Warning: smut content.

I can't get up, not even on my knees, because the ropes keep my ankles and wrists close to each other. I can't move my arms forward and hug Alexander.

This is damn frustrating. I prefer being tied to the bed than like this: the freedom this position gives is all a lie.

Alexander is kissing me. His hand is in my hair, pulling my locks lightly. The other arm is around my waist, but he doesn't drag me closer in fear of making it uncomfortable, more than it already is.

«Thea,» he murmurs.

«Yes?»

«Are you sure you want to do this?»

I nod. Have I ever been unsure? And it's not like anything will happen if he ties me like a fool from time to time.

«I am not your wife,» I point out. «If I'm letting you do this, it's because I want to. I don't feel obliged to anything.»

Alexander sits back on the bed and looks at me for the first time from the beginning of the conversation.

«We can talk philosophy later,» I murmur, crawling to him. It's so damn difficult. And I'm so ungraceful while moving leg and arm together.

His wicked ideas are getting more extreme recently.

What's more, the shawls are just clothes. I could rip them if I applied more strength. It means I have to be more careful. Ah, so much work.

When I'm close enough, I arch my back and try reaching his lips. All to fail and fall forward.

Thankfully, a pair of hot, stone-hard arms catch me before I can hurt myself or hit him with my head. I bet the impact would endanger my nose more than his chest.

«Why didn't I do this earlier?» he murmurs, amused by my clumsy motions.

«Because you weren't furious enough,» I giggle.

My cheeks burn with embarrassment, but I don't move my eyes away from Alexander's.

«Or maybe, you were not that confident about doing such wicked things to your wife...»

«I highly doubt it.»

Indeed, his confidence has never suffered. Not in bed, at least.

«We can't be prohibited lovers until we do this,» I remind him. «So, if you intend to stare for the rest of the day, please untie me first.»

«Is it uncomfortable?»

By the end, my knees will protest for being folded for so long. But at the moment, I'm fine. I should just hurry up a bit.

«Not yet,» I sigh. «But I don't think I can stay like this for too long.»

«I can untie you; it's no big deal.»

«Or... you can just do what you imagine would be fun and then lie down like normal people.»

«Normal people don't divorce just to feel the thrill of having an illegal affair.»

«Will you rub it in forever?»

«What if I didn't want an illegal affair?» he murmurs. «I'm a loyal person.»

Hmm?

«What?» I say, sitting on the bed with my legs sprawled. It's easier if my weight is on the mattress rather than the knees, even if it's so unrefined and inelegant.

«I want to save my purity for my wife!» he declares.

«What purity?»

But then, I realise. Alexander has the right to find this repulsive.

He could think about it before tying me like an idiot!

Yet, I can't insist if he doesn't want to.

«It's all right,» I sigh. «We don't have to do bed activities if you don't want to. We can just talk and have dinner, like normal people after divorce.»

«Normal people do not divorce.»

«I can bring Lavinia to you tomorrow if you don't want to spend the night here. It's no big deal, really...»

It's just me that finds all this illegality exciting, apparently.

«Thea,» Alexander whispers. He lifts my chin with a finger and looks me in the eye. «I don't really care about being married or not. It's the same... If you're happier like this, I'll like it too.»

«I didn't ask you before making his majesty sign the papers...»

«No big deal.»

«I know that now you'll feel betrayed by me, but all I want is for us to have a saying in it. I don't want to leave or anything.»

«It's fine, Thea,» he repeats. «You're not my prisoner.»

His hands wander on my body and reach my thighs. He lifts me from the mattress and makes me sit on his lap, straddling him.

«I love you,» he says. «And I don't mind if I have to walk this far just to see you. I don't care if you don't want to have my name. And I will adopt our children if we have any.»

«There's still Elias...»

«We have time to consider the matter. It's still early...»

«Not as early as you think,» I point out. «If we had another child in between, it could endanger our mission!»

«It's not a mission. Just a try. There's no success or failure; we'll just see what the gods allow us.»

«But still, I think we should be careful,» I murmur. «Not to have children in between.»

«So, no more illegal bed activities?»

«Rather than that, we should just be careful near the end,» I murmur. Now, my cheeks must be red like fire. The burning is more intense than usual.

«You know if we... pull back before it's too late... It should be enough.»

«And who's going to have a clear mind to determine when the end is close?» he chuckles.

«You?»

He's the one that's always in control. And he knows both our bodies better. But yet... That would be unfair.

«We'll take turns,» I sigh. «What about this?»

«Mhm, better...»

«And I will keep track of my monthlies. Not all days are the same, so we should avoid those that are more dangerous... Just to be sure. We can do different things on those days...»

As I continue to talk and explain my idea, Alexander starts pecking my cheek. He moves down my jaw and neck. I'm almost done with the plan when his tongue touches my skin.

I clench my thighs and slip forward, getting closer to him.

I search for his lips and entwine our tongues. This is yet something else my... Alexander likes: an audacious lover.

And his reaction becomes so honest when I feel his erection pressing on my thigh.

«You're so assertive today,» he murmurs. «Is this because you feel free?»

«Do you dislike it?»

«Not at all!»

And, no matter how assertive, I'm still restrained.

«I can't take off your clothes,» I remind him.

He starts unbuttoning his shirt, slow and patient. It's all to bother me, isn't it?

When part of his chest is uncovered, I land my lips and kiss his bare skin. Alexander's sighs accompany me towards the places he likes the most.

His belt is soon taken off, and his trousers moved just enough to let me ride him.

I need time to learn how to do it without any leverage on my hands. After a few slow thrusts, I grab my heels and adjust my hips.

My shoulders are bent backwards, bringing my chest higher. Alexander's eyes follow my breasts' trembling as I move faster.

This might have been all he was aiming at, actually.

But he could just tie my hands behind my head. It would have brought the same result, more or less.

Oh, will he be happy when I come up with this idea on my own?

He moves back and observes my face, my torso, even my tired legs.

All this hard work pleases him so much that he lies on his elbows and stares at me, lost in his admiration.

When he throws his head back and moans, I remember what we just talked about. I get on my knees and split from him, just in time to see his semen flowing on my thighs. A second more, and my contraceptive plan would have failed.

We can't risk Elias just for a moment of pleasure. Even if it means not being together for years.

If we can't manage this, we'll have to avoid being intimate from now on.

As I calm down my breath and enjoy Alexander's ecstatic expression, I sit back on his lap and wait for him to regain his senses and free me from the ropes.

«You did a great job,» he whispers, then. His hand rubs my back while the other unties one of the shawls.

I unfold my leg and sigh at the pulsing knee. While blood returns to circulate, I get freed from the other restraint too.

Alexander gets up to find some towels, and he cleans me. There isn't warm water around, so it's rather chilly. But the shivers aren't annoying.

«You kept your cool even in this situation,» he adds, chuckling. «If we didn't agree on it, I would feel dejected because of your quick mind.»

He wraps me in a sheet and carries me to the sofa while I lean my head on his chest and fight against slumber.

What's he planning now?

«Let's have dinner,» he says.

Oh, right... Food...

«Then, after eating, you will receive your reward,» he adds.

«Reward?»

«You didn't reach pleasure this time, did you?»

«No, but it's not mandatory to...»

«You're not my wife now,» he points out. «I have to make sure you want to be with me again. If you don't like it, you might decide to just reject me next time.»

Oh, he's understood the point... Maybe?

«Thank goodness I have till morning to prove you it's worth the danger.»