Chapter 17: Xenia

Xenia p.o.v.

We stayed like this for some seconds, his hand on my throat, not grasping it, just there, feeling my skin, our eyes staring at each other, the sound of our meddling breaths felt like some erotic symphony to my ears and then Father sighed, removing his warm hand from my bare neck, " You bring out the worst in me, princess.", he husked, " And I am scared that I'll do something which could start a war."

" Do what?", I mumbled peering up at his darkened blue eyes, " You don't even have any idea, do you?" He asked. His eyes roamed down over my body before they again met mine...But it was so quick that I wouldn't even have noticed it if we weren't this close. Confused, I glanced down, noticing my hard erected nipples, tight little points clearly visible under the thin chemise, the orange light of the fireplace, glinting over my partly unclad body.

Oh god!

My eyes nervously flickered up at him, Father didn’t speak anything else, but he didn’t have to, because I could read every gaze of his, every breath, every tremble. He licked his lips and I wanted to bite that lip, bite it so hard that he would groan. And just when I started to think he felt as same as me, he abruptly backed away, that dark intense look was still there...but there was something else too in his sudden panicked eyes, shame.

He rubbed a hand on his face before turning around, " Go to your room before I start something, I couldn't finish.", He groaned, voice so harsh and filled with rage that I'd a sudden urge to kick at those perfect shaped buttocks of his.

" Start what?", I asked to which Father just balefully laughed, " Believe me, you don't want to know.", he snarled, " Just leave me alone for some time."

What the serious hell with his brain tonight! First, he showed up here wearing a royal guard uniform, still looking like some fucking prince. And then, he disguised a royal letter and advised me to be 'vicious', and then, sympathised with his cruel uncle, whom he hated! At last, he acted like some hungry animal... on top of that, he was now scolding me, ordering me to leave him alone?

I stared at his back for a second before sighing, I turned around. Perhaps, I should talk to him in the morning as Father certainly was not in his right mind.

" And Xenia.", I stopped at the door, hearing his deep voice and turned around, " If you still don't trust me, I could do anything to prove my loyalty to you."

I stared at his face, his expression, sincere and inside those angry blue eyes, there was a hint of sadness...how could I doubt him, he was the same man who took care of me for years, expecting nothing in return. And I'd called him by a name, other hateful people said to him here. I'd seen how sad he felt when someone just hated him only because he belonged to a rival country and today I'd treated him like those same hateful people.

" Forgive me...", I retorted, feeling guilt inside my stubborn heart, " I shouldn't have doubted you."

"It's fine, Xenia, just go to your room now.", he replied, his voice sounded like some threat making my entire body shiver...and obviously, my inner thighs drenched.

After nodding my head, I left the office hurriedly, didn't want to anger him more.

The soft mattress touched my back as I lay down, staring at the wooden ceiling. I think, I really made him sad today, shoving my dagger against him, exactly what I'd been thinking? Hearing that, Father might take the place of that cruel king just made me so angry that he will be my enemy. But seriously, I should have known better, didn't he decline to be a cardinal before, one of the strongest men of this realm...he could have become pope one day, but he refused that red cloth just because he didn't want to be involved in politics and didn't crave power, Father Nicholas is not like other men, he is a good priest, just devoted to his god. But, I just couldn't help myself and doubted him as when it comes to the throne, you shouldn't even trust your shadow and Father himself was the one who taught me that.

Sighing, I glanced at my dagger, it was still clenched tightly in my hand. Dry blood dribbled from its sharp pointed tip; father's blood. I stared at it for a second before bringing it close to my lips, I was just about to lick it...but then, I realised what the serious fuck was wrong with my mind, I mean licking his blood as if using his bathing oils wasn't creepy enough!

Ugh, I hope, I didn't cut him too harsh, I should at least apply honey before leaving as an open wound could cause infection...and that worry made me again come here, in front of that same office, where I'd just thrown out from barely some minutes ago.

The door was still open, so I could see Father Nicholas, sitting on his chair. The small window beside the desk was now open as the cold wind ruffled his jet-black hair. A cigar pressed between his fingers and Father was staring at those orangish yellow flames of the hearth, looking so deep in his thoughts. No matter what had happened, no matter how much he craved, he never touched a cigar before, but today he did. Perhaps, these recent events made him restless, he is also a human after all...even after I felt this irresistible divinity around him.

The orange glow of the candle was glinting over his body and then, I noticed, he wasn't wearing anything, just his black slack loosely hanging around his waist. That white shirt was laying over the settee, near his black cassock, shirt and silver twinkling cross.

I'd never seen him sitting shirtless in a chair...God, I'd never even seen his bare skin before!

Gulping my drool, I enter inside and cleared my throat, making him look up at me, " Umm, do you want me to apply honey...on your wound.", I asked, " It could cause infection."

Father stubbed out the cigar at the edge of the table, his deep blue eyes still on my face as he leaned on the chair, " I washed it and applied some oil.", he replied, " It wasn't that serious anyway, just a little scratch."

" Oh!"

I should have gone back, right there, without looking back, the night could end like any other countless nights we had spent together in this old abandoned tower, and everything could remain as weirdly normal as it was for the past two years since I first start seeing him more than a father. Everything could have remained fine.

I even went, as far as taking one step behind but then, Father Nicholas stood up and my eyes couldn't stop but move down, every inch of his skin was engraving itself on my eyes, his broad shoulder to his hard smooth chest and those two tipped nipples; I just wanted to glide my tongue on them, every defined muscle of his abdominal was so evident as if someone had sculpted him and fuck that sharp 'v' line where his slacks were hanged...his button opened, showing more than enough skin, he should have shown and I should have seen...if his pants were just a bit low, I would have had a clear view of...Fuck, stop right there Xenia, I shouldn't be too greedy.

Before I could say anything or even look up, he turned around, showing me his broad muscular back. And when Father was busy lighting the extinguished wall sconces, I, was busy gawking at his smooth back...not a single scar was on his body, just a small one on the side of his shoulder...perhaps, those rumours about him being untouchable in the wars were really true after all.

" You can go if you're done staring at my back, Xenia.", Father Nicholas said, still lighting the candle.

I hadn't said anything, and neither did I move, not until he finally turned around and still found me standing there, gawking at him. Those darkened blue eyes glared at me as if challenging me...exacting me to dare not to step back, dare disobey him, dare to come closer and I didn't know what had possessed me, but I took a step forward and then another and another. I advanced on him, and Father Nicholas watched every step of mine with a hunger that was beyond palpable, it was oppressive, it was ferocious.

And barely in some seconds, I was there, between him and his desk, peering up at his deep blue eyes and chiselled clenched jaw. Without any notion of what to do next, I just stared at him and enjoyed the feeling of his warm minty breath fondling my skin. Father tilted his head slightly, looking back at me but then, I noticed his lips slightly tugged upward and he smirked at me...smirked at my behaviour, was he making fun of me!

I parted my lips, speak something, Xenia, I ordered myself, don't make him think that I am some mad queen, but honestly, I actually started doubting that myself now.

I cleared my throat, " You said, you could do anything to prove your loyalty, right?", I asked, trying to sound confident.

Father Nicholas looked into my eyes, taking a step closer, " Yes, anything you demand.", he said in a low voice. And I shivered.

I had no idea what I wanted to say I just wanted to do something, anything. So, I said the first thing that came to my mind, " Then kneel.", I ordered, not really expecting him to do that but then his eyes lowered, his body bent...one knee touched the ground and the other supported his hand, his head down in submission. What...I couldn't say anything, just stared at him, watching him kneeling in front of me, it didn't...it didn't feel as good as It should feel, it didn't feel good at all. And I never wanted him to kneel again, not in front of me, or anyone else.

" look at me.", I demanded and was about to say stand up, but then his gleaming blue eyes met mine and I couldn't help myself from demanding one last thing.

" Now kiss me."

Father hesitated a bit, pressing his brows together but then sighed and held my hand and raised it up to his lips. The feel of his soft lips on the back of my hand was enough for me to feel tingles all over my body but as I suspected, I was being insatiable and wanted more.

He opened his eyes and looked up, waiting for me to say anything, " Don't be so smart father.", I growled, " Not on hand."

Father snickered hearing me, " I told you to show cruelty to your enemies, not to me, Xenia.", he said and moved to stand up. As Father Nicholas strutted, I felt his warm touch on my skin when he slowly ran his index finger from my hand to my shoulder, feeling every pebbled inch of my skin. My eyes peered at him when he finally stood up, staring down at me...our bodies almost entangled. I licked my lip, staring into those thirsty blue eyes, " Kiss me, father.", I begged.

Demanding didn't work on him, I thought, perhaps, begging would?