The next day I opt to take my 15 minute respite with Tia in the gazebo at the center of the lake. I needed to talk to him regarding what was bound to happen one night from now and I decided that it would be easier for the both of us if I gave him the day off especially since the consummation would entail witnesses outside our room all night.

“I think it would be best that I give you the day off tomorrow,” I tell Tia bluntly.

“Why? I have stood guard outside your door while you were with another man countless of times before,” he says and I release a heavy sigh.

“We both know this is different. He won’t be gone after one night and I don’t want to hurt you more than I already have,” I tell him.

“Is that an order?” he asks coldly and I nod.

He bows and leaves, his fists clenched at his sides. I hated that he made me order him to basically vacate the palace while I was consummating my marriage. It killed me to think how he would torture himself, imagining what was happening between Elio and I. I didn’t want to give him memories that he would never be able to forget and the both of us knew that the thick doors and walls of the palace would stop him from hearing us.

What kills me more is the fact that Tia knows that my affection for Elio has been growing steadily and while it still holds no comparison to what I feel for him, one could never be certain when it came to emotions. I hang my head over the railing of the gazebo, giving myself time to gather my thoughts and emotions then I make my way back to the office, ready to tackle the work that needed to be done.

The night of the consummation came in a flash and the whole day has been nothing but a blur. The whole day everyone was buzzing about the consummation and my attendants were subtly trying to prepare me for the night by giving me tonics that would improve my stamina and slathering me with lotions that would ease my fatigue.

The tradition of consummation in the Pavenia Empire was a bit different from the Ocelon kingdom especially in one aspect, the witnesses.

Witnesses in the Ocelon kingdom were mandated by law to be inside the room with the couple, only a sheet separating them but in the Pavenia Empire the witnesses were placed outside of the room. Additionally the witnesses in the Ocelon kingdom were mostly comprised of attendants while the witnesses in the Pavenia Empire were comprised of the nobility, specifically the heads of the household.   

Miraculously I arrived first in our bedroom so I opted to take a dip in the bath while I waited. After a few minutes, I heard the door click open and the lock turning. I slowly get out of the bath and pat myself dry, barely covering my body with my black silk robe. I walk out of the bathroom to find Elio sitting stiffly on the edge of the bed. I fetch us a glass of wine and sit next to him.

“Don’t be too nervous. It isn’t like I would hurt you and this wouldn’t be the first time we were in bed together,” I tell him attempting to lighten the mood.

“But this is different,” he says, turning to look at me for the first time since I came in.

The robe still covered most of my body but I made sure to tie the ribbon loosely, leaving enough room to show some skin and giving him the opportunity to be comfortable in seeing my bare skin.

I see his eyes grow wide and his face redden. He immediately turns away from me and I find myself amused by his embarrassment. It wasn’t like this was his first time with a woman. He admitted to being with Lady Olivia, what makes this any different? I take a sip of my wine and place it on the bedside table. I cup his face in my hands and gently turn his head towards me.

“Breathe, it’s still just me and it’s just us,” I tell him, training his eyes with mine. After a few seconds, I start to feel him relax a bit.

“You have such enchanting eyes, it reminds me of the color of the sky on a clear bright day,” I say, leaving only one hand on his face.

“and did anybody ever tell you that you have such charming lips? They look soft and full,” I say and he laughs.

“Is this how you seduce men, by complimenting them on their features?” he asks and I laugh with him, subtly moving closer until he stops laughing, suddenly aware of our proximity.

“Well no, but I thought you were rather delicate,” I answer, lightly tracing his jaw down to the curve of his neck and shoulders with my finger.

I could feel his body tense under my touch and I smirk.

“I am not delicate,” he mumbles, refusing to look me in the eye.

I remove the glass of wine from his hand and place it safely on the table. I intertwine my hand with his and guide him further away from the edge of the bed until his back reaches the headboard.

“So you say,” I answer, straddling his thighs between my legs. I see him gulp and I caress his face, leaning forward and stopping only a breath from his face.

“I won’t do anything you don’t want to do so stop being nervous and let’s have a good time,” I whisper, my lips hovering over his.

At my provocation he captures my lips in his. Tentatively kissing me, then slowly becoming comfortable until he kisses me passionately, demanding more of me his hands now freely roaming over my robe. I break our kiss only to see his lips already swollen and his eyes heady with desire.

I start trailing kisses down his jaw, then his neck gently sucking leaving light marks on his immaculate body, exploring him as much as he would let me. I rip his shirt away and I slowly untie the ribbon of my robe letting it fall open.

I could feel his eyes feasting on my body but I could still feel a bit of apprehension so I guide his hand to my face then gently down the contours of my body, removing the robe in the process, leaving me completely naked.

I feel his breathing hitch and I lean forward, making sure he would feel my chest against his then I place light kisses on the sides of his face whispering “I give you permission to explore me,” And he does, all night long.