbon, they simply pushed my heavy locks over my shoulder, out of the way. Barret took hold of my wrists and pulled them together in front of me, grasping them in one of his hands. I turned to look over my shoulder at him in surprise.
“What are you doing?”
“Do you trust me, Adelysia?”
