Page 23 of The Emperor's Concubine

A sudden wave of shame washed through him as he remembered when he’d told her that. At the time it had been his stubbornness that had prevented him from wanting to know more about her life because if he had, he would have been forcedto further examine the other things she’d told him. He didn’t want to because that would mean having to set her free. Even now that thought pained him.

He mulled it over in his head and realized she was more than just a concubine. She was a woman he couldn’t live without. He’d fought this feeling from the moment he’d laid eyes on her, but now he couldn’t. Blaze was no better than his father, pining for a woman and letting her consume his thoughts. And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. For the first time in his life, he was in love. There were no rules that said once he set her free that she couldn’t be his Queen, but was it something she wanted?

“You have no idea how deeply I regret those words. If I could take them back, I would. Can we not start over again? Get to know each other better?”

Calliope laughed humorlessly while eyeing him warily. “And why would you want to do that? I’m just a slave to you to do what you want with. Now that you know about my daughter, I suppose you’ll use her against me like the others have.”

His heart pounded, threatening to burst through his chest. Surely she couldn’t be implying what he thought she was. “Explain yourself,” he demanded, nostrils flaring.

“The Adieaens told me they’d sell her if I didn’t do what they asked. They subjected me to all kinds of humiliating things, and I did them for her. And the only reason Tuk and Darus brought her along was because they saw they could use her in the same way.”

Blaze frowned, not liking where this was headed. “Are you saying the reason that you rejoined my harem was because they pressured you, using your daughter as incentive?” Chest tight, he found it difficult to breathe. He held his breath while waiting for her response.

“I never wanted to be in your harem. But like before, I did it for London. I’ve endured your touch for her sake.”

An unbelievable hurt like he’d never dealt with before crushed him. With her stoic confession, it felt like she’d ripped out his heart and squashed it in her delicate palms. He looked at her imploringly, waiting for her to take it back, to tell him she hadn’t meant it, but instead he was met with stony silence.

She spoke of humiliation, but nothing was more humiliating than realizing you loved someone, and the object of your affections not only didn’t return your feelings, but wanted nothing to do with you. He stood up abruptly and paced the garden, trying to figure out his next course of action. His pride said to let her go if she truly didn’t want to be with him, but his heart and body wouldn’t allow it.

No! He couldn’t accept what she’d told him. Maybe his servants had used Calliope’s daughter to their advantage, but she couldn’t fake her responses. When she moaned for him, it seemed like she meant it. When she told him how much she’d wanted him, that had been real too. His anger grew into a raging beast, so strong he could almost see it.

Blaze wanted to scream and lash out, but instead, he stalked back over to where she sat. “Liar!”

Calliope gasped, quickly looking away from him. Her body started to tremble. “I’m sorry.”

“Not as sorry as you will be if you don’t admit the truth to me. Admit to me that you want me as much as I want you!” he yelled.

Raising her chin, she looked him square in the eye but didn’t say a word.

So she was challenging him? He’d show her exactly who was in charge. “So you think I’m a monster? You think I’m repulsive. Fine. I’ll show you how repulsive I can be.” Fumbling with his pants, he undid them just enough to free his cock which wasalready hard and ready for Calliope’s pussy. Plopping down on the bench, he looked at her. “Come sit on my cock.”

Her eyes widened. “But… anyone could walk out here,” she argued.

“So what? This is my palace, and I can do what I want, where I want. And right now I want you to come sit on my cock. Or shall I have a talk with Tuk about your precious little London?” He knew he shouldn’t have said it, but he’d never been angrier in his life.

She stood up abruptly. “Just as I thought,” she muttered softly. Fists clenching at her sides, she stared at him long and hard for several moments. Then she started to slide her billowing skirts down her hips.

“Slower. And I want you to unhook the bra first. When you sit on my member I’m going to want to suck those firm breasts of yours while you ride me. Don’t deprive me of the show this time. You so like putting on a show, don’t you, Calliope?”

He didn’t wait for her to answer as he noticed her shaking. Whether from embarrassment or anger, he couldn’t tell. He continued to taunt her. “Take your time undressing for me. I want to see that I got my money’s worth.” Even to his own ears that sounded harsh, but he was beyond reasoning right now. He wanted to pay her back for hurting him. Were those tears glistening in her eyes? No, he was just imagining them. He had to be.

Calliope took a deep breath and slowly unclipped her bra to reveal two dark perfect breasts his palms itched to fondle. His mouth watered as he eyed the two nearly black peaks crowning the gorgeous mounds.

When she made a move to take her skirt off, he held his hand up to her. “Wait, don’t take it off. Lift it up and show me your cunt.”

Again she hesitated but obeyed him, slowly lifting the sheer material over lean muscled legs and rounded hips.

“Spread your legs a little,” he ordered.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she did as she was told.

“Very nice. Now come over here. No, keep the skirt up. Yes, right here,” he whispered, reaching over to run his finger along her slit. “Such a pretty pussy and such a wet one. You may deny that you want me, but your body says otherwise.”

Calliope turned her head away from him, gasping when Blaze inserted two fingers into her wet box, sliding them to the hilt.

“Look at me. I want to see your face as my fingers fuck you.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” she asked, barely above a whisper, voice trembling.

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