QueensQuest by Suz deMello

for my true king. My pussy longed for cock, yes,
but my womb hungered for a child. This feeling, this craving, had been growing
in me for starturns. I wanted to sniff the special aroma of my baby. I wanted
to nibble my baby’s funny wedge-shaped, fleshy feet, so unique, so special, and
to nuzzle ten pearly toes crowned with tiny shell-like nails.
    I wanted a baby. I wanted my baby, and I wanted to
share that joy with my mate, my king.
    I reluctantly gave the child back to her parents. “She’s
wonderful. Thank you.”
    The crowd bowed and murmured politely as Kaldir and I walked
our horses through the raised portcullis and toward the stable. I asked, “Have
you offspring?” I heard a wistful note in my voice.
    His mouth twisted. “Um…several, here and there.”
    “You don’t know?”
    He looked embarrassed. “A man gets around.”
    “Oh.” Was that a good sign? I wondered. That Kaldir had so
many children he did not know them all?
    I was not sure. I would prefer the royal children—my
children—to be raised by someone more like my father, who had doted on us,
taken an interest in every minute of every day, had been actively involved in
our upbringing. He had taught Beryla and me to ride, fight, fence and hunt. He
had shown her the intricacies of statecraft while I had been the lazy one,
embroidering with our mother, sneaking sweet pies in the kitchen, playing with
Frayn or another friend.
    Kaldir and I left the horses at the now-busy stable and
walked to a side door of the castle. Before we entered, he stopped, took me by
the shoulders and kissed me. His lips were warm and soft, throbbing sensually
against mine. “Later,” he whispered.
    Releasing me, he opened the door and ushered me into my
castle. I wasn’t sure I liked that. It seemed a little proprietary.
    I went to my suite, bathed and dressed for the day. The
massaging hands of my ladies continued to stimulate me, and the wall mirrors
revealed that a sexual flush still pinkened my cheeks, my décolletage.
    My morning adventure resulted in repercussions, of course.
Maia didn’t fail to register her disapproval, grumbling about security risks
and schedules in disarray. Smiling, I assured her that the excursion had been
necessary and swept into my morning meeting with the Ten Ministers with my grin
and good mood intact.
    I settled myself onto the Golden Throne, and realized I had
a major management issue when I saw Frayn’s glare. “I trust Your Majesty’s
morning ride was invigorating?” he asked with a barely concealed sneer.
    “It was fine,” I said through stiff lips, wondering if he
had planted spies in the stable. The guard? Perhaps he had bedded her. The
stable boy? Only a few coins would secure his allegiance. I didn’t like that.
They were my servants, not Lord Frayn’s.
    Frayn turned to Geoman. “The queen was accompanied by
Prince-Scientist Kaldir.”
    Geoman leaned into the back of his padded chair, his eyes
lazily perusing my face. His glance lingered on my lips, still swollen from
Kaldir’s scalding kisses. He smiled, the heat of desire lighting his eyes. He
was a most attractive man and I resolved to tryst with him as soon as it could
be arranged. “Your Majesty, have you formed an opinion of the prince-scientist?”
he asked.
    I attempted a demure smile, wondering why Kaldir’s jism
tasted so unusually spicy. Perhaps it was the result of his diet. I resolved to
find out. “I have only begun my…research. I feel that the prince-scientist
cloaks a mystery, perhaps even has an unknown agenda which he has not yet
revealed.” I could not rid myself of the odd feeling I had seen Kaldir before.
    Parlous sat straighter. “What do you suspect, Your Majesty?”
    I frowned. “I don’t believe it is anything that would
threaten us, my lord. But I do wish to know what it is and am determined to
worm the secret from my suitor.”
    “You must work quickly,” Lady Mercourie said. “The
delegation from Darkside is no more than a day