STORY: Jewels of the Tide
Posted in Alice Gray, Erotic Fiction, Erotica, Fiction, Sex, Sex Blog, Sex Writing, Sexuality, Writing on July 6th, 2010 by Alice Gray – 4 Comments
Furious pounding startled Jingo from a deep sleep. Last night’s entertainment lay sprawled across the bed next to her, oblivious to the racket. Jingo shifted in the bed, planted the soles of her feet against the sleeping man’s back and shoved.
The man let out a startled yelp that ended with a cry of pain when he hit the floor.
“See who dares to wake the Empress at this unearthly hour,” Jingo said.
The young man, still nude, scrambled for his clothing.
“Now! Forget your clothes.” Jingo pressed her palms against her temples. “Just make that noise cease!”
The young man, she thought his name might be Akihiro, raced for the door.
A warm flush spread over Jingo’s chest at the memory of the young man’s bedroom prowess. He might be worth inviting back. Jingo shivered as another thought formed. Before she could capture it, her evening companion yanked the door open, halting the insistent pounding.
“Who dares to wake me with such rudeness?” she asked.
An officer of the Royal Navy took a small step into her chamber, eyes averted from her nakedness. He bowed deeply and held the pose. Next to him, Akihiro stood shivering, his hands cupping his genitals.
“The Navy is back, Highness.” The hulking officer’s voice trembled. “The Koreans have defeated them. Captain Tadashi wished to bring you the message himself, however he was gravely wounded.”
Anger deepened the flush on Jingo’s chest. “Turn your backs,” she said. When they had turned, Jingo slipped from her bed and wrapped a light kimono around her body.
“You may face me.”
Both men turned.
“You!” She pointed a finger at Akihiro. “Leave us.”
The young man bowed and slipped away.
“Where is Tadashi now?”
“In the infirmary, Highness. They are trying to save his arm.”
Jingo was quiet for a moment, memories of the powerful warrior’s lovemaking tumbled through her mind. She sighed. An armless man was unworthy of sharing the Empress’s bed. Shame. Tadashi had been one of her favorites. Perhaps too favored. Well, no more.
“Return to me when he is able to speak. I want to know everything that happened.”
“Yes, Highness.” The soldier bowed and left.
# # #
Jingo sat in her tea house, enjoying a light meal. She watched in annoyance as one of her least favorite courtiers approached.
“Yes? What is it, Yuki?” Jingo let her displeasure show in her voice.
“Forgive me, Highness. I bring you the news that Captain Tadashi is ready to see you.”
A single butterfly sprang to life in Jingo’s belly. She quashed it by thinking of yet another defeat at the hands of the Koreans.
After five tense moments of silence, Jingo said, “Have him escorted to my sleeping chamber this evening.” She flicked a dismissive hand at her servant. “Go, now.”
The woman curtseyed and scurried away, leaving Jingo to work out the details of her plan. Korea must be her’s.
# # #
The Empress watched the last of her ladies retreating from her room. When she was alone, Jingo turned toward the mirror, admiring her own beauty. Royal robes, ivory hairpins, kohl eyes, crimson lips. And underneath the decorations, the lithe form of a siren. Empress or not, no man had ever refused her advances.
Two sharp knocks sounded, bringing the butterflies to light in her belly again.
She smoothed the front of her kimono and turned toward the door. “Enter!”
Her door swung open granting Tadashi access to her room. The sling that held his right arm to his chest marred the clean lines of his fresh uniform.
“Highness,” he said. “It is with deep shame that I must report our second defeat to the Koreans. They are fierce in defense of their homeland. We suffered many casualties.”
Jingo stood. “It is of no consequence. We will simply rebuild our ranks and try again. I must have Korea.” She stamped her foot for emphasis.
“It will take some time to rebuild and train new men. Perhaps as long as two years,” he said.
“Two years? Impossible!” Jingo paced, her robes swirling around her. “We must attack them again soon. They won’t be expecting us to come so quickly on the heels of another defeat.”
“Highness, I don’t think I’ve managed to convey the extent of our casualties. We’re nothing but a skeleton crew. Most of our officers are dead or severely maimed.” He shrugged his wounded arm for emphasis. “The lower ranks are all but wiped out. It will take years to rebuild.”
“Nonsense. Leave the Navy to me.” Jingo swept toward her captain in a rustle of fabric and jasmine-scented air. “Let us take a break from all this unpleasantness.” She untied the sash of her kimono and let it fall away. “You’ve been away so long, Tadashi. I’ve missed you.”
As a parent, there is nothing more thrilling than seeing the fantastic world of written words come to life for your child. My oldest son learned to read four years ago and it has been a constant challenge to find reading material that is not only at or above his level, but that also captures his imagination.
