Taken by Darkness

Later that night, long after greeting the nobles who bore witness to his wedding, Ashley sat in his new chambers. They were connected to those of his new husband, a private sitting room and two doors separating the newly weds. Sir Chris’ and Lady Amy’s chambers were just down the hall, an empty suite for visiting family in the other direction.

The new Princess of Silverstone was grateful to finally retire for the evening and be alone. After the ceremony itself and the ensuing festivities, which would surely continue until dawn, he was feeling more than a bit overwhelmed. The poor thing had even begun to panic slightly when he realized Andy’d stepped into a water closet to relieve himself just before supper was served. If not for having the King and Queen by his side when he came to that realization, things would’ve turned pretty ugly as his panic worsened.

“Ah, my sweet songbird.”

Turning when he heard the treasured, familiar voice, Ashley saw the man he’d just been thinking of standing in the doorway to their private sitting room.

“Do you require assistance in dressing for bed this eve?” he asked softly.

“Yea, please,” the adolescent answered, nodding. “I need naught but help loosening my laces.”

Nodding, Andy walked over and helped him to his feet. He never said a word about his discomfort with even the thought of him seeing him nude, but the new Princess still knew he was saddened by that. Still, the young man said naught about it as he used the utmost care to untie and loosen the laces of both his gown and corset. It was almost as though he feared breaking him, the way he handled him like fine china, but at the same time, it was very sweet.

Upon finishing his task, he turned to walk over to the wardrobe to select a nightgown for his new bride, giving him ample time to move behind his dressing screen. It was only then, as he stripped and tied his dressing robe around his waist, that Ashley realized the Prince was already dressed for bed. His nightshirt hung down his tall, slim physique to just above his knees, not uncomfortably tight, but tight enough to hint at the body beneath. What he didn’t realize, though, was that he only wore it now for his benefit, that he preferred sleeping in the nude. As soon as he returned to his own chambers, the young man would strip even that off so he was as nude as the day of his birth before crawling into his own cold, lonely bed for the night.

“If you need aught before dawn, do not hesitate to come and wake me,” Andy said, gently tucking him in after brushing his hair for him once he was dressed again.

“You are certain you will not mind?” the Princess asked uncertainly.

“Nay, I will not mind,” he answered, smiling reassuringly. “I want naught but the best for you.”

“I hope I will not need you before dawn, but many thanks, my love,” Ashley told him.

“I love you, my sweet songbird,” the Prince said, gently kissing his lips. “Just as I told you during our wedding…you mean the world to me. Forever and always.”

“I love you, too, my love…my heart. Always and forever.”

With another sweet smile, Andy blew out the lamp sitting on the small table by his bedside before turning to leave. Sighing softly, the Princess snuggled under his covers, feeling equally relieved and lonely. Part of him wished his husband had broken his word and stayed, not necessarily to sate a burning passion, but for comfort. Still, another part of him knew that would be a bad idea, especially on their wedding night, since he wasn’t ready for intimacy yet. Another soft sigh drifted past his lips as he rolled onto his side, staring at his wedding band glinting in the full moon’s light as his foot peeked out from under the covers.

A mere two rooms away, the Prince groaned softly, his hand gently closing around and beginning to stroke his shaft. He hoped and prayed with everything in him that Ashley was ready for further intimacy soon, knowing he could take only so much before he went mad as a hatter. It was that hope he held close to his heart that allowed him to fall into a peaceful slumber after he’d reached the height of pleasure a short time later.

* * *

Time continued to pass fairly uneventfully within the walls of Silverstone. All of the hub-bub of the royal wedding died down within a couple weeks after the event itself, the triennial guests all leaving within a week. Still, it took a while for the excitement to completely die down within the palace, though, what with all the maids gossiping about every little thing they noticed.

It was because of the whispers he overheard as the maids freshened his bedchamber while he was bathing one morning when Ashley realized just how miserable his husband truly was. Rumor had it that the young man was growing so frustrated that his temper was often getting the better of him. The maids were beginning to wonder if he was getting enough rest, or if his marriage had yet to be consummated. Hearing those hushed whispers, which were immediately silenced when he called out, broke his heart. He still wasn’t quite comfortable with the idea of further intimacy, but he was hurt that his husband was suffering so.

One night about two months after their wedding, the Princess waited about an hour after his husband left him for the night to crawl back out of his bed. He’d been thinking long and hard about whether he wanted to go through with such a thing, and he’d finally made his decision. Even though he was still incredibly nervous about such a thing, Andy didn’t deserve to suffer for his innocence and naivete. It was after thinking about the situation like that that he decided it was now or never.

Ashley quietly opened his wardrobe, intent on changing into his tightest, most appealing nightgown. He wanted to look his absolute best when he went to stoke the Prince’s ardor, even if he was stripped as nude as the day of his birth within mere minutes. Being raised as a young lady, he hated the thought of not looking his best during such a significant, life-changing event. Thankfully, his monthlies had ended two days previously, so if he gave up his virginity now, he highly doubted he’d find himself with child anytime soon. Many didn’t understand the intricate workings of reproduction, but they did understand that it took a short period of time after the monthlies for a womb to become fertile again.

“Mmmm.”

Barely stifling a gasp, the Princess froze in trying to pull back the covers of his husband’s bed.

“Mmmm,” Andy hummed again, rolling onto his back.

Unsure if he should continue or not, he stayed frozen, not even noticing the young man’s bare chest until the full moon peeked out from behind the clouds.

“Damnation,” he grumbled, eyes slowly opening. “Where is my duvet?”

Ashley barely bit back a gasp as he sat up, not even noticing his young bride in the darkness as he turned to light his lamp.

“Ah, now that is better,” the Prince muttered, turning to find his missing duvet. He gasped when he realized there was a hand holding it, obviously pulling it off him, and looked up. “Ashley? What is amiss, my sweet songbird?”

Whimpering softly as he backed away, suddenly fearing he was in trouble, the Princess dropped the duvet and wrapped his arms around himself.

“Nay, come hither, love,” he said, reaching out to him, though he made no move to get up.

“You are cross that I woke you,” Ashley whimpered.

“Nay, I am not.” His husband sighed and chuckled softly. “I am cross because the breeze chilled me enough to wake me when I was nice and cozy.”

“You…you are not cross at me? Truly?” he asked.

“Nay, not at all, my sweet songbird,” Andy answered, eyes widening as he finally realized what his bride wore. “Ohhhh…so that is the way of things, is it?”

Once again, the Princess whimpered softly, this time from the sudden glint in his husband’s eyes. Those beautiful cerulean orbs darkened slightly, a hint of mischief and more than a hint of sin sparkling in their depths. He was more than a bit surprised when he snaked one of those long arms out, loosely grabbed his wrist, and gently, but firmly, tugged him down on the bed beside him. So unexpected was the action that he let out a soft Ooof! as he landed, sprawled out on his belly.

Andy took full advantage of his bride’s momentary surprise by pulling him into his arms, then rolling over so he lay atop the adolescent. He connect their lips in a gentle, yet fiery kiss, unable to help the sudden swelling in his loins. Disappointed though he’d be, deprived as he was, if his sweet songbird changed his mind at any time, he’d gladly let him go. Hurting Ashley, or forcing him into something he wasn’t truly ready for, was far from his intent. Pain would undoubtedly be known to him this night, given that he was a virgin, but pleasure was his ultimate goal. Their marriage bed was to be a place of love and trust, not fear and anguish, from this night forth.

“You are certain this is what you want, my sweet songbird?” the Prince asked some time later, now laying atop his nude form and poised to enter him.

“Yea!” Ashley cried. “I am absolutely certain!”

“You must be,” he told him, gently grinding their members together. “Once ’tis done, there is no undoing this act.”

“Yea! I am quite certain this is what I want, my love!” the Princess cried, begging shamelessly. “Please…I need you.”

“Then I shall gladly oblige, for I need you just as much.” And with that, Andy kept his word, sealing their lips in yet another kiss as he entered him in that most intimate of ways.

Notes