She wasn’t. Looking in his eyes, she didn’t see anger or vengeance. She wondered for a moment if this was the look of lust, but he did not have the signs that her mother had told her of. His eyes did not pinch nor did his mouth pull back like a dog in heat. If anything, he had the look of reverence.
“Your skin is flawless,” he said. “It would glow in candlelight.”
He touched her. With his long elegant fingers, he stroked the side of one breast and fire trailed in his wake. She gasped at the feel, and he smiled. Then he curved his hand around the outside before brushing his thumb across her peaked nipple.
She trembled. It started in her belly, but it traveled outwards making her breath stutter and her heart race. He moved closer, his hand still caressing her breast.
“What– What are you doing?” she gasped, though the answer was perfectly obvious.
“You are safe. Keep the plate handy.”
She had forgotten it. With shaking hands, she gripped the fine porcelain tight, but she didn’t do anything with it. He moved around behind her, his one hand still stroking. Her breast felt hot and large in his hand, and her back tingled with awareness of him behind her. And then, every so often, he would pinch the nipple and she would shudder at the flash of sensation that burst through her thoughts. Her whole body now beat with a wildness and a hunger she’d never felt before.
He stood behind her now. His free hand slipped around her rib cage to lift her other breast. He leaned against her back, pressing her forward so that her legs pushed against the physician’s table. She was pinned between him and the table while his breath brushed hot across her cheek. She felt surrounded by him, completely and totally within his power.
“Do you know what leads to fertility?” he whispered into her ear.
She shook her head. It was hard to think with his hands roaming over her breasts.
“Passion, Chen Ji Yue. A passionate woman is a fertile woman.” He pinched her nipples–both at once–and she cried out in surprise. “What you feel right now is passion and it is what all these physicians, eunuchs, and courtiers are looking for.”
“What of the Emperor?” she gasped. “Does he look for this as well?”
“Him most of all,” he said into her neck. Then she felt his tongue, hot and wet as he stroked the skin behind her ear.
“Oh!” she gasped. The air on the wet felt cool on her hot skin. The contrast caught her attention, splintering her focus from his hands on her breasts as he kneaded her flesh. How glorious to feel this. He held her in his two hands and she felt as if she would burst from the wonder of it.
“Lean forward,” he murmured.
He needn’t have spoken. He was already pushing her forward, leaning against her back as she bent. His tongue stroked the back of her neck, his hands fully supported her breasts, and she trembled and shivered in his arms.
“You smell sweet, Ji Yue. I think your cream has grown stronger.”
She tensed, panic making her grab at the table. “But it can’t! You said–”
“Shhh,” he murmured against her skin. “Let me see if I can wipe some away.”
He pressed her forward even further and one of his hands abandoned her breast to slip down to her knee. With quick movements, he pulled her skirt up to her waist.
“Oh!” she cried out as cool air touched her thighs. She might have said more, but he pinched her nipple and she arched at the shot of lightning that burst through her body.
“Widen your legs for me, Ji Yue,” he coaxed. “I must have access to wipe the cream away.”
She did not intend to move, but her legs were so weak. Then he scraped the edge of his teeth along her shoulder, and the sensation made her shiver. She was weak, so weak, and so aroused. She had never felt this before, but she wasn’t stupid. She knew that her body was responding to his seduction. She’d never guessed that the feelings could be so overwhelming. Or so wonderful.
And while she was gathering her wits, he slipped his knee between hers. Her legs widened and his hand with those long, nimble fingers, stroked across the top of her thigh and then down to where no man’s hand had ever been.
He pushed down into her hair, the movement almost languid as he explored. First a push, then a widening as his fingers delved between her thighs.
“There is so much cream here,” he said, the words coming out on a groan.
Her upper body weight was on the table, her entire focus on his fingers as he pushed deeper in, then pulled so slowly back up.
Her breath caught in shock. She had never felt such sweet tension. Every part of her tightened, and yet she arched into his hand. The sensations were overwhelming. She could barely breathe for the wonder of it all. It was like he coaxed a flamehotter and brighter with every touch. It burned through her belly, sending quivers up her spine. Then he widened his hand and burrowed deep with his fingers while she... she...
No! No! He could not invade her there! Oh, but how she wanted it, but it was forbidden! She had to stop it before he went further. She had to…
Gathering all her strength, she whipped around and slammed the plate against his head. It shattered from the impact, and she collapsed sideways, too weak to hold herself up. And then she was furious at herself for being so pitiful. What had she allowed? What a fool she was!
