Snow (6 page)

“Indeed,” replied Anais. “Everything proceeds as it should.”

A small, secret smile curled one corner of his wide mouth. “Excellent. Then the wedding can take place on the first day of spring as planned.”

It wasn’t a question.

Anais nodded. “One more month, my lord.”

Charming raised Snow White’s hand to his lips. “The longest month of my life,” he murmured.

Was that a blush on the Snow Bitch’s cheeks? Anais sneered into her goblet.

One of her stepdaughter’s ever-present dwarves approached the table and bowed. The tallest one, the one whose dark eyes always seemed to look upon the world with suppressed fury. Anais had heard some of her women sigh over this one and begrudgingly she could acknowledge that he was indeed comely with his high, sculpted cheekbones and chiseled jaw. However, unlike some of his companions, this one had never given any of the ladies a second glance, thus they were destined to sigh in vain.

“Are you ready to retire, my princess?” he asked now. He had a low, husky voice. Charming had turned with a scowl at his approach as if to berate him for his presumption at interrupting. Another expression ran across his face, too swiftly for Anais to recognise it, and then with a smile he released Snow White’s hand.

“Indeed the hour grows late. Don’t let me keep you from your bed.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “At least not yet. But in a month’s time… I doubt I shall let you out of your bed.”

This time there was no mistaking the colour that flooded Snow White’s face or the anger in the dwarf’s eyes. She rose to her feet, offering Charming and Anais a deep curtsey before taking the dwarf’s offered arm and allowing him to lead her from the dais.

Charming watched them leave, his eyes narrowed. Then, with a faint laugh, he shook his head and took a thoughtful sip from his goblet. “They go everywhere with her? Her dwarven companions?”

Anais nodded. “Inseparable.”

“I’ve never had much truck with dwarves, but that one seems a handsome enough fellow.”

Anais shrugged. “There are many who would agree with you. I know that several of his companions are great favourites with the ladies of the court. But not that one. I’ve not heard of a lady who has had success in bringing him to her bed.”

Charming smiled, taking another sip of wine. “No. I shouldn’t imagine they would.” His fingers drummed idly against the tabletop as he stared into his goblet. Lifting his head he looked out across the room towards the table where Rui sat. Was it Anais’s imagination or did something spark between them, some awareness that she wasn’t privy to? Charming rose abruptly to his feet. “I shall retire too, Your Majesty,” he said. “With your gracious permission?”

Anais nodded.

As Charming departed, Rui made his way to her side, leaning over her chair, his fingers playing with the loose curls of hair at her neck.

“What did you talk of?” he murmured. “Did you let him know you were interested…?”

“He had more interest in his blushing betrothed,” replied Anais waspishly. “Or in that dwarf of hers, for that matter.”

“The dwarf?” Rui’s fingers stilled for a moment. “Charming hates dwarves.”

Anais turned her head to look up at him.

He shrugged. “Or so I have been told. Are you ready for bed?”

Anais nodded.

“Then make yourself ready. I will be along later.” He turned away before Anais could say anything further and strode from the room.

The Prince

Charming stood gazing out of his bedchamber window. He was naked, and the room was chill despite the fire that burned in the grate. When the door opened, he did not turn around, although his skin prickled now with more than gooseflesh. A pair of warm hands slid down his shoulders and stroked his chest and belly. He leaned back against Rui’s body with a sigh of pleasure as Rui’s fingers encircled his swollen cock, lightly squeezing.

“I hear you’ve developed a taste for dwarves,” Rui breathed against his ear as his hand tightened around Charming’s erection.

Charming grunted with pained pleasure. “What?” he groaned. Rui squeezed harder. “Gods,” Charming croaked. “What are you talking about?”

Rui continued his exquisite torture. “I saw the way you looked at him. And Anais confirmed it.”

Charming’s breath ratcheted in his throat as he flexed against Rui’s grip. “I’ll admit I looked…ah!” Another squeeze made his balls clench. His fingers gripped the windowsill. “Don’t you think it might be amusing?”

“To fuck a dwarf? You’re supposed to be making a move on the queen, making her want to fuck you.”

“Oh gods.” A shudder ran through Charming. “I can do that with my hands tied behind my back. Would you deny me a little challenge on the side?” The muscles in his thighs were shaking. He tipped his head back, letting Rui kiss his neck. Rui’s fingers squeezed him rhythmically. Climax roared through him, and he trembled as he spent himself, gasping Rui’s name. He heard Rui fumble one-handed with his clothing, then gasped again as the other man thrust into him from behind.

“I deny you nothing,” Rui rasped, his breath hot against Charming’s neck. “Just don’t amuse yourself at my expense and don’t lose sight of what we have planned.” Each thrust of his body rammed Charming’s belly against the windowsill. Rui’s head dropped, and Charming felt his teeth close around the tender skin where his neck met his shoulder. He bit hard, even as his body bucked against Charming’s. With a final shudder, the weight of Rui’s body collapsed over Charming’s before he slid free and turned to sprawl against the windowsill.

Charming stood between Rui’s legs, leaning down to kiss him. “Jealous, my love?” he murmured. “It’s hardly fair that I should go without while you spend your spare time servicing the fair Anais.”

“That’s different,” Rui said roughly. “It’s necessary, but I derive no pleasure from it.”

Charming arched one brow. “Oh come now. No pleasure? None whatsoever?”

The corner of Rui’s mouth turned up in a wry smile. He shrugged. “Well, maybe a little but it’s merely work…”

“Nice work if you can get it,” murmured Charming, interrupting him.

“Work,” said Rui firmly. “I have a task to do, and so do you. Would you see all that we have planned come to naught?”

“No. I’ll do my part. Have I got this aright? Marry the Snow Princess, fuck her, get her with child, have her stepmother kill her or kill her myself if it comes to that? Make the queen think I desire her, fuck her and encourage her to kill her stepdaughter, then have her put to death for murder? Goodness. I am going to be extremely busy. Have I forgotten anything?”

Rui’s lush mouth lifted in a smile, and Charming felt desire uncoil in his belly. “Gods, I love your mouth,” he murmured. “How can something so beautiful say and do such wicked things?” He dropped to his knees, placing his hands on the other man’s thighs. They quivered under his touch. “Say something wicked,” Charming whispered.

“Fuck me.”

Charming laughed. “Ah, but that my darling, goes
without
saying…”

He lowered his head.

The Princess

Snow White was in the stables grooming her new palfrey when Kaliko found her. The sheer beauty of her bride gift was enough to make her think kindly of her betrothed, despite her uncertainty as to his true nature. There were times when he made her feel uncomfortable, yet at other times a look or a word from him could cause a flutter deep in her belly. In a few short weeks he would be her husband…

Wedded and bedded, she would be queen indeed. Her stepmother would be encouraged to join a nunnery, and the dark huntsman Rui Alvarez would be sent far, far away from court.

“What are you thinking of, my princess?” came Kaliko’s voice from behind her. “Your Prince
Charming?
”

Snow White jumped. “And if I was?” she said defensively, bridling at both Kaliko’s tone and the sneer on his face.

“He writes you pretty letters and makes cow’s eyes at you. But he doesn’t love you.”

“Indeed? And when did you become such an expert on love?”

“I know what it is to love,” Kaliko said fiercely. “And I know that whoreson doesn’t love you.”

“You forget yourself,” Snow White said coldly.

“I wish I could.”

He sounded so sad that Snow White’s temper cooled. She took his hand. “You will always be my friend, Kaliko, but he will be my husband. You must show him respect.”

“Respect?”

The bitterness in his voice made her recoil. His fingers tightened around hers.

“There is something you must see, my Princess. You may not believe what I say, but once you see him as he really is… Will you come with me?” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. Her heart jumped and she snatched her fingers away. The pained look in his dark eyes made her want to offer them back to him.

“Come with me, Snow,” he said softly, and her heart jumped again.

On the far side of the palace, beyond the pleasure gardens, lay an ornamental wood with a carefully designed rustic lake at its centre. Kaliko led Snow White down a path overhung with evergreen balinya trees. The lake was surrounded by a clearing dotted with pale yellow crocuses and bluebells, but the wood grew thick at its edge and it was possible to remain unseen whilst observing the lake. No one was allowed to venture there but royalty itself. The queen, Snow White and now Prince Charming…

Moving quietly, Kaliko crouched behind a clump of fairy bush, gesturing to Snow White to join him. He pushed the leaves apart so she could look through. The lake was at the far end of the clearing from where they sat. At the other end, her betrothed sat with his back against a tree, hands behind his head, his legs crossed at the ankles. He was wearing nothing but his linen shirt.

There was someone swimming in the lake. Snow White recognised the huntsman’s sleek, dark head as he stroked across the water. As he reached the shallower end of the lake, he stood, the water lapping at his hips.

“Is it cold?” Charming asked lazily.

“What do you think?” replied Rui as he moved forward. He was naked, and Snow White made a small sound, a gasp. Kaliko gripped her forearm.

“Sshh,” he said softly.

Charming cocked his head to one side. “I think…it is very cold indeed,” he said with a laugh.

Rui smiled, glancing down between his legs. His hand fisted around his phallus. Charming licked his lips, and Rui’s smile widened. “I’ll just warm myself up a little, shall I?” His fist slid down his length then back up again, infinitely slowly. Snow White saw Charming swallow hard as he nodded.

Rui continued to stroke himself, slowly at first, then with increasing urgency. Snow White could hear Charming’s uneven breath. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Her stomach churned with sick fascination. Her mind…she didn’t know what to think. What to believe.

Rui’s head was tipped back, the tendons in his neck standing out in stark relief. He bared his teeth as his hand took up an even faster rhythm. Charming’s hands were fisted at his sides as he leaned forward watching with heavy lidded eyes. Rui dropped to his knees. With a cry, his body bowed backwards as he spent himself. A shudder ripped through him. He bent forward again, head hanging. His long, wet hair hid his face. Charming surged to his feet, his hands working at the buttons of his shirt. With a muffled oath, he pulled it off over his head and let it drop, revealing a lean, muscled torso with a pelt of thick black hair across his chest.

He took hold of Rui’s hair and yanked his head up, leaning down to kiss him fiercely. “You are so beautiful,” Snow White heard him murmur. Dropping to his knees, he grasped Rui’s shoulders and pressed him down against the grass, covering him with his body. They continued to kiss hungrily, arms and legs entwined. Rui rolled over so that Charming lay beneath him and pinned his arms above his head.

“More beautiful than your Snow Princess?”

Charming gave a ragged laugh, his body moving restlessly beneath Rui’s. “You
are
jealous, aren’t you, my love? If you are a good boy, I’ll let you share.”

“Oh, I can be a very good boy.” Rui pressed kisses down Charming’s neck and across his chest.

At some time, Snow White must have taken hold of Kaliko’s hand. She was squeezing his fingers now. He met her eyes and without a word they backed away as quietly as they had come.

By the time they reached the palace, still without a word being exchanged, Snow White was trembling. Kaliko followed her into her sitting room where she came to an abrupt halt.

“I am such a fool,” she said bitterly. “Allowing myself to believe that a few pretty words meant so much. Allowing myself to dream… Why should I believe that anyone could ever love me?” Her voice broke.

“How could anyone not love you?” Kaliko said, and his voice shook too. He spun her about so that she faced the silver mirror that hung upon the wall. “You are beautiful, Snow. The fairest of them all. How could
I
not love you?” His voice dropped to a whisper. “My Snow.”

She stared at him in amazement. He lifted one hand and tenderly wiped away a tear that was trickling down her cheek.

“My Snow,” he said again, standing on tiptoes to press his lips against hers. His kiss was so gentle, but she could sense the passion and the hunger that lay beneath it. She opened her mouth, and Kaliko made a sound and kissed her harder. They broke apart, panting, and Kaliko paled.

“My princess,” he said hoarsely. “Forgive me.”

Snow White looked at him there before her with his golden skin and his head of black, tousled curls. His soft, black eyes. Her heart jumped, and this time it was as if it had moved to the place where it was always supposed to be. How had she been so blind, never seeing what was there in front of her? She touched his face and felt him tremble beneath her fingers.

“Kaliko,” she said wonderingly.

“My Snow,” he said as his mouth sought hers once more.

They kissed until Snow White felt as if her bones were melting with pleasure. Then Kaliko took her hand and led her to the bedroom. Slowly, between kisses, they undressed each other. She felt no embarrassment when she finally stood naked before him. They studied each other’s bodies with unconcealed delight. Snow White let her hand trace the shape of his mouth, trail over his shoulder and chest. His taut, flat belly. Her fingers brushed against his erection, and he hissed, his body shivering in response. Lowering his head, he took one of her nipples in his mouth and suckled, gently at first, then more firmly. She emitted a sharp cry of pleasure, her fingers working through his curls.