Page 49 of Rise of a Fallen Man

“You can get rid of it now, please.” I offered the key to him, but he wouldn’t take it.

“I can’t open it.”

“I give you the permission to remove it,” I insisted. “As your wife.”

“No, I...” He ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t even see the lock. It’s designed so that I can’t open it on my own.”

“I see.” I heaved a breath. “Well, where is the lock?”

“Under...um, underneath.” He gestured stiffly.

“All right.” I flipped the key in my fingers. “Would you mind lifting your... I meanitfor me? Please.”

Things that had been so easy to talk about with Salas proved impossible for me to even name in Leafar’s presence.

We were married. The whole world expected us to be having sex right now. Yet even touching my husband felt wrong somehow. We’ve never gone past hand holding and an occasional peck on a cheek when necessary, and I didn’t feel ready to move any further with him. At least not for the time being.

He lifted the cage with its contents up for me. Bending over, I looked under it and spotted the narrow lock fitted along the base ring of the cage just behind his ball sack. The lock was merely a slightly curved bar with a slim keyhole. It helped that the prince didn’t have a single hair left in that area. Everything had been plucked, probably, for my viewing pleasure.

“It’s so tiny.” I pondered how to go about it. “Can you lie down, please? I’ll bring the lantern over.”

He did as I said, laying on his back on the bed, with his legs bent and his feet on the floor. I kneeled between his legs, bringing the lantern closer.

“Hold it up again, please,” I instructed.

He lifted the cage for me. I slid the key into the lock and turned. It clicked open, making Leafar jerk.

“Did it hurt?”

“No,” he replied quickly, biting his lip.

“I’m sorry if it did. I tried to be careful, but it’s tricky...” I leaned back, letting go of the key. “Can you remove it yourself now?”

Rising on an outstretched arm, he slid the rings off with his other hand. Freed, his flaccid penis dropped on his thigh sideways.

“Here.” I grabbed his shirt from the floor. “You can put this back on now. Unless you prefer to sleep naked?”

He gazed at me hesitantly.

“Shouldn’t the clothes be off during the consummation?”

I sighed heavily, sitting down on the bed next to him.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Can we wait with all this consummation thing for a little while?”

Worry crossed his handsome face. He pushed himself up, sitting next to me.

“Why? Do you not find me attractive? Am I not handsome enough?”

I waved a hand. “It’s not about your looks or my attraction.”

“I’ll be a good father. If that’s your concern,” he added promptly.

“I’m sure you will be. One day. But... You see, I’d love for some emotional intimacy to form between us before we go ahead with the physical part. Does it make sense?”

I could tell by his expression that my request did not make much sense to him. A royal courtship and marriage customarily followed the same pre-established path. A wedding was always followed by the wedding night, which in turn was expected to result in a pregnancy and offspring. By asking him to deviate from that path with me, I confused him.

“It’s not a rejection, Leafar,” I tried to explain. “Please don’t take it as such. We hardly know each other. Things have happened to us with little to no input on our part, and I’d like to change it as much as we can.” I smiled, taking his nightshirtfrom his lap. “I’m looking forward to spending more time with you. But I also would like to give you some time to figure out what it is thatyouwant. Not what your aunt, or your mother, or anyone else told you should want, but what it is that you desire for yourself.” I held the shirt up for him. “Now, how do you prefer to sleep? Dressed or naked?”

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