Ok guys, had to work on the plot for a chapter but more smut comes soon!!! This also explains about Tess and Tessa...
Chapter 9
Liz arrived at Maria’s house with Alex’s words repeating in her head. Did she really love Max? How could Alex know this? How would she even realize it? She was Queen, like past Queens, she did not have the luxury of necessarily choosing for love. She had to look for the best qualities in a man to pass on to her heir.
Liz followed Maria out onto their patio while Liz waited for Tess to finish her chores. Tess was Maria’s 13-year-old daughter, Liz’s goddaughter. Each month, Liz and Tess would spend an afternoon alone together. Tess was following in her mother’s footsteps by training to become a Healer. Though still young Tess was a very intelligent girl and loved helping people and helping heal the sick or injured.
“Where’s Isabel’s gift?” Michael asked coming out to join them. “I was hoping you’d bring him by and let me get a look at him. I mean, apparently he’s got all of Pathia in a buzz about him.”
Michael was Maria’s mate. In public, he was a subservient male to Maria, the ideal mate but Liz knew different. He was open and opinionated and very protective over his family and close friends, Liz being right under Maria and Tess. He never held anything back when it was in the privacy of his own home and hated all the formal mush that he had to do when out. Michael was a handful at times, always had been since he came to Pathia, but Maria loved him for who and how he was.
“I left him in my room.” Liz stated, not really looking at either of them.
The three sat quietly looking out at the garden that surrounded the patio.
“You’re too quiet Liz. What’s on your mind?”
Liz sighed and looked at her best friend. “How do you know if you’re in love? How did you know Michael was the one?”
Maria raised a brow at Liz. “Well…” she looked over at Michael for help but he merely shrugged his shoulders. This was girl talk, not for him. “I’m not really sure. I guess that I knew from the first time he told me no.” Maria smiled at the memory. That was the first day he was brought into her home. She’d told him to go and fix her a bath and he’d stood tall and firmly said no.
“What if Max is the one? The one I should be with. But he’s just so frustrating and willful. But then…he can be so tender in his…touch.” She added as her eyes looked out and unfocused as she remembered how his body felt laying on top of hers just a short time ago.
“I can’t tell you how you’ll feel when you meet the right one but I think you’ll know.” Maria encouraged her friend. She knew that Liz was already head over heels for the Antarian King but getting her to realize it was another thing.
“So…what? You just left him sitting in your room waiting for your return?” Michael asked doubting that it was that simple. Isabel had filled them in on how Max was behaving so to just leave him there was not likely.
“Not exactly.” Liz said suddenly finding her hands fascinating.
“What does not exactly mean?” Maria asked now wondering what she’d done to Max.
“Well, I left him in my room, just tied to my bed.” Her voice was soft, eyes still downcast.
“You didn’t!” Maria exclaimed. But then the picture of that hunk tied to a bed was very delicious.
Liz nodded and finally raised her eyes to meet theirs. “He has tried to escape before and I can’t trust him alone yet. Then we had a…dispute before I left and we were both…angry so I thought it was best for everyone.” She tried to justify her actions.
Just then Tess came bouncing in, face flushed and her blonde hair bouncing in its ponytail. “Aunt Lizzie!” she exclaimed as she embraced Liz. Liz smiled at the affection and love that this young girl showed. “I’m done with all of my chores. Are you ready?”
Liz nodded and waved at Maria and Michael as Tess dragged her off to the barns for a ride. Michael watched until they were out of sight and turned to leave.
“Michael?” Maria asked knowing that something was churning in his head.
“I’ll be back soon.” He said as he walked out.
Maria sighed and shook her head watching her retreating mate knowing his destination.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Max had resisted the guards when they had tried to shackle him back to the bed but they had quickly overpowered him due to his surprise at Liz’s actions. He’d called to her but she did not turn back or return to him. He struggled against his bonds but the chains held fast. He knew it was no use calling out for no one would come to his aid. So he lay on the bed as time slowly slipped by and his anger rising and falling with each minute. He pissed beyond belief with the way he was being treated, as a possession instead of a person but then he would see Liz’s naked body behind his eyes and the anger would melt to desire and longing.
It was when he was remembering the feel of Liz under his body and his hands through her thick hair when the door opened. Max watched as a tall man with shoulder length brown hair walked over to the large window and threw open the drapes and opened the window, letting the cool breeze air out the room.
Max’s body had a fine sheet of sweat as the stifling heat had rose in the room. He sighed as the air rushed over his body, cooling it but it did very little for the hard on he had gotten while thinking of Liz. Unfortunately, he knew only of one person who could alleviate that problem. His beautiful, obstinate Queen.
The man went to the table, pouring some water into a glass then sat next to Max on the bed. “Here. Drink this.”
Max gladly gulped the cool liquid down his dry throat. The man took the glass and set it down his eyes swept along Max’s body in inspection.
“So you’re the one that’s got Pathia in such an uproar.” There was no emotion in the man’s face but Max heard humor in his voice and was that admiration in his eyes.
Max’s face blushed slightly at the other man’s intense inspection of his nude body.“Who the hell are you?” Max sneered. Other than Alex, he’d had no contact with another male since walking through Pathia’s gate and he was not in the mood to make new friends unless he was going to let him go.
“Name’s Michael and I’ve come to give you a little advice.”
“What makes you think I want or need any?” Max’s body tensed as his anger grew.
“Looking at the situation you are in, I’d say you need it.” Michael saw a muscle twitch in Max’s jaw and the fire flare in his eyes. He sighed and looked at this man who had taken Liz’s heart. “I know this is all new and…quite difficult for you but Pathia is your home now whether you like it or not.”
Max glared at Michael not liking his statement.
“What will you go back to Maxwell? It’s going on two years since you’ve been gone. Your own brother had you disposed of. Do you think to go back and be received with open arms and be King again?”
“How…?” Max was surprised. The only people who knew of his past and how he got here was Liz and Isabel.
Michael just shrugged. “My mate is Isabel’s sister.”
“Maria.’ Max said softly remembering the energetic blonde woman from the day before. Like Isabel, Max had found something in the woman that he liked instantly.
Michael chuckled. “She’s even more hard-headed than I’ve heard you are.” Michael’s face grew serious. “I’m just saying this once to you Maxwell. Pathia is not as bad as you think. Yes, it is different from any other land but we have a good, peaceful life without war and some of the other bad things that happen out there. Give Liz a chance. She’s one of the best rulers Pathia’s ever had. She’s also sweet, caring, compassionate and a very good lover.”
Max snapped his head to look at Michael. He suddenly felt overwhelmed by jealousy and felt his blood boil at the thought that this man had been with Liz.
Michael saw Max’s expression and saw a fire light in his eyes that told him everything that he wanted to know about Max. He was in love with Liz. He just didn’t know it yet. Michael laughed at what he knew the other man thought. “No Maxwell. I’ve never been with Liz. Maria would never allow it but she, Liz, and Isabel all had the same teacher so I only assume, if she’s anything like Maria.”
Max sighed heavily in relief and resignation. He was getting tired of this fight. All he wanted to do now was drown himself in Liz. To feel her beside him, in her, anyway he can get her. He looked at Michael and knew that his life was now completely changed. His heart was telling him to submit and make the best out of his life but his mind was still rebelling, fighting against the logic of being a slave especially to a woman. He couldn’t help a chuckle that escaped as he realized that he was lying here, chained to a Queen’s bed naked talking to another man. Too strange.
“Tell me how you ended up here Michael.” Max said remembering Maria saying that Isabel had found her mate. He was instantly drawn to Michael much like Alex. He felt that he could trust him. And he knew he would need allies, possibly friends if what Michael said was true about staying here. Belonging to a Queen could have its advantages.
Michael smiled thinking of how he’d come to Pathia. “I guess I came to Pathia when I was about 13 years of age. Isabel had picked me out on a slave run with her Aunt. I was not the most cooperative boy if I remember correctly. And Maria, poor girl, she was not too happy about her sister’s gift to her.”
“At 13?” Max asked.
Michael nodded. “Yes. My parents died when I was just five. I was sent to an uncle but used more like a slave. He ended up gambling his fortune away and in attempt to get more money he sold me off.”
“How could a relative be so…cruel?” Max asked astonished. He’d admit to living a sheltered life but for family to do that was just unheard of in Antar.
“Any different than a brother?” Michael asked raising a brow. He watched as a bitter anger rose in Max’s face before quickly fading. “Anyway, I was to be Maria’s servant.” Michael chuckled.
“At first I absolutely refused and was punished by being placed in a room and left there. Maria’s parents did not believe in beating their slaves but they totally isolated me from everything and everyone but Maria. It took about six months before we could even stay more than five minutes in a room together without insulting each other.
“I guess Maria’s mother had had enough of me so she brought me here to the Palace. She spoke with the Queen who was Liz’s mother and then chained me outside in the courtyard. I stayed there for three days and all I could do was watch the comings and goings of both men and women. I watched their interaction with one another, I saw just how peaceful Pathia was. For years, all I’d known was violence and abuse since I could barely remember my parents.
“It hit me on the third day that this was now my home and it wasn’t so bad after all. Now, don’t get me wrong, Maria and I still had years before we were able to settle our differences but coming here and being with Maria was the best thing that could have happened to me. I’d hate to think of where I’d be today without some divine intervention. I’m happy here with my life, friends and daughter.”
“You have a daughter?” Max asked. He looked so young.
Michael smiled. “Yes. Tess, she’s 13 years of age now.”
“Tess?” The image of Max’s bride entered his mind. That was the first that he’d thought of her since his second day of coming to Pathia.
“Something wrong Maxwell?” He’d watched Max’s face pale and a longing etch his face.
“Oh, no. I used to call my bri…I mean…well…”Max stumbled and looked at Michael
“Your bride. I know you were married.”
“Yes. Well I used to call her Tessa. Just a name that stuck when we were young. She hated being called Contessa Ava so I just called her Tessa.”
“Do you love her?”
Max looked to the ceiling. The entire time he’d been under the slave master’s thumb, he could only think of escaping and going back to her arms. To his Tessa. She represented home to him. No one knew that they had not consummated their marriage. That night, they both felt awkward and just couldn’t bring themselves to have sex with each other.
Max turned and looked at this man who he’d opened up to. “I’ve known Tessa her entire life and I loved her but…not like a husband should love his wife.”
Michael smiled and rose. He knew that he no longer had to worry. These two would find their way together very soon. He’d seen both of their vulnerable sides. It was just a matter of time before one of them broke.
“I will make sure someone comes and feeds you lunch because Liz will be out most of the day.”
Michael saw the frightened look on Max’s face. From the stories he’d heard from Isabel and other males, Liz had let a lot of women freedom with Max trying to break him. He knew that in the state he was in at the moment, the last thing he needed was another woman coping a feel on him.
“I’ll make sure Isabel personally sees to your needs.” He saw Max’s features relax at the mention of Isabel’s name.
“She could just let me go and save herself the trouble.”
Michael chuckled at the man. “Even the Queen’s closest friends don’t risk the wrath of her Majesty.”
Michael closed the door behind him leaving Max to the silence of the room. Max lay there and replayed the words that Michael had said. He no longer felt the urge to escape but wanted to wallow in Liz’s essence, whatever she would give him but could he accept Pathia as his home?
TBC...
SH- I was sweating by the end of this part...I could have easily made a couple of changes and let them do what I know deep down inside they want to do
You'd think I'd had enough after UL newest post
...NO SLASH, NO SLASH, NO SLASH...sorry, had to keep reminding myself
...I will be back as soon as I can...Got a lot on my plate this week