The Eastern Palace~
The Eastern Palace was as serene as a temple. The mansion filled with statues of the Buddha and vast collection of classic writings, most transcribed on wooden scrolls, wasn’t a place for a ruckus, but there was one happening. Eunuch Bao almost tripped over the hunched figure in maroon. A senior eunuch he recognized from the Empress’s palace was shaking and struggling to pick up the memorandum from the ground.
The red decoration bound royal edict was probably from the Empress. Within the brocaded outer ends, the white pleated pages were spread out like an open fan. These pages showed the names of newly added concubines, written in black ink.
Eunuch Bao helped the Empress’s eunuch stand. The servant was so startled he was as ghostly pale as a sheet of white parchment and could barely speak. He trembled, as Eunuch Bao helped him to his feet and towards the front hall on his way out. “I don’t know what I said wrong?” The senior eunuch lamented, sounding both hurt and confused. “I merely presented the names of the new concubines the Empress selected as I have in the past, but the Crown Prince threw the edict back at me.” The Eunuch pointed to the red spot on his forehead where the edict had hit him. “The Crown Prince has never raised his voice at me, let alone thrown things at me in the past. But today he asked, ‘More?! Why are there so many?’ The eunuch turned to Bao and asked if there had been a limit set by the crown prince, which was curious since the emperor had over one hundred concubines when he was the Crown Prince’s age.
Eunuch Bao knew nothing. He comforted his senior attendance, saying the Crown Prince was tired and rightly so since most everyone knew, he had stopped assisting the emperor and rather ran the empire while the emperor drank tea and played Go with the other Princes. There were active talks the Emperor planned to abdicate the throne when the Crown Prince and Princess Bai Yueli married. Yet since Eunuch Bao knew the princess and fourth Prince Jinghua, with the Crown Prince’s blessing planned to marry, he didn’t know how things would unfold in the future.
The younger eunuch accepted the mandate, since it was the Empress’s eunuch’s task to see it delivered. It was possible the servant would get punished for failing to do his job if he returned to the empress with the decree still in hand. Eunuch Bao pacified the distressed man, suggesting he would present it to the Crown Prince on another day. He tucked it into his belled sleeve for safe keeping and rushed to serve the Crown Prince.
This morning’s outburst hadn’t been the first of late. The Crown Prince wasn’t tearing his palace apart, but the air had become strained for reasons unknown. His Highness, whom Eunuch Bao had served most of his life, had always been a soft-spoken and even-tempered prince. He wasn’t prone to outbursts, nor did he speak loudly. He never punished servants by slapping or floggings, even when they made mistakes. In fact, he had never hit a servant or taken a maid to his bed unlike the other princes, especially tenth Prince Jinglian a son of a low-ranking concubine who was known for his quick temper, a fierce hand and only accepted virgin maids whom he used for his impulses then discarded for new ones when he grew bored with them.
His prince, Crown Prince Jingyuan, had always been consistent and reliable, much like the changing of the seasons. However, a recent shift had occurred. Lately, he had been spending most of his time in solitude, appearing lost in deep contemplation. This change in behavior raised concerns for Eunuch Bao, particularly regarding the prince’s altered eating habits and his sudden lack of intimate visits to his spouses. It had been weeks since he had shared a blanket with any of his many wives. He didn’t even visit the ones carrying his children and this morning, to the eunuch’s surprise, he had dispatched men to rush to flood prone Qingshui City, despite the approaching monsoon season, which made it an unfavorable time for travel. This was odd because the Crown Prince never put his people in dangerous situations.
“Crown Prince. Your tea,” Eunuch Bao whispered, his light footsteps barely audible on the polished marble floor. He approached with a tray of tea and dried fruits making no noise, carefully setting it on the desk, discreetly sneaking glances at his highness, noticing the Crown Prince’s brooding countenance. The Crown Prince’s dark eyes, like two tempestuous orbs, mirrored the raging sea. There was a clutter of ignored reports on his desk, as the Crown Prince stood with his back towards his desk by the open window. His hands were tightly clasped behind his back, his fingers interlocked in a gesture of contemplation.
“I’ve sent people to Qingshui City as you instructed, but I did mention not to approach Princess Yueli and fourth Prince without orders from you.” Eunuch Bao stepped back and away from the Crown Prince in his usual place but he made the mistake of bringing up the new concubines. “It might relax your highness to visit the recent additions to your harem.” Eunuch Bao tried to make a little joke to lighten the Crown Prince’s mood and said, “For all we know, Princess Yueli and Fourth prince might return home with a little prince in her belly a proof to their mutual affections.”
“What did you say?” Crown Prince growled low and rumbly as he had never before causing Eunuch Bao to stop talking out of fear temporarily . Crown Prince came and stood inches from Eunuch Bao, staring him down. “You believe a little prince would be a symbol of their affections and that would be a positive thing?”
Eunuch Bao stammered not knowing what he could have said to upset the Crown Prince so, “High..highn..highness, you said it was a good thing for her to marry fourth Prince rather than entering the imperial harem since you didn’t feel romantic affection for her. You gave fourth Prince permission to continue meeting the princess until you canceled the marriage agreement.” To Eunuch Bao’s rebuttal, Crown Prince Jingyuan replied, “Everything has changed. I’ve changed my mind.”
“Crown Prince. Marriages are not child’s play. One can’t just change their minds…” Eunuch Bao’s remark died in his mouth when the Crown Prince shot him a quelling look and glared at him with more ferocity than lingchi: slow slicing. Death by a thousand cuts.
Jinghua~
A-li and Jinghua wouldn’t be getting alone time as newlyweds anytime soon. They had just been married, and he was looking forward to some intimate time with his new bride. However, his plans for romance were quickly dashed away.
When the sedan finally stopped and Jinghua stepped down first, he couldn’t believe his eyes as he double checked to ensure they were at the same place he had left only a few short hours ago.
The gates, the wooden oak panels that had surrounded the entire manor, had been removed and were out of sight. Everything looked askew, and nothing was recognizable to him. His peaceful and intimate manor was now more lively than the bustling marketplace in the capital during spring, when merchants from all over the dynasty gathered to trade.
He and A-li would need to chat. She and Jinghua seemed to have a vast difference of view on what moderation meant. Because this wasn’t the small and cozy gathering she had mentioned. No, there were people everywhere he looked. The Qixi celebration was at its peak in full swing, with a sea of smiling and cheerful people enjoying themselves under the countless red lanterns that illuminated from overhead.
He considered for a moment, if he had enough time to turn the horses around. He was tempted to go back inside the carriage, but A-li was coming out, blocking his way. He had no choice but assist her as she exited the carriage. However, as her feet landed on the ground, her small hand too quickly slipped away from his, leaving a tingle on his skin but with just their eyes, they engaged in a wordless conversation. Jinghua furrowed his brows are deeply as possible and filled his gaze with desperation. Wordlessly, trying to convey his discomfort of parties or crowds such as this one. His eyes cried out for help and mercy, silently pleading for her intervention to get him out of this banquet.
A-li responded with a mischievous raise of her eyebrows, smirking as if to say, “Good luck,” She waved at him with just her fingertips and craned her neck, holding his pleading gaze with hers that was full of playfulness until she was almost out of sight. Just as the wives whisked her away, she laughed at him, not with him, but at him. In response, Jinghua tilted his head and narrowed his gaze, and grimaced. If she had properly interpreted his facial expression and body language, she would have realized she would later face consequences for her misconduct.
As she vanished, the air suddenly felt stifling as he was overcome by a chaos of bodies that surrounded him. He and Qing Yuan were pulled into the midst of and circled by the boisterous neighborhood men with red cheeks and glassy eyes, who were engaged in animated conversations and hearty laughter. They spotted Jinghua and welcome him with easygoing friendliness. Even the people he didn’t know and the ones he had only seen from a distance were exceptionally receptive tonight. Their enthusiastic greetings weren’t because they had suddenly decided to like him, rather it was likely the result from indulging in the wines that have been pouring for hours.
Mr. Wu thrusted a brimming glass in Jinghua’s face, causing it to overflow and stain the caretaker’s palm with a deep plummy crimson wine. Then, with no explanation, he proceeded to slap Jinghua’s back twice roughly with his other hand, the impact barely affecting Jinghua’s muscular build, but it appeared to have caused injury to Mr. Wu’s hand instead. His face and palm turned hot and red as a freshly picked apple. He slurred his words from intoxication, demanding that Jinghua consume six penalty drinks before taking a single step. He claimed Jinghua had not only wronged him but also the neighborhood men in some unfathomable way.
Jinghua wasn’t an overly observant man, or he was perhaps more disinterested of people he didn’t know, but he couldn’t imagine what he could have done to these men to make them feel so wronged. Seeking understanding, he glanced around and noticed the other husbands, who were nodding in agreement between gulps of wine. Their expressions mirrored Mr. Wu’s drunken seriousness.
“What did I do to deserve this penalty?” He asked and one husband, whom he recognized from the apothecary. It was Mr. Sui, the pharmacist. He pointed an accusing finger at Jinghua’s chest and scoffed. His words were garbled by alcohol, so instead of enunciating each word, it sounded like a long run-on sentence. He demanded of Jinghua, “Mr. Hua, is it fair or is it not fair to have a wife as impressive as yours? Madam Li makes even decent wives suddenly look below average.” Several other men chimed in, adding their own banter to the conversation.
It’s not fair!
Some guys get all the luck!
Heaven has no justice!
How did you get a wife like Madam Li?
You must have saved a nation in your past life.
Jinghua listened to their grievances without argument. He had played Go since childhood and recognized a losing board when he saw one and, in this case, the men were right. “I accept my penalty.” He said, holding the wine bottle in the air for all to see, then graciously accepted his discipline but first said without a hint of modesty, because they were right about him having the most exquisite wife. He declared in his low-pitched voice, “I will accept all the penalty drinks and drink an additional five because my madam is indeed beautiful and I’m not the slightest bit apologetic about it.”
Aya! This randy guy is audacious!
Mr. Hua is even more shameless than I thought!
“Braggart! Now he’s rubbing his wife’s beauty in our faces!
Jinghua drank in hearty gulps of wine straight from the bottle. Accepting the penalty drinks had taken steam out of some of the husbands’ fire. But for a few men, he only irritated them more. One person mocked his drinking style, claiming Jinghua drank like a dainty girl sipping tea because he hadn’t spilled a drop. Another man accused him of trying to seduce their wives because when he tilted the bottle completely vertical, the steep angle caused a small stream of wine to run down his neck and Adam’s apple dampening his collar. The effect was significant. It made nearby women gasp, fan themselves, and swoon while watching Jinghua.
In short, there was no way for him to satisfy all the husbands. Though it went against his fundamental inclination to please others when possible, he stopped trying.
Jinghua had always strived to meet the high expectations set by his family without going overboard, so as not to outshine Jingyuan. Balancing between doing enough and not doing too much was not as simple as it may seem. There had been moments when he lost sight of his true self, but tonight, he was not the emperor’s fourth son. He wasn’t the younger twin of the Crown Prince. Tonight, he was simply one man who loved his wife dearly.
He was Mr. Hua, Madam Li’s husband.
Jinghua raised his eyebrow at a heckler and responded, “If I were to drink excessively and pass out, my wife would not be pleased. That would surely land me in deep trouble.” The crowd bursted into laughter, finding his burden highly amusing. Someone mocked him further, but there was now teasing in their tone when they made whipping gestures and taunted, commenting on how he seemed controlled by his wife. To this Jinghua replied to the men who were clearly older than him. They were not old enough for him to refer to them as uncles, so he sheepishly addressed them as older brothers.
His joke was suggestive, as he spoke in a way men do when they drink. “Big brothers, I’m a man like everyone here and the truth hurts, but sleeping alone, or worse, waking up ambitious and madam, not being in bed, hurts much more.” He frowned while looking up at the stars and added somberly, “It ruins my day.”
The joke didn’t get the desired response at first. The men in the neighborhood exchanged unsure glances back and forth at each other. Jinghua was accustomed to this. Not everyone understood his dry humor. Only his older twin, Jingyuan, who had the same sense of humor, understood and laughed at his jokes. But one man chuckled, breaking the tension. Others started laughing too, creating a rambunctious chorus. They agreed it did indeed ruin their days to not be satisfied in the mornings. In that moment, barriers were broken, misconceptions pushed aside, and they became instant friends.
There was a steady and natural flow, like the ocean’s ebb and flow. Discussions came and went. Conversations shifted smoothly from idle chit-chat about local happenings to the fine fishing in Crystal Lake, then deeper topics, such as the last war in the north that had taken many lives. As the men listen intently, their eyes widen in surprise when Qing Yuan shared a shocking revelation about Jinghua. He revealed that Jinghua, at the tender age of fourteen, fought under the white tiger banner in that very war. The men exchanged incredulous looks. Their curiosity was piqued. But their shock reached a whole new level when Qing Yuan divulged another secret – that Jinghua had taken a bronze headed arrow in his shoulder during the last battle that ultimately resulted in the current period of peace in the dynasty.
Jinghua never mentioned his battles. He never spoke of his time serving under the Grand General. For him, it wasn’t an obligation, but a duty as a prince to protect the subjects and lands his father ruled. But the men were speechless, their initial hesitation replaced by admiration, respect and affinity only men understood. They realized that beneath Jinghua’s dandy exterior laid private tales of courage and resilience. Some then spoke of losing brothers, while others confessed how scared they had been. When Jinghua confessed to once urinating in his armour and vomiting after battles, nobody laughed at him, for from that moment on, he was no longer an outsider; he was one of them, a younger brother.
That was the beautiful thing about places like Qingshui City. The people like those in this town, with their unique sense of camaraderie and hospitality, had truly contributed to the golden reign of Jinghua’s father. Unlike the bustling capital, this city exuded a warmth and friendliness that was hard to find in the bigger places. Here, even strangers could become sworn blood brothers through shared experiences and passaging time. Women who gossiped about each other eventually formed strong bonds, becoming like sisters. They even nursed each other’s children when their milk dried up and mourned each other’s parents’ passings as if they were family. And, of course, the local tradition of enjoying mass amounts of wine at the end of the summer plum harvest together sped up this bonding process most greatly.
Jinghua raised yet another wine bottle to his new brothers and proposed a toast. He said, “To my wise and strong brothers. Tonight, we drink until we can’t stand. May the sweet night that follows be as sweet and intoxicating as the wine, leading to wives with rounded bellies.” He consumed three more bottles within a few minutes, gaining him applauses from his new relatives who joined him in drink.
The night was still early enough that more guests arrived. All those who were invited came, and many of them had brought along additional companions. No one was turned away, and the gathering transformed into the grandest celebration held in Qingshui City that rivaled the Lunar New year celebrations.
As the evening progressed, the sizeable feast expanded, causing the need for more furniture. All extra chairs were borrowed from the neighboring houses. Glasses clinked together, toasting one another. The courtyard was alive with clusters of conversations, where women’s voices shared bits of gossip. The men were also enthusiastic and engaged in passionate debates about government and the running of the dynasty. While children being children, with faces aglow from the flickering lights of sparklers and fireworks fueled by sugary festival foods and the contagious energy of the event, they reveled in their own playful world as they screamed, ran and darted through the crowds.
=========
There had been many interesting guests to greet and talk to throughout the evening. The intimate celebration had turned out to be more. The newlyweds hadn’t seen each other all night, but when they finally found each other, Jinghua was standing alone in the back garden, staring up at the stars.
Even from where she stood, the scent of the potent wine he had been drinking exuded from his pores. A-li tiptoed towards him, but a snapping twig under her foot gave her away.
Jinghua spoke to her without taking his eyes off the sky. “Madam, I have a very jealous wife. She wouldn’t appreciate me being alone with a woman like you.”
She replied. “Sir, you seem to be mistaken, but I’m not here to seduce you. My husband is quite possessive. He surely wouldn’t understand me being alone with a dandy like you. Not that I would be interested, but my husband’s weapon is a long sword, and you know what they say about men who have mastered the long sword.”
He grinned and extended his hand towards her, reaching out. Jinghua positioned her in front of himself, wrapping his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. They remained silent as they gazed at the stars until A-li unexpectedly yawned and mentioned that she was heading inside. She urged him to take his time, but not to forget about her.
He stayed at the celebration a little longer. Fueled by the most potent wine he had ever enjoyed, Jinghua, the reluctant host, did his best until he couldn’t keep his eyes open. With the help of Qing Yuan’s shoulder, he stumbled to the bridal bedchamber where his wife was waiting for him. A-li was curled up and fast asleep, but awoke with an adorable smile on her face when she heard him kneeling beside the bed. He caressed her glowing rosy cheek and tucked the stray hairs escaping from her bun behind her ear, causing her to beam at him.
“Let me get a better look at my bride.” He sounded gruff from alcohol. He wanted a good look at her and pulled her up to see her better. He made her spin in her wedding dress and then leaned in close.
He lifted her effortlessly off the ground and kissed her lightly. They kissed gently, slowly, tenderly and languorously, without tongues. There was innocence in the sweet meeting of their lips and their kiss, laced with hints of the fruity plum wine, continued as he carried her to the bed. He sat her down to undress her. Before his hands removed a single piece of clothing, he drank her in with his eyes. His slender fingers followed the path set by his gaze as they haltingly unfastened and undid the many floral pankou buttons on her dress. One silk butterfly shaped button by button, unhurriedly loosened while she undressed him in the same slow manner.
Whispers, soft swishes of silky materials settling on the floor, filled the silent air when their clothes fell to the ground in a pile of red and white. She saw his desire that mirrored hers and shuddered visibly. He embraced her before covering her face, neck and bare shoulders with delicate wet kisses as light as morning dew. This hour—this exquisite moment, when it was just him, her husband Jinghua and A-li, his wife and nothing between their bare bodies was everything. The sheer gift of marrying her didn’t go unrecognized by him. It felt as if he had found his home after lifetimes of lonely wandering.
She was all he wanted.
A-li was all Jinghua would ever need.
She was his wife and his everything.
He raked his fingers through her long, silky, fragrant hair. It tickled his skin when it brushed and swept around him like the sea. He wanted to drown in it. He kissed and parted her peach blossom lips. His tongue lightly rubbed the roof of her mouth as he slowly dragged a finger down the center of her, and A-li trembled, gasping. She whimpered soft and airy when their bodies gently swept and caressed as she wrapped herself around him. The heady, intoxicating scent of desire hung in the air as their bodies pressed together, their bare skin igniting with the heat of their shared passion.
Their kisses exchanged unspoken promises of future pleasures inflamed by their love. His mouth savored the tantalizing taste of her. His tongue caressing every inch as he traced a path down the center of her body. The sight of her small raspberry-colored hardened nipples caused a surge of desire in his loins, and as he kissed, his lips teased, licked, and suckled on each one, eliciting an intoxicating mix of noises from her pleasure that sounded like music to his ears. Soft mewing moans and cries escaped her parted lips as his exploring hands ventured further, delving into the depths of her most intimate places with a newness as if he had never touched her before.
He supported her from below. Her back arched off the bed and her toes curled when his mouth and tongue replaced his hands and fingers as he licked her lower treasure deliberately, provocatively, savoring her flavor as if he had never tasted her down there. With his darted tongue, he parted her lower flower petals and licked her from the quivering pink opening to the protruding nubby pearl. Slowly, teasingly licking and sucking on her pink slit, he slid one finger inside her, then another. He parted her with two fingers and found her clit, rubbing it in small steady circles.
She cried out as his mouth nibbled on her. She was consumed by her building bliss. The taste of her, the smell of her, the feel of her so close against him, skin to skin, made his hard phallus jerk. He pleased her with an earnest desire. His eyes locked on her with a loving gaze as he ate her. His tongue, warm and wet, washed over her in full sweeps, leaving a blended trail of his saliva and her nectar behind.
As her hips undulated, rising and pressing against his mouth, she found her source of pleasure. She moaned and thrashed about on the bed. Her skin goose bumped with every stroke of his tongue that lapped at her like a cat drinking sweet cream. She begged for him to take her; her husky voice raspy filled with need, craving the fullness of his male sex. In response, a low, primal growl reverberated in his chest with passion as he added another finger, intensifying her pleasure.
She grabbed the bedding with her hands. She was coming apart in his mouth.
Her body shook, and her head whipped side to side.
She cried out for him.
She panted and groaned his name, floating upon her cloud of bliss, and covered his mouth with her nectar anew.
She reached out eagerly, her hand trembling as she beckoned him to move up. Her ragged breath was heavy and labored. Her lower treasure, still pulsating, was moist and wet. He wanted to savor her flavor for a longer time. She made tantalizing sounds when his tongue sliding across her skin, avoided her sensitive core. The taste of her nectar lingered on his lips when he told her she tasted as sweet as honey. Between fervent sucks and expertly rolling his tongue, he whispered declarations of love. His voice was thick and hoarse with desire before his tongue delved deep. He instructed her to come with his tongue inside her and with a wild abandon; she was overcome by her pleasure, her hips and buttocks bucking off the bed from ecstasy.
Only after satiating her twice did he take a bite of the inside of her thigh. He marked her, then ascended, his lips leaving a trail of urgent, yet tender kisses on her flesh. “I love you,” he whispered. “Tonight, I will make love to you as if this were our first time. As if I’ve never been inside you because everything between us is new.”
He called her wife and tears ran down her cheeks. He pressed his lips to hers, tasting the tangy, sweet and salty cocktail of her tears and her female sex. Their tangled bodies came alive, every nerve tingling with anticipation. As she slowly reached out, her delicate fingertips brushed against the rough, textured yet smooth growth that sprawled from the root, enveloping his thighs and defined abdomen, standing ready, thick, firm and tall. A shiver coursed down his spine, sending a tingling sensation throughout his body. With a gradual, deliberate motion, he entered her, feeling the warmth and tightness of her female sex envelop him.
A hoarse, rumbling moan of pleasure escaped his lips, louder than her broken breaths. His deep, dark eyes locked onto hers. A raw, intense desire to love her harder overcame him, seeing his reflection in her trusting gaze. Her red and pouty mouth tasted of plum wine. Her responsive kisses left a trail of fire in their wake.
He penetrated her. With each controlled movement, he traced his fingertips along her quivering skin. As he entered her again and again, waves of matching breaths speeding up echoed and surrounded them. Their bodies rising and falling in perfect harmony. They moved together in a slow, captivating dance. Only they knew the steps. Their eyes locked, love for one another poured from their gazes as they exchanged unspoken terms of devotion like eternal fidelity, absolute dedication, never ending love and forever.
A single tear escaped his eye, a testament to the overwhelming devotion and love that surged within him.“I love you, A-li,” he whispered. Her name held a sacredness akin to a prayer, surpassing any incense or offering presented to Zhinü by the eighth daughter of an all-female lineage for a husband. “I love you even more,” she responded, her lips gathering and capturing his like a lover’s embrace.
He kissed her soft, welcoming lips, savoring their honeyed taste before their kiss deepened. He pressed his forehead against hers, feeling the warmth of her flushed skin against his. With a gentle yet firm touch, he lifted her leg and placed it around his lower back, feeling the weight and warmth of her against him. He pushed her raised leg aside, opening her further. The heat and wetness between her thighs covered and drenched his pubic hair where they met. He sank deep inside her again. A rush of pleasure broke out through his being. With each thrust, the sound of their union echoed in the room.
Her lithe back arched like a bow in the throes of their physical joining as she squeezed herself harder into him, as if trying to become one body. Her voice cracked from her emotions when she cried out for him. He could feel the tension in her fingers as she clenched them over his broad shoulders. The feeling of her wrapped around him, both her legs entwined around his back, intensified the bodily thrill coursing through his veins.
Her head dropped back. Her mouth parted widely. A gurgling sound came from the back of her throat as euphoria soared again. He moved his mouth to her neck. He bit and sucked on her delicate skin. He did it hard enough to leave another mark for all to see. He claimed her as his again. His arousal was pressing, but he paced himself. Everything was controlled. Every move he made was measured, yet filled with an undeniable urgency that tested his will, but his steady rhythm was perfect for her as it kept her on the edge of pleasure, each thrust pushing her closer to the precipice.
He sweated. It trickled down his forehead and cascaded onto her skin, leaving a moist trail. Their bodies, damp and shimmering, emitted a subtle scent of exertion. As her hands glided down his slick back, she firmly gripped his quivering buttocks that moved with the rhythm of his thrusts. He tilted his head down and captured her right breast in his mouth, his tongue swirling and teasing. Beads of perspiration descended his face, landed on her chest.
He panted and growled when her balsam stained nails dug into his shoulders and raked down his back. He groaned, throaty and hoarse, but his rhythm didn’t falter. His continuous pace didn’t waver, his rhythm was steady, deep, satisfying thrusts. She felt every inch of his hardness, his thick length, his male sex sliding in and out of her tightness as he skillfully played her body like a zither, his fingers expertly strumming her outside while his male sex played her from within. As her climax started to build, he restrained himself, holding back. He pushed her to a place most only dreamt.
She cried out his name, her voice echoing through the room. “Jinghua!”
Tears streamed down her face as her head tilted, dropping back behind her, her sobs filling the air. Her intense climax consumed her. Like ripples, the consequences of accomplishment radiated from her essence. Jinghua held her tightly, his powerful presence preventing her from falling off the bed. It took every ounce of self control not to climax when she shattered into a million pieces.
She was unraveling in his embrace, yet he refused to decelerate. His thrusts became sharp, intense, and rapid. He knew her body, and she was starting to know his. They were growing to become attuned to each other. She held onto him; her nails digging into his biceps and back, his buttocks, anything she could grasp onto, her legs, her ankles wrapped around him.
Her body trembled and vibrated, humming with bliss. The intoxicating scent of a woman’s fulfilled desire enveloped his nostrils, like a heady blend of osmanthus and female musk. “A-li, stay with me a little longer.” She shook her head as if she couldn’t go on, but his commanding tone made it impossible for her to say no.
He said. “I want this moment to last.” He kissed her again, slow, lazy. His tongue touching, coiling and dancing leisurely with hers, enjoying the warmth and familiarity of her. She needed to catch her breath as he controlled his urge to come. He denied his impulses, holding off his finish yet remained intensely aroused, unspent, and eager for her. He was still inside her, and she continued to pulse around him.
He rolled his hips and created a different friction. Changing his penetration’s angle, knocking a hidden place deep inside her. The sensitivity was too much. She looked confused, startled as she came suddenly, hard and tight. Her body convoluted and tensed, then shook and rocked as she clung to him. Her inner walls squeeze and tightened like a vice, her body vibrate and quivered as her unexpected climax took hold.
She was panting furiously with her tongue out. Her body was writhing under his wildly. The extreme wetness from her was too much. He couldn’t wait any longer and in a low, guttural growl, he finally confessed, his voice filled with subtle frustration. “I can’t wait anymore.” His movements, once smooth and controlled, became urgent and jerky, filling the room with the sound of their bodies colliding. The verbalizations of his pleasure were roaring and harsh. Not holding back for the sake of decency that other would hear. He grunted like a rutting animal. Her eyes locked with his, and she could see the raw desire in his contorted face.
The pressure of her palms pressing against his clenched, thrusting buttocks to dive, to urge him deeper inside her, sent a jolt of pleasure through him that bordered on the brink of madness. He was close. Right there. He kissed her passionately with full heat, their bodies moving in a seamless rhythm of rolling, pushing, pulling, undulating, utterly connected. With a rough touch, he grabbed her leg onto his lower back, creating a space between their chests. Her breasts jerked in forced sways and moved with each powerful thrust, a lustful sight that fueled him with more arousal. He continued with full and deep strokes, savoring the wetness and tightness that enveloped him before finally yielding to his need to release. Panting and grunting with pleasure, and spilling his seed, his essence, accompanied by a low rumble of complete satisfaction that escaped from his pursed lips as he felt her tightening and clenching around him as she climaxed once again with him despite her fatigue.
He landed on top of her, their hands gripping each other’s shoulders tightly. Her rapid, forced panting breaths were warm against his skin and her heart raced against his chest. Their sweat mixed, causing their dewy skin to stick together as they held each other in silence until they could breathe normally. Jinghua kissed her once more. He cradled her in his embrace. Within the reassuring arms of her husband, A-li closed her eyes and slept.