A Fairy Tale for Big Girls – 4. chapter

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He held his breath, and when he realized what he had just done, he whispered almost in horror,
“Oh God… I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”

She stayed silent and breathed deeply. He began to stroke her and kiss her gently.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” he repeated, kissing her face. “I’m sorry…”
“It’s all right,” she exhaled painfully. “Your Majesty.”
“Mark,” he corrected her softly.
“Does it still hurt?” he asked after a moment, though he knew the answer.
She did not move, but her body pulsed and tightened around him. Too regularly. Too arousing. He held his breath again. This time as he realized he wouldn’t be able to stop this now.
“I have to stop,” he breathed and shifted slightly.
“Continue,” she urged him.
He shook his head, but she lifted her hips. He could not suppress a groan when the movement made him sink into her again. She repeated it only a few times before it brought him to orgasm. He clenched his teeth, closed his eyes, and remained still for several seconds. Then he exhaled deeply and gave her a strange look. Slowly he moved beside her, as if trying to collect himself.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered after a while. Silently, she pulled the sheet over herself and covered her body.
He did not know what to say. He was not accustomed to failure or defeat, least of all in moments like this.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, gently stroking her cheek.
“Would you have believed me?”
“…No,” he admitted reluctantly after a brief pause.
She shrugged.
“You know,” he continued, “it would help me believe you if I knew who you are. Because you’re clearly not at all what I thought.”
Without a word, she turned her back to him and pulled the sheet up over her shoulders.
“All right. Maybe later,” he nodded, trying to hide the displeasure in his voice. He watched the lines of her small body, which the thin sheet outlined in precise detail. The gentle, steady rise and fall of her shoulder was calming. Probably too calming, because when he came out of his reverie, he realized Lili had fallen asleep.
That caught him off guard a little. Women usually spent only a few hours with him and then left. He always slept alone. But after his performance tonight, he was unwilling to wake her too. He settled more comfortably and fell asleep.

When he woke in the morning, Lili was lying curled against him. Without hesitation, he gently moved her aside. She opened her eyes and almost immediately jerked away from him. She sat up, wrapped her arms around her knees, and hid her face in shame. He smiled, but didn’t comment.
“Breakfast is shared here,” he announced. “A few, let’s call them friends, noble houses. And some ladies of the court. Of course, you too.”
With the sheet pulled up over her nose, she glanced at him and nodded timidly.

He considered the conversation over and stood. She couldn’t help seeing his hard dick and froze, almost frightened. He hesitated.
“Easy. I’ll let you be for a while.”
She almost sighed in relief before he finished,
“I’ll wait until evening.”
Anxiety returned to her eyes, and for reasons he couldn’t understand, it made him feel bad. He knelt on the bed beside her.
“Don’t be afraid, little one. From now on, you’ll only like it. I don’t want to hurt you,” he murmured, his tone remarkably gentle.
“Then let me leave,” she pleaded at once.
His expression hardened. He rose abruptly.
“No! Get dressed,” he ordered, and did so himself. Before long, he realized she had not moved and turned back to her.
“I told you something,” he raised his voice slightly. “It would be good for you to learn to obey me.”
“Your Majesty,” she looked uncertain and frightened. “I don’t have any clothes here.”

He had forgotten that. Still, he said firmly,
“Mark. You are to call me Mark.”
When she nodded, he continued,
“I’m sorry. I forgot about the clothes.”
Crossing to the door and sending the guards for a maid probably took him longer than it took the simple maid to come running back with a dress. Neither woman tried to delay the dressing, and it was not long before Mark opened the door, let Lili pass through it, and they both walked downstairs.

“Everyone knows,” Lili whispered when those present noticed them.
“Pardon?” Mark did not understand, watching from the corner of his eye as her face flooded with an enormous blush.
“Everyone knows,” she repeated more quietly. “What… I did last night…”
She kept walking, avoiding every gaze in embarrassment.
Mark raised an eyebrow first, then chuckled in amusement.
“Yes, little one. Everyone knows,” he made no attempt to ease her situation. He stopped, and she stopped as well.
“People generally know that about me,” he continued calmly. “I don’t hide it. And if anyone didn’t understand it yesterday in your case, they certainly must now.”
She fell silent and lowered her eyes. Mark waited, hugely amused by her prudishness. After a few nervous minutes of shifting in place, she burst out,
“Why are we standing here?”
He laughed lightly.
“I am the one standing here,” he said, amused. “At my table. From you, I expect you to continue to yours,” he explained, gesturing toward the ladies’ table. Lili grew serious and looked around. Then she pressed her lips together, drew a quick breath, and walked on. Quickly. Without a greeting and without a bow to the king. Mark laughed again and sat beside Martin.

In a wonderful mood, he addressed the entire hall,
“Good morning, friends! And enjoy your meal!”

Lili sank onto an empty chair at the proper table and squeezed her eyes shut. Then she blew out a breath and opened them with resolve. Elena’s murderous glare from across the table pierced her.