Thread: Dishonored: Whispers from Dunwall Tower (CanadianVet & StarSiren)

I am importing a story between CV and I, and will need to post a few times in a row The Royal Protector to any member of the Imperial Family has but one duty to guard their charge at all costs. How they do it, that is largely left to their own devices. Most would be content being nothing more than a prestigious bodyguard who would never stray far from their assigned personage. Others would prefer managing a stable of hand-picked Imperial Guards. But Corvo Attano, he had a different way about it he preferred having a more active hand in some things. Much of it was an artefact of his early life on the streets of Karnaca, dealing with the seedy underbelly of the city, and the networks he had forged in these years served him well when he had found his way into the Grand Serkonan Guard, leaving his life as a street tough behind him, after winning the Verbena Blade despite his lack of formal training. And it was his effectiveness as an Officer of the Guard that had led to him being sent to Dunwall as a political gift to the Emperor. And there he had set the same kind of networks he used to have, making use of his own past as a street rat to find the right people to speak to, and to seed the city with informers and watchers who would report to him as an officer in Imperial service. And he saw no reason not to make use of his sources even after he had been selected over a number of Gristol natives who were much better born than he was for the role of Protector to Princess Jessamine. It was his spies that led him to what he had to do on this night. He had heard whispers of someone planning to produce a false heir, a false male heir older than his charge to supplant her as the successor to Euhorn, and that he could not let stand. And it was a good thing he enjoyed a rather wide latitude in the carrying out of his duties, but when the evidence was far less than what a court would require to convict, it meant Corvo would need to handle things in a rather less orthodox way. The townhome he had infiltrated had been well-guarded. Or at least it would have been if the man had bothered to hire guards who knew how to look up and were actually alert. Oh, two had gotten lucky and had spotted the threat, not that it did them much good. Well, mostly it was because they could not have been avoided. They were close protection for their employer, and they simply were in the way. If the scarf hed worn to obscure his face had been displaced, it would have been different but because it had stayed where it was supposed to, he was able to let them live, and the reason they were asleep on duty was one they would never be able to live down, courtesy of two bottles of rotgut having been liberally poured into their mouths and all around them. Which is more than could be said for the man whod usurp his way into power and the puppet he would use to supplant Jessamine. Comes morning, both would be found dead, a case of murder-suicide, apparently. The catspaw would be found with a hole in his head, the gunshot having been muffled by the blood-soaked and powder-burned pillow that was pressed against his skull. As for the would-be mastermind, it would be discovered he cut his wrists with his razor in his favourite chair and bled out, soothed to death by the alcoholic haze he was enjoying. No one would know he had already been passed out drunk by the time the steel had parted the artery and hed been held into place for the minute or so before he passed out from blood loss. No evidence. No witnesses. Two less threats to Jessamine and her future, and Corvo Attano, Royal Protector and sometimes troubleshooter, returned to Dunwall Tower via a little-used door manned by a man whose silence he trusted, and he returned to Jessamines apartments where his own room was located. The guards knew him after all he had hand-picked her entire security detail and they did not question him when he returned a little after two in the morning, smelling of brandy and rotgut and the conglomeration of scents that was the smell of streets and alleys. In the privacy of his room, he removed his coat and hung it from a hook near the door and the belts that held his sword, pistol and crossbow were next. He hadnt bothered to turn on the lights, knowing the layout of his quarters by heart, and his vest he absently tossed onto the back of a chair on the way to the attached bathroom. His shirt had followed, this one landing in a laundry hamper, and he took a moment to wash his hands and give himself a rather quick sponge bath in the sink, not being inclined to filling the tub or running to shower at this late an hour for now all he wanted was a chance to catch a few hours' sleep before Jessamine would wake up, early rise that she was, and expect to find her protector at the breakfast table by the time she would be washed and dressed herself. His ablutions complete, he finally kicked off his boots and finished stripping off the remainder of his clothes before he slipped into his bed. And when he did, it was only then he realized he was not alone 'She twirled for him and curtseyed while he watched. His blushing smile of approval egged her on and she slinked towards him.' Oh... do you like it.. The words startled the Empress-to-be and she opened her eyes in a panic. The room was dark. Shit.. what time is it?! She blinked several times, trying to get her bearings, and slowly sat up. Once her irises had adjusted to the dim moonlight filtering in, she recognized the room as her own. But she had been sleeping? Her blue-grey eyes glanced down around her at the bed. Yes, she had been sleeping under the blankets and everything, but she didn't remember going to bed. She glanced at the armchair near the foot of her bed where her Royal Protector always sat and noted its distinct lack of Corvo. She frowned. By the Outsider, if he's already fallen asleep then all my preparations will be wasted! She threw the covers off and quickly removed her nightgown, throwing it on the floor as she darted across the room. She opened her top-most dresser drawer and thrust her hand all the way to the back. Her hand rummaged about for a moment before landing on a paper parcel tied with satin ribbon. Oh good, he didn't find it! Smuggling anything into her room was hard enough with Corvo around her 237, let alone a wrapped package. Not that she minded having him near. On the contrary, she wanted nothing more to be with him always, but it made planning a surprise very difficult. It had been just about a year since they had officially, albeit secretly, become a couple, and since they hadn't had a chance to celebrate anything over the last few months, she had planned for a special evening. And instead, she fell asleep and he had put her to bed. Her pale peach hands moved in stark contrast to the black satin ribbon, even in the darkness of her moonlit room. She untied the bow and carefully laid the package on the dresser top while peeling the paper open. Every crunch and crinkle seemed to echo infinitely around her room and she was certain she'd be caught by a guard from all the noise. But she managed to completely unfold the package without any interruptions. Inside lay several lovely items of clothing that she had been told were all the rage and would be sure to lead to 'steamy fun,' whatever that meant. Jessamine lifted the top out and admired it in what little light she had. It was as beautiful as she had been told it would be. The bra cups were ornately decorated with embroidery and had ruffled lace around the top and bottom edges, and little bows along the top edge where the straps were. It laced closed in the center with a long, sturdy ribbon. The entire bottom edge of the bra also had a sheer material flowing from it. She undid the laces and slipped into the top and laced herself in. The push-up effect on her breasts was delightful and she liked how the sheer material was cut to show off her toned stomach. Next in the package was a matching panty, with ruffled lace around the waistline and legs, and decorative embroidery on the pantry itself. It also featured lace up sides, which took Jess several ties to get tied properly and comfortably. The effect of the lingerie set was stunning and she admired herself in the mirror. The bottom of the sheer draping on her bra hit just below the waistline of her matching panty and cut a pair of beautiful diagonals to showcase her abdomen. She moved a little and twirled, watching how the material flowed. Oh this is perfect! She squealed and her hands immediately covered her mouth. She watched the hallway door in the mirror for several seconds before stifling a giggle. Oh if they only knew what I was doing.. I'm sure they'd have a heart attack! The last piece in the package was the matching robe, made entirely of sheer material. It had long, flowing sleeves encircled with a 2 inch strip of decorative embroidery around her elbows, but the robe itself was short. She had been debating whether she would wear it or not, but she wanted Corvo to see the whole look, so she lifted it from the box. It was a simple matter to shrug her arms into the sleeves, crisscross the front and tie it off with the black satin ribbon. Now that the robe was on, she could see just how short it was it barely covered her ass! She blushed at what Corvo might say when he saw her in this and looked at the door conjoining their two rooms. It's now or never. Please don't be asleep! Jessamine took a deep breath and crept over to the door. It was never locked and she had learned from him how to open it quietly. With a firm grip and gentle force, she rotated the handle until it stopped and slowly pushed on the door. His room was also dark, which she hadn't expected, but she continued opening the door until the gap was large enough for her to slip through. Now on the other side, she repeated her painstaking process of closing the door. Once she'd gotten it shut, her eyes had adjusted enough that she could mostly see in the room. And Corvo was nowhere to be found. What?! NO! Not tonight! She exclaimed her displeasure a little louder than intended and dragged her feet over to his bed. She tried being optimistic, but her gut was telling her that tonight would not be the night. Maybe he's just.. not in his room in the middle of the night. And he's not in mine either. So he's.. roaming the Tower? No. Outside? No, that's ridiculous. In the bathroom?? Her head jerked towards his bathroom suite, but the door was open and the lights were off. She sighed. Or maybe he had something 'to do' tonight.. Damn it, all my planning! Her fingers made air quotes in the air as she said to do, since she had a good idea why he might not be in the room. Sometimes he did scouting and such during the night, and while he never disclosed the nature of these missions, she assumed they were dangerous. She flopped down onto the padded coverlet atop his mattress and readjusted so she was properly laying on his bed. Maybe it wouldn't take too long? Maybe he'd be back soon? That thought cheered her up some and she tried to prop herself in a seductive way. Or, in what she thought might look like a seductive way. She had only seen one poster for a headlining lady at the Golden Cat and she tried to mimic that woman's horizontal pose. She rolled to her stomach and kicked both legs back behind her, bending them up at the knee and letting her feet swing in the air above her rump. She propped her chin up on her hands and waited. And waited. She woke up when her head face-planted into the pillow and glanced around the room. The moonlight shone in different patterns now, which meant some time had passed. But still no Corvo, and her robe was suddenly limiting her movement and highly annoying. Ugh! She sat up quickly and untied the satin sash. The robe was off of her and draped over his armchair in seconds. But with the robe off, she realized that his room was kept colder than his. And despite it's sheer material and short length, it had provided half of her body with enough warmth that she hadn't noticed the temperature difference. She eyed his bed again. Just don't fall asleep again, Jess. She reminded herself what not to do as she pulled back the coverlets and climbed in. She lay on her side with her head resting against one of the pillows. It was so warm under the blankets, though and his bed was so comfortable. Not that hers wasn't, but she'd never been in his before. She felt her eyelids droop at least a dozen times before she stopped noticing anything else. When Corvo finally did come home and flop into bed, Jessamine was already fast asleep beside him, still dressed in her surprise. Feeling that other presence in its bed, the warm mass next to him, Corvo's conscious mind did not even factor into his reactions. Someone in his bed was not something he had expected, and after the constant vigilance of the night's activities, he was quite literally on a hair trigger, even in the Tower where he ought to have been secure enough to let his guard drop at least to some degree. Was there to be an intruder at either door leading into his own quarters, he woud roll to a side and reach for the pistol he kept behind either of his nightstands, but this close to him, there was only one course of action. He exploded into motion, his scissoring legs ripping the covers off the bed as he used the movement to propel himself into position. One hand found a bare shoulder as he readied himself to strike, and he took a deep breath. And his right arm changed in its motion, and instead of his fist crashing onto his most unexpected bedfellow's head, he instead reached for the switch that actuated the wall-mounted electric light over his bed. For indeed, when he had inhaled the smell, clean, floral, unique and most familiar, had filled his nostrils. But he needed to see to confirm what he thought. And the harsh white light indeed put truth to his suspicions. Jessamine, his princess, his charge, a woman with whom he'd been dallying with for a little while now, was in his bed. And wearing far less than he'd ever seen on her. He could not recall exactly how it had started between them, this relationship that went past that of guardian and charge. But he did remember the first time they'd kissed. He knew what he was doing, she had been much more hesitant. And since, he'd been certain to let her set the pace of how things would proceed between them, and he'd even put the brakes on some of her more adventurous notions in that area in the past. After all, she knew nothing of this sort of intimacy, and he knew he cared about her. So all he could do was to ensure she would not get in too deep too fast. Once upon a time he would have called himself an idiot for not taking the opportunities given to him. After all, what red-blooded man would not jump at the opportunity to bed a virgin princess of eighteen years? Oh, they had been kissing, and touching, mostly through clothing but sometimes reaching beneath. He'd never seen her undressed, nor had she ever seen him out of his clothes. And one thing for certian, he'd never seen her in lingerie that appeared to have little in common with what he'd seen leave and come back with the laundresses! But now there she was, in frilly, lacy and racy underwear, her pale skin all but shining under the electric light and he in nothing but his own loose underpants, and had he not taken a deep breath, it would have been his fist that would have been his greeting to her, and not the incredulous words that escaped his throat. Jessa? What are you doing here? A rough hand slammed into Jessamine's shoulder and pinned her to the bed. Her eyes shot open, and then winced shut as a blinding light came into existence directly above her head. She raised one arm to shield her sleep-weary eyes and blinked. Corvo? A tumble of thoughts hit her all at once and her eyes went wide as she drew in a sharp breath. She had fallen asleep again!! She cursed her own body for being so weak. The plan had been to have him close his eyes and then feel what she was wearing before seeing it. From there, well she hadn't really thought that far yet, but expected that lots of kissing and touching and maybe something that she'd been hoping for seeing each other. She had heard many different descriptions for what a man looked like under his clothes, but she'd never seen it before. She had been so curious that last week she had walked in on him while he was bathing, but he covered up so quickly and she got more embarrassed than she had expected. The end result was a minor reminder about privacy and surprises, but he had forgiven her moments later and they shared a delightful evening. Now, with her shoulder pinned to the bed by his firm, calloused grip and the light turned on, she could clearly see his muscular, topless form above her. She felt the blush creep into her cheeks, but couldn't keep her eyes from roaming his body. His skin was dark compared to hers, tanned due to his birthplace. It was beautiful. She noted the scars marring his body and wanted to touch them, but kept her hands to herself. Her eyes wandered further down his form, only stopping when the landed on the loose-fitting cloth covering his groin. The shape was not hard to make out, like an arch against the fabric, but it was still hidden under clothing. Her fingers twitched at her side and she brought her eyes up to meet his. I.. uh.. I was trying to surprise you, but you weren't here. Shrugged with her free shoulder. Might as well tell him now. So, surprise? She smiled unconvincingly up at him. It was true, but she figured he wouldn't like it. It occurred to her just then that he hated surprises. But he would have liked this one, if he'd only been home. If she had gotten the chance to play this out in the way she'd planned, he wouldn't look quite so cross right now. She bit her bottom lip and realized that she could still salvage some of her plans. With the blankets on the floor, all of Jessamine's body was exposed and in full view. She shifted under him until she lay flat on her back. She brought her knees up and used her free hand to play with the sheer skirt on her bra. She glanced down, then back up at Corvo as a sly smile crept onto her face. Do you like it? I got it for you. I had a whole thing planned, but I accidentally fell asleep. And you weren't here anyway. Her stare became quizzical. Where were you anyway? You're supposed to be near me always, but I checked both rooms. You weren't even in the Tower, were you? Her fingers sifted the sheer fabric between them as her other hand slid up her arm and rested on his, on her shoulder. In general, Corvo was always in tight control of his reaction. Even his reflexes to imminent threats were finely honed tools, surgical in their precision and he could stop them before he would commit to actions that would have irremediable consequences. But in this case, his response to the intruder in his bed had been completely off normally he would identify the threat before acting, even subconsciously. But the combinaton of the high-risk environment he had been in recently, tiredness after all, he had been up nearly twenty hours already and going about the business of eliminating threats to the crown was what one could call energy-intensive and the slight erosion of his customary watchfulness in the relative safety of Jessamine's apartments meant he had not reacted quite as efficiently as he normally did. Hence the hasty change from a blow that could have shattered her cheekbone to the turning on of a light. You got careless, my man you should've known there was someone in here right off the bat. In the future, none of this getting ready for bed in the dark... The thoughts were in the back of his mind even as he considered the princess in his bed. When she spoke about the surprise she intended for him, he could not help but laugh. Fatigue and stress had a hand in this, but so did her own response. Something he'd learned, first informally from experience on the rough streets of Karnaca and then from veterans of the Grand Guard, was that surprise was what happened when you misunderstood something that was under your nose all along. As a rule, that was a bad thing for a bodyguard to be surprised by anything. But every rule had its exceptions, and finding out that Jessamine Kaldwin had managed to sneak this racy little number past him and his security measure and had been plannin to model it for him was the kind he could live with, even though he was less than thrilled he'd failed to notice she'd crept into his bed when he came back to his room. As she shifted onto her back, Corvo took the time to look her over much more closely. Oh, he had seen her less than fully dressed before, but never in less than a full nightgown that was most often covered by a dressing gown. To have her so fully exposed before him was more than a little exciting, and he could feel a slight engorging down within his underwear. And he had to say, she was gorgeous, not that he didn't already know that. Fighting an instinct to take advantage of the situation, the hand upon her shoulder ran down her arm instead of sliding inwards towards of of those most shapely breasts of hers, choosing to take his time instead of rushing things. Of course I like it. How could I not? Having spoken, he leaned forward, planting a sweet but short peck onto her lips. But there was something else to address her question about his whereabouts. Of course he trusted her implicitly, that she would not throw him under the tram if she suspected some of his activities were of an extra-legal matter. However he could not trust she would not be grilled about it by other nobles, or the House of Lords, or the odd journalist who got to her. And while she was destined to be Empress and some day she'd have to know about many a shady dealing. But for now, she did not need to know the specifics just yet. Ah, Jessa, love, as your protector my job is to protect you, right? That doesn't mean I have to be right at your shoulder all the time. A bit of a smile appeared on his face. If I don't tell you about what I was doing, then you won't have to lie if someone asks you about some people's... misadventures. But I'll tell you something wherever I was tonight, I was doing exactly what my job entails I was protecting you. He did not particularly enjoy concealing the truth, but he hadn't lied to her despite being less than clear. And truth be told, he knew he'd kept things clean and the body count as low as he could. The two people who needed to be disposed of had been, and he'd been lucky he hadn't been made, the scarf he used as a mask hadn't been dislodged so there had been no need to kill the two guards who'd seen him. If they had seen him, there wouldn't have been much of a choice but to cause much more damage... like setting fire to the whole townhouse to conceal his presence. But instead some spilled rotgut and the conspirator's cleverly planted discharged pistol, and his blood-stained razor, would be enough to make it look like a murder-suicide, and that would be the end of it. And unless they were part of a larger operation, there would be no loose ends. And if they were, then a very clear message would have been sent. The kiss, while short, was a reward in itself. If her blood hadn't been racing before, it certainly was now. And when Corvo pulled away, Jessamine's eyes were still closed and her lips were left wanting. The hand caressing her lingerie had moved touch his bare shoulder, but he pulled back too soon and her fingertips only grazed the skin of his arm. But the feeling was electrifying. Jessa slid her fingertips around to caress the muscles in his upper arm and shoulder. She had caught glimpses of Corvo topless before, mostly when he was alone and thought she wasn't looking, or when she peeked at him through the keyhole connecting their rooms. Never like this, or this close. She had touched him before too, both over his clothes and under, but there was something about touching him like this that made her a little light-headed. Or maybe it was the way his hand had slid down her arm and brought goosebumps to her skin. His words, however, implied something very dark. Her hand continued to stroke his shoulder as she considered what he'd said. Misadventures? What 'misadventures'? And whom do you think is going to question me? Even if someone did, won't it be oddly suspicious if I say you were gone when I awoke in the middle of the night and didn't come home for hours? Or, wait, is this like the time last month when that nobleman spoke ill of me and ended up in a coma? You know violence doesn't solve problems, right? She winked at him. Honestly Corvo, sometimes I think you believe the whole empire is out to get me. She grinned a little. It was meant as a joke, but she did truly value what he did. She might not always know the specifics, but she knew he always had her best interests at heart. Her hand slid along his shoulder towards his neck. She wanted to pull him closer. I'm sorry, my love. I really do appreciate what you do, even if you don't always tell me. So thank you. I knew you would be the perfect man for the job all those years ago. It's why I chose you to be my protector and I've never regretted it. I've never regretted anything we've done. I love you, Corvo. You are the protector of my body and my heart.. but I do like it more when you're at my shoulder, and your arms are around me, and we're alone together than when you're off someplace else.. She let her sentence linger as her fingers trailed up his neck and through his long brown hair. She pressed her elbow into the bed and used it to support her weight as she lifted up to kiss him. Her eyes closed as their lips met and she tasted him once more. Of all the things they had done so far, this was her favorite and it never failed to leave her breathless. But from the gossip she heard from the workers, she and Corvo had hardly done anything at all. She fully intended on changing that, but she didn't know where to start and he was less than helpful in this area. She knew that Corvo had been with other women before her, but he seemed so reluctant when they were together. It made her wonder if maybe her inexperience was unappealing to him. That thought had led her to where she was now, modeling in sexy lingerie and feeling exposed beneath him. But she wanted him to see her and touch her without her clothes on, and she wanted to do the same to him. He was stunning in his uniform, and she saw he was even more handsome out of it. Something in her ached for him in ways that she couldn't describe, and on the nights when he wasn't in her room she would use her alone time to her advantage. But not tonight. Tonight she would make something happen, or at least something more than what they had done already. And if he wouldn't initiate it, then she would help him. Jessamine trailed her hand down from his neck to his shoulder and then along the length of his arm. She reached for his hand stroking her skin and gently slid it towards her chest until his palm cupped her covered breast. She gulped. It was the first time he'd touched her chest while she wore anything less than a corset or a nightgown with underclothes. Her eyes were heady and laden with open lust. Her mouth parted as her chest rose to meet him and fell again, and she exhaled. She was convinced he could hear her heartbeat, with how loud it was banging in her ears. She had to do it now, before she lost her nerve. Corvo I- Jessa's voice came out thin and wispy. She cleared her throat and tried again. Corvo. I'm ready. Make me yours tonight? It wasn't the first time she'd asked, and if he refused again, it wouldn't be the last. Jessamine's touch was not something Corvo had gotten used to, let alone come to take for granted yet. In fact, he certainly hoped he never would on either count. But after several hours spent on an errand that meant dead for two men and could have spelled the end of far, far more if it had come down to it, that soft hand upon his shoulder was something most welcome. It reminded him there was much more to his life than being an animate weapon in service to the Imperial Family. When she questioned him, he shook his head ever so slightly. Love, I don't think the guard would question you, but there are others in the court, or some of the people who work around you, who could broach the topic and if you know what I've been up to there is a chance you could let something slip and there is no telling who they would tell. That much, he saw as part of his protection mandate. The least Jessamine and the Emperor knew about his extralegal activities, the better it would be. Oh, of course there were plenty who knew he had a network of informants and watchers in the Tower and out, but no one knew who they were, or what they reported. Of course some resented this organization of is, running parallel to the Royal Spymaster's own, but such was their problem and not his. However, at the mention of Baron Sheffield, he offered her a hint of a smile. Of course he had something to do with his coma, having hammered his head against a brick wall several times for what he'd said about his charge, and what he'd do to her given the chance. But her apology, he took with a gracious incline of his head even as he flexed his spine, letting his shoulder and neck press into her hand. Jessa, I really wish I could just be one grim ornament at your shoulder whenever you're in the public eye and have you in my arms when you're not. But sometimes, there's things that need dealing with before they become a real problem things the law can't or won't touch. But when her lips pressed against him, that was the death knell of this line of conversation. She was inexperienced but she was learning fast. But there was something... genuine about those kisses of hers, something he hadn't really found in anyone else before. They were sweet, shy yet bold in their own way, and he certainly enjoyed them. As they kissed, he felt her hand sliding down to his, and he let her guided him until she rested it upon her breast. It was not the first time that had happened, but it was the first time there was so little between their skins. Oh, he had felt that flesh before what was left exposed by her clothing, even slipped beneath those clothes for a rather constricted feel. But nothing so open before. Through the sheer fabric, he could feel her warmth, the thrumming of her heartbeat through that firm yet pliable flesh, the nub of a nipple pressing against his palm. And then, she asked a question she had a number of times before. A question that so far he'd always answered in the gentlest negative. Of course he desired her, and much like before the question itself, along with her half-naked form against him and her breast in his hand caused him more than just to stir and he could feel his member engorging within his underwear. And as much as he wanted to take full advantage of the situation and a purely primal level, he did not want to see her rush into things. You have no idea how much I want to, he whispered back. But I don't want you to rush. Once again, he pressed his lips to her for a kiss. It was still brief but longer than the last peck he had delivered, and an unspoken promise not rushing did not mean they would not move further this night. Slowly, the hand upon her breast slipped inwards towards the ivory clasp in the front of her bra, the one that held the garmed closed over her chest, and fingers that were powerful enough to choke the life out of a man deftly unhooked it with a gentleness that could give lie to that strength and ruthlessness he was capable of, and brushed the silk aside. And he inhaled sharply at the sight. Under his touch, he'd judged they were a perfect fit, filling his hands just so. But he'd never seen them before, not beyond what showed at her neckline, that is. And the sight was wondrous. Neither exceedingly small nor ridiculously large for her slender frame, pale but somewhat flushed. And for the first time, his hand cupped one of the unconstrained mounds and he gave it a tender squeeze, finally coming to experience their true form without the artificial bounds of her clothing to alter the sensation. Corvo's reasoning made sense, of course. It always did. Jessamine hated that. She pouted as he explained, but did nod in agreement when he was finished. He was right. She talked to everyone around her, and if she accidentally said the wrong thing, her Royal Protector would be in trouble. She couldn't risk him being taken away, he meant too much to her. But the princess had other plans for the evening, and she thought they would be more exciting than arguing over his outside antics. She was learning how to stop him in his tracks, learning how to change the subject and make her body his sole focus. It was much harder than those racy novels had led her to believe, but some of the tricks worked on him. And one thing she had picked up on was that he often would follow her lead. She felt a little lost sometimes, since she never really knew where to start, or how, but if she fumbled here or there, he had never complained. Jessa held her breath as she placed Corvo's hand upon her breast. It was the boldest move she'd done lately, especially considering what she was currently wearing. Her eyes watched him. She whimpered as he once again told her no, but some part of her was relieved. But Corvo! I- The kiss swallowed the rest of her words. Her eyes fell shut and her arms held him closer. She felt his thumb slip over the fabric of her nipple and a sigh escaped her lips as Corvo pulled back. Her blue-grey eyes watched his gaze take in her body and settle on her chest. She wanted him to see her with nothing restricting her body. She needed his expression to validate her emotions and embolden her spirit. And the way he reacted as his rough hands brushed her bra aside, tickling her breasts and revealing them to the dimly lit room, brought a blushing smile to her face. The scratch of his palm against her delicate skin was so different from when she had held them herself, pretending her hands were Corvo's. Her breasts filled his hands just right and she could not keep her voice from letting out gasps of delight as he touched her, unrestrained and free, for the first time. She brought her palm to his stubbly cheek. Ohhh Corvo.. You could.. taste them.. or.. just touch me. Everywhere. It wasn't a command, but it wasn't really a request either. The hand on his cheek ran through his hair and pulled him close again, close enough to kiss and not let go. Her lips pressed to his as his hands were on her body. She kissed him hard, and her mouth parted. Her tongue flicked at his lips, seemingly begging for the chance to deepen the kiss. She wanted to loose herself in his scent, his touch, his taste. She wanted to give herself over to the frustratingly sweet sensations that her body guard elicited from her. Even though she knew it was likely her body would ache with some unfulfilled desire afterwards. Unless.. As Corvo's hands moved deftly over her nipples, using his years of experience to really feel her for the first time, and Jessa kissed him full on the mouth, one hand slid down along her belly and nervously stroked herself above the matching panties. Corvo did not have a chance to respond before Jessamine pressed her lips to his again. And when she parted her lips, he responded in kind and his own tongue darted out, gently starting to fence with hers. They did not often have a chance to kiss this deeply, but in the time their relationship had taken a turn to the physical she had become quite the adept kisser. After all, that was where she'd had the most practice thus far. And even when she was brand new at it, he had enjoyed her kisses a great deal. They were genuine and honests, all the more lovely for their tentative nature. But her words, he did heed them and while one hand remained tenderly cupped about one breast, he set the other onto her shoulder as he further leaned into their kiss and he let his hand slided down as far as he could reach. Along her arm, with the tip of his thumb barely grazing at her other breast along her ribs and the smooth skin of her abdomen below. Over the silk of her underwear and down a silken thigh before coming back up to give her firm, perfectly shaped backside a squeeze. As he readjusted himself along her body, he could feel his own fully hardened member pressing against her hip, so close to her... her hand? Well, that much was to be expected. He could only imagine just how much pent-up sexual energy was bottled up within the princess. After all, he'd denied her what, six times now when she asked if he'd make her his? And it was not exactly easy for him either and often he'd have to excuse himself after one of their sessions, or at night when he was alone, to deal with his own body's request for release. Shifting his position, he broke the kiss. Not suddenly but instead slowly pulling away, only to return his lips to her. This time, it was at the corner of her mouth. Then a second kiss, that one at the soft spot just below the pivot of her jaw. And then, he started trailing kisses down her neck and along her collarbone. He was moving slowly, deliberately even as the hand upon her breast moved to caress the periphery of the glorious mound, going all around including the underside, with but the occasional brush of her nipple. And his lips kept migrating down, towards her otherwise unattended breast and he started laying a pattern of kisses, starting at the twelve o'clock position just where it started to rise from her chest, and into an ever tightening spiral, letting his stubbled cheek gently scrape at the soft skin as he moved about. And then he reached his goal, his lips gently fastening about the hardened nubbin. Just as his own callused hand joined hers over her underwear and also took up the gentle stroking right alongside her dainty fingers. Corvo's tongue electrified her and she let herself drown in the depth of his kisses. This was the one thing they had done the most of since they had begun this relationship, and it remained her favorite. He always tasted of something good, though she could never quite discern the flavor. Her full voice couldn't escape from his liplock, so only sweet muffled noises filled the space between the lovers, despite the shivers that his roaming hand sent up her spine or the stroking that her own fingers were doing. She had been so wrapped up in the moment that she didn't even notice the warm, stale, recycled air she'd been breathing until Corvo pulled away, slowly, and the crisp air of the room hit her face once more. She would have moved in for another kiss, but instead her weight on the bed was shifted slightly and Corvo's lips were back against hers, and moving. Her eyelids fluttered closed as he planted featherlight kisses in some places, and firmer ones in others. He was learning the places that took her breath away, like the natural curve of her neck where her jawline met her ear, the sides of her neck and her collarbone. Each place he kissed left a mark on her in the form of a sigh, a gasp, a shiver or goosebumps. She cried out the first time his thumb flicked past her nipple. The barrage of sensitive kisses combined with these new sensations on her breasts and her own fingers rubbing the outside of her panties were making her louder than usual. When his mouth reached her unattended breast, and she felt the warmth of his wet kiss on her skin followed by the coolness of his mouth moving to a new place, goosebumps spread over her breast and her nipple hardened into a firm pink nub. But Corvo didn't stop his attention to her newly revealed flesh, even when the scruff of his face rubbed her nipple and made her twitch and jump beneath him. He seemed to be taking her request to heart and she opened one eye to watch as his lips enclosed around the flushed, pink skin surrounding her nipple. Her body tingled as her breasts were tended to, with one being rubbed, flicked and squeezed while the other was kissed, nibbled and sucked. The stirrings of pleasure within her body had inspired her fingers to stroke more deliberately against her panties, but his hips were pressing against her as well and she couldn't help but notice how firm he had become. The thought lingered in Jessamine's mind for less than a second before she acted on it. Her pointer finger lifted and as she stroked herself with her middle and ring finger, her raised finger grazed the stiffness in his underpants. Then his hand touched hers and his fingers moved to rub her in the same way. She hadn't meant to moan so loudly, but the shudder and the sound were an involuntary emotional response to the sudden heightened pleasure she was under when his fingers caressed her panties. She hadn't noticed the other indication that she was enjoying herself, but a saturation of moisture was slowly spreading on her thin underwear from where they were rubbing. Jessa lifted her hand and placed it over his, guiding his fingers to stroke and press in the places she liked best. When her hand finally left his, it was to graze her fingertips along his length. Touching him through something as thin as his underwear was still very new to her and her nerves were getting the better of her, but she wanted to make him feel good too. So despite her embarrassment, Jessamine pressed her palm against his member and curled her fingers around the fabric. With light motions, she began sliding her hand up and down his length. After several motions, her hand became more accustomed to the feeling and she grew bolder. Her hand squeezed slightly as she stroked him and her thumb started rubbing over and across the tip each time she reached it. But to hear her gasps, sighs and moans from this close, to feel her body tense and relax by turns against him, that was something he realized he'd longed for more than he'd imagined. When he'd first laid eyes on Jessamine, all these years back, he had known she would grow to be beautiful. And he'd seen her grow from girlhood through her teenage years years during which he had refused her advances a number of times. After all, it would not have done for a Royal Protector to be seen canoodling with a princess who'd yet come of age. But when the number of years she'd seen since birth reached that magical number, he had finally allowed himself to kiss more than her hand. And now, there she was, half-naked and writhing beneath his touch, and both of them enjoying every second of it. Part of Corvo was wondering how he'd managed to stave off her advances for so long, and why he was still holding back. He was as red-blooded a man as any, and with the passions of a Serkonan to boot and there he was with a most beautiful woman who had just asked him to take her, no less. But no. He was her Protector, and even if what she felt for him, what she felt for her was already hardly appropriate given his official role, let alone the difference in their stations, he would not take advantage of her not when he was not utterly convinced that was what she really wanted. So far, their fooling about had no irreversible implications, but if he did make love to her as she yearned and he desired, that could change. So instead, he focused on one thing making sure she would enjoy every second of this moment they were sharing. Lifting his head from her breast, he looked upon her face as he let the hand that was on her panties caress her. He wanted to see her expression as he touched her more boldly than he'd dared before, and when she started guiding his hand, he followed her lead, simply caressing her as she was asking. And then, he felt her hand. It was light at first then grew more confident as it went up and down the length of his hardened shaft through his underwear, and the first time her thumb went over his uncut tip, he sharply inhaled. That he hadn't expected at all, although he probably ought to. But for now, he started to concentrate and but two things. First he would hold off his own release for as long as humanly possible and second, on the movements and pressure of his own hand on her now wet underwear as he kept on caressing her exactly in the way she'd guided him so far. She was learning to read his cues, and despite his generally stoic nature and composed manner, Jessa knew ways to get a rise out of Corvo. Apparently one of these ways was exposing her breasts, and another was the certain way her thumb glided across his tip. She tried to be deliberate in her stroking. She pressed and squeezed as her hand moved up and down, and she made sure to occasionally to that thing he liked with her thumb. But her movements were becoming sloppy as she felt herself ebbing closer to that glorious release. The feeling of Corvo's hand on her womanhood was very different from her own, but his fingers excelled in ways she hadn't thought to try yet. What little, sheer fabric was between her skin and his fingertips had become completely wet and allowed him to feel more of her as he pressed and rubbed. She wanted them off. She wanted to feel his fingers pressed against the soft, vulnerable skin on the outside, buried in the folds. She wanted one to slip inside her and pop back out, over and over until she couldn't hold it back anymore. She wanted him to see her face when she came and know that it was his doing that brought her over the edge. Her eyes closed and her head tipped back. It was coming, she could feel it building in her nethers. The fire was like a slow burn within her that washed everything aglow with a warm, tingly light. It was nothing like when she did this herself, and she loved every second of it. A gasp led into a sigh which broke into a moan as she felt her body losing itself to Corvo's talented fingers. Jessamine slowly arched her back as the pleasure built up and she let out an actual long, low moan. Her breasts were pushed up into his face from the way her body had contorted and her hands had ceased all movement on his shorts. Then her whole body shuddered and she went silent, with her mouth open in a scream. Her legs shook and she cried out as the dam broke and her body was flooded with waves of sweet sensations. Her body seemed to lock in place and she went rigid for several seconds as her voice returned and she let it cry out. Her breath came and went so fast that she had to remind herself to actually breathe. She savored the convulsions for several minutes after her climax finished and closed her legs to trap his hand against her. Her back slowly returned to the bed and once she was able to catch her breath, she turned her head to look at him. Her blue-grey eyes opened to stare at his handsome, dark features. Her face was now flushed with the reslease of her desire and her eyes revealed a yearning for so much more. But her body was now overly sensitive and every little movement he made caused her to giggle or yelp or moan with renewed passion. She tried to resume stroking him, but her hand was trembling and interfering with her movements. Ohhh Corvo.. I love you! Promise me you'll do that to me again! Please? It was so good, and I've never felt like this after, and oh please say we can do it again! When she was able to speak, the words came out in a breathy torrent of emotion. Jessamine was inexperienced in such matters. And that much Corvo knew for certain because he'd made sure that none of the males hanging around the princess would get anywhere near close enough to lead to this sort of things. He was, after all, her protector and that meant he was responsible for her safety from any threat, for ensuring she would not be co-opted to anyone's agenda, and to protect her from herself and her hormones from time to time. But that did not mean she was not a natural. She'd been quick to realize just how to touch him, and it was taking much of the Serkonan's concentration and discipline to prevent himself from letting himself get carried away. Instead, he was forcing himself to hold back while doing everything he could to bring Jessa to her own orgasm. And then, he could feel it building up. He could feel the tension in the muscles of her thighs and stomach and he heard her breathing quicken and turn from rapid gasps to pleasured sighs and then grew into a moan. Yes, there she was, reaching her climax. As her back arched, he felt the soft skin of a firm breast pressing against his cheek and then she went over the edge. And he smiled as the waves of pleasure washed over her and she cried out her ecstasy. His hand was trapped between her pale thighs and against her sodden underwear and he could feel every shudder of her body as she dealt with the sensations. He knew she was no stranger to pleasuring herself, and he'd heard her do so often enough. But this was in an entirely different league all right... As she recovered, Corvo slowly extricated his hand from between her legs and surreptitiously wiped it dry upon the sheets before running it up her side as her breathing was struggling to come back to something resembling a normal rate, and she spoke, her voice catching between the emotions and lungs that were still struggling to bring in sufficient air. For a moment, he considered what she had to say and before he even started his reply with words, he did so with action as he leaned towards her and placed a brief kiss upon her lips. I love you too, Jessa. And I certainly can't see why not, he said softly as he gently caressed the outermost curves of one breast before lightly cupping it. And after gently drawing his thumb across the entirety of the firm orb, he offered her another smile. If you'll excuse me for a moment, I'll be right back. And with that said, he slowly rose out of bed. His member had reduced a little since her hand had left it but it was still stiffer than if it had truly been at rest and pressing against the thin fabric of his underwear, and he definitely wished for release himself but the last thing he wanted was for Jessamine to think he was using her for his pleasure in any way at all... So it was to the bathroom that he made his way, and after he closed the door behind him he threw the bolt that would ensure his privacy, and he took himself in hand to finish what his charge - his love - had started. Jessa nodded at Corvo in her contented stupor. What an inopportune time to have to relieve oneself! But he would be back shortly, she was sure of it. Plus, he had given her a parting gift when his thumb caressed her entire breast and her body had, in turn, shaken with delight. She hoped for more fun when Corvo returned, but the sides of her lingerie top were suddenly uncomfortable against her skin. It took two tugs and several deft arm movements to wiggle out of the bra, which she let drop to the floor beside his bed. Her feet were now cold and she lifted the blankets and placed them underneath to warm them up. With her head resting on one of his pillows, Jessa shifted to lay on her side facing the bathroom door. Her arms moved to suppot her head and her body while she lay partially under the covers and topless, awaiting her lover's return. She drew in a deep breath and her eyelids took their time in blinking. She swore the air around her smelled like her now and she closed her eyes to get a better whiff. The pillow cradled her head perfectly, and supported by her arm, she cuddled into it further. The hand supporting her body stretched out towards the empty side of the bed and her topmost leg slipped to the mattress. Sleep came quickly for the Gristolian Princess as she lay in her Protector's bed. She hadn't meant to drift off so quickly, but her exhaustion from the pleasure she had just received combined with her own lack of sleep meant that she was out within moments of laying back. The faintest of smiles could be seen on her face as she lost herself to a world of dreams. With the door securely locked behind him, Corvo had a chance to catch his breath. Of course he had wished Jessa would finish him off, but she was so innocent in such matters that he could not allow himself to reach his climax at her hands. Not yet. He cared for her and he he would not have her think he was abusing her trust, abusing her, for his own pleasure. So instead, it was in his bathroom that he took care of the matter at hand and finished himself off. Oh, he did not need much time to take care of that matter, and he did also take a moment to relieve himself, and with a few more moments he washed hands and face and made his way back out. The first thing he saw was the silken lingerie upon the floor. And the second, was Jessamine under his blankets, sleeping. And what he heard was a soft snore, and that brought a smile to his thin lips. Well, that could certainly cause a stir, but it was a good thing that her servants never came in, in the morning, until called. But it would call for some maneuvering when she would wake up but she would find it interesting after all he could introduce her to part of his world with a few elementary bits of tradecraft. But for now, the weight of the day was coming down on him and he too slipped beneath the covers, and by the time his head hit the pillow, his own snoring joined the princess'. And morning, that came entirely too swiftly for the protector's taste. But there certainly was a trade-off for waking up after so little sleep. And that was that there was a warm, soft mass pressed against his chest, and his hand was filled with a most lovely breast. But he had to wake Jessamine up, he had to get her back into her own bed..