One More Step

He looked at her scaredy expression and felt content. It seems his actions work well on her. As long he proposes to exercise more with him, this little wife of his gets scared.

But it is really not his fault. Her body is really delicious. Once he starts devouring her all his reasonings disappear. The taste and natural smell on her body turned him into a real monster. He devour her so long until she is left only a few breaths.

Afterward, he always feels sorry as he can see her struggling and want to punish himself, but as soon she recovers, something in him again light up and he can't stop himself. Sometimes he is afraid to go near her for days as he fears he could hurt her if he does it too much.

But seeing her sitting under the beam of sunlight on the chair, looking like a deity that stepped down from clouds. At that point, all he want is to brake her wings and let her stay by his side, forever.

Looking at him loosing again his focus she hit his head again. ''Stop thinking about such stuff in mid of the day. Don't you even dare! I need to talk to you about Kyra's future.''

The cloud in his eyes dissipated as soon he heard his daughter's name. ''She asked me to find her small house and bit of land so she could sustain herself. At the moment she is here as my guest, but soon I really need to get her out of the house. It is not because she is from other women, its because those people might use her to harm even Emperor.''

A dark line appeared on her forehead as she heard his words. ''How is this even possible. Foreigner is forbidden even to get close to palace walls. It's even more unthinkable she could enter the palace itself.''

His hand clenched as his eyes became icy. ''That is indeed the truth. But, harming me, that is his right hand in dealing with those strange murder cases and all those illegal dealings in the kingdom would rob the Emperor his eyes and ears. That means only by harming me they can harm him as well.''

''Is that the reason you never told me about that person?'' Her heart started beating hard thinking in what mess the country could enter if something happened to the Emperor.

This time he had to nod. ''Yes. I know that you would try to find out details about her, but that would mean that they would find that information as well. They follow our steps quite closely. Even tho you trust your servants, but if they started asking questions around and the truth about her, they would make the situation even bigger than it is. Who knows what knd of story would come out of that all.''

Her back became cold as she thought about that possibility. ''What should we do? That child, we can't just throw her away. Even if I am hurt, but her age tells me that the thing with her mother probably happened long before me. Even if you had her presently I wouldn't hold grudges against an innocent child. But how to protect her, that is the most important question?''

''Listen to me. I have an idea what to do and seeing her being smart, I am sure she will accept it. Only like that, she can be protected. '' He looked at her seriously.

''I hope it will work. And about the child, yes it seems it is quite reasonable. I heard she plans to live together with that girl Anna and take her as a sister. Can we use any of that?'' She stood up and started walking up and down.

He looked at her, stunned and suddenly bright smile appeared on his face. ''Good, good. She won't be alone. Good. I made the right choice to save that child.'' He patted his c.h.e.s.t while sitting down.

She stopped walking and looked at him questioningly. ''That means you had teh two already in your calculation.''

He nodded. ''I actually planned to let Anna be her servant, but if they care for each other like sisters it will be easier to share everyday burdens. Actually, even if you looked deeply, you wouldn't be able to find my tracks toward her.''

She sat down and waited for him to continue.

''I came back to country moths before her, so the tracks couldn't be followed up to there. the house she lived, she bought with her own money as she hated to be kept woman. Actually, the truth to be told she even hated the idea to become a concubine. After she came I visited her a couple of times but because at that time I had really big problems taking over can I had no time to visit her often. After that, I found out that she died and her mother sold the house and left. How should I know that she gave birth to a child? Sigh.''

''So they never told you or asked for money from you?'' She stared at him with big eyes.

He smiled sarcastically at himself. ''Her family was famous for knowledgable woman and man. Even the two of them were the smartest people I ever met. But the place she came from has an environment of one man one woman policy. Until death. Her family members were famous scholars that were similar to your family. They were smart and had a simple lifestyle. The most important thing was they hated depending on anyone. ''

Her breath stocked. ''Was that the reason you asked my father for marriage?''

To her relief, he shook his head. ''No, it was an even weirder reason and I hope you won't get angry if I say why...''

Her eyes narrowed as she hissed. ''Why?!''

He started scratching his neck as he sheepishly looked at her. ''Actually, at that time, so many people were sending their daughters at me, in batches. Only your father came to show support and never mentioned anything. I found it relaxing to talk to him and found him and your family pleasing to my heart, so I asked...''

Her heart relaxed and she smiled brightly. ''If that is the case, it's ok. Indeed, my father is the best.''

He chuckled and suddenly swept her in his arms. ''Happy now? Can I continue explaining?''

''Continue I will listen, but let me sit on the chair, it is inappropriate. Please.'' Her cheeks were bright red as she could feel some movements under her b.u.t.t.

He let her go and tried to calm down his breath. ''Well. This is story that will be told: Her mother died and the child's grandmother came to visit me as I met her before outside. Her daughter saved my life, before dying, so I felt as my obligation to care about that child. As Lord, I can't adopt her so I will send the two children in a foreign village and let them live safely there. There are other foreigners there and if I buy the house, as my thanks to her late mother, no one will suspect me. She will be not too far from us in case she needs help and not too near to leave any suspicion. I wanted to buy her big house, but if I do that, I might cause too many people greed. So just a small house and some land near the forest, wouldn't be too conspicuous and would give them some space to live freely.''

''But isn't it dangerous to live near a forest?'' She felt a bit worried. Those two children were still just half big. How can tehy be safe from wild animals?

He saw the expression and was grateful to all the Gods that led her into his life. ''That forest si the safest there, or foreigners wouldn't live there at all. Some small animals, like rabbits, deers, and some birds live there and nothing else. Don't worry. I am not that crazy to put her into a dangerous situation.''

The expression on her face relaxed and she put her hand on her heart. ''If that child were not foreigner I would have adopted her. Many families adopt children, but the problem here is today's society. If we do that, those people might really harm her. I think she is cute and she would be a good older sister. Too bad, she can't grow up with her little sisters. Sigh.''

''Well, we can visit her sometimes as our grace. After all, her mother ''saved'' my life. I can't let her be bullied, right?'' He winked at her and she understood. That would be the proper thing to do and they could do it openly. From time to time...

In this case, it would maybe even give them more boost as foreigners might appreciate it even more and look after the children closely. So she nodded with a smile. ''Good. I hope your mother will come back home soon. She was so ill that she coudlnt be here when we married or when the kids were born. But I am fine with that, as long she comes back healthy.''

Sigh escaped his c.h.e.s.t. ''Mother lives in that country so long. I know she misses us, I can read it from her letters. But I didn't let her come back as at that time those people made too many problems with those... women. If she saw those women she would have relapsed and harmed her body even more. So I never told her about them. I worry about how she will react when she sees them. I need to find a way to clear them before her arrival.''

She was stunned by his words. ''I don't understand. Your father had concubines, wasn't she accepting them?''

A cold smirk appeared on his lips. ''Because she had to accept it, not because she wanted. She hated the messy stuff the most in the household. If she knew I accepted those into my household she probably will beat me to death. She loves the idea of these foreigners. Just one pair until life's end. So she hopes for me to live like that as well.''

''So all this time you were adamant to not let any of those into your bed?'' This is the first time she realized how deep is his love towards her.

''Of course. I have so much to do. If I had to think about so many messy things, when could I concentrate on palace affairs? I saw so many things while growing up, trust me I am not willing.''

Sweetness entered her heart as she looked at him stary eyed. Suddenly resolve appeared on her face. ''Than in that case. You can enter my room tonight, but if you make me stay in bed again, I will punish you with one month no touching. Do you understand?''

He suddenly jumped and swept her into his strong embrace. ''I promise to hold back, but you have to promise me something else.''

This time not only her cheeks were on fire. ''What?''

''From today on I can enter your room every night. I will just devour you little by little. hehehhee'' His shamelessness came out again as the door opened and maids with hands filled with food came in.

Everyone in the house knew how much the Lord adored the Lady but seeing that, made them blush.

He let her go and sat down by the table as they continued to talk about everyday stuff.

After all, some people were not their own...