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Category: Erotica/Erotic Romance
Description: Two new erotic fantasies of sexy romance from author Susan M Sailors, including: "The Empress and the Nightingale" When Empress Lucia can't sleep, she is surprised when a nightingale flies into her room and manages to soothe her mind. She is even more surprised when the bird turns into a man who wants nothing but to give her pleasure, and she quickly falls under his spell. Once she sees he is real, not a dream, she manages to keep him out of her bed, but not out of her heart. "Master of the House" Gregory has been dead for nearly two hundred years, but he still could and would defend his ancestral home if he necessary. Since the house had left his family, he'd run off more than one potential buyer, until a beautiful woman named Mariah came along. He didn't count on anyone believing the family legends of pirate gold and invading his estate, but Gregory will do whatever it takes to protect his home and Mariah.
eBook Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press, 2009
eBookwise Release Date: June 2009

1 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [83 KB]
Words: 16097
Reading time: 45-64 min.

THE EMPRESS AND

Chapter 1

Lucia sighed and rolled over again.

"What is your pleasure, my empress?"

She looked up at the handsome young servant, knowing what he meant. A tumble with the empress was the perfect way to ensure a prosperous future. She knew how beautiful she was, that her dark hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin were much admired, but she wanted a man who would desire her whether she was an empress or not.

"I require nothing. I simply cannot sleep."

"I will bring you something." He bowed, but there was a slight heat in his eyes. "I could give your highness a massage, or anything else you think might relax you."

She sat up quickly and got out of bed. "Some spiced milk, please. Antonio knows what I prefer."

The servant retreated slowly, but Lucia could hear him stomping down the hall.

Lucia made a note to ask his name when he returned so she could have him sent elsewhere. She was as tired of power-hungry servants as she was of courtiers.

She went to the window and let the cool night air flow over her body and dance through her hair. She couldn't understand why sleep still eluded her. Besides the annoyance of a recent influx of suitors, her homeland had been peaceful and prosperous. Analais was a small country compared to those on the other side of the mountains, but it was older than any of them and had a richer heritage and more noble traditions. She had reached the age at which she was expected to produce an heir, and she'd yet to get married. Everyone everywhere in her land was speculating. She thought of her sister in Grenalda. Josephine was probably run off her feet by the demands of her ministers because Grenalda was a relatively young nation, still not quite steady on its legs with its new independence.

Lucia walked back to the bed but left the window open, hoping the night air would relax her. She sat down at her desk and pulled out a piece of paper. Maybe being run off her feet was just what she needed. A week or two spent in Grenalda would be heavy laden with public appearances and ceremonies and parties. If she were exhausted every night, she just might be able to sleep soundly.

She was just about to begin her letter when the servant returned.

"Your milk, highness," he said. He bowed low and then looked up at her expectantly.

"What is your name?" she asked coyly.

"Renaldo, my empress," he said, smiling as if he had won a victory.

She smiled back. "I will remember that. Now please leave me."

He obeyed without another word, and Lucia sighed when he was gone.

"Idiot," she said softly.

She took a sip of the rich milk and sat back. The breeze from the window was stronger. She opened her robe and stretched out. The wind was warmer now. It almost felt like a caress.

She was so relaxed that it took her a moment to notice the sweet sound floating to her ears. She turned her head to the window and saw a small shadow there on the balcony. She stood up, not bothering to cover herself, and walked toward the window.

A tiny bird peered up at her, singing the sweetest song she had ever heard. She held her hand out and the bird flew to her immediately.

"Hello, little friend. Isn't it a little late to be singing?"

The bird looked up at her and seemed to shake its head.

Lucia ran her finger gently over the bird's head. The bird shook its feathers and then flew to her bed.

She moved to the bed and let her robe fall to the floor before she climbed under the silk sheets. She stretched out on her stomach and looked up at the bird perched on her headboard.

"Do you really think this will work?" She should have felt silly, but she didn't.

The little creature hopped down to her pillow and settled there, so Lucia rested her head there too. The sweet melody reminded her of her childhood somehow. She had never heard it before, but it evoked images of springtime in her mind. She could almost feel the warm grass under her body, the sun on her skin. She closed her eyes, enjoying the peace the song brought to her body and mind. She could almost feel the fresh breeze running through her hair. And then she realized it was fingers.

She rolled over quickly and looked up into the eyes of a pale but beautiful man. He had bright green eyes and rich brown hair. He ran a hand over her face and looked down at her adoringly.

"Who are you?"

He didn't answer. Instead he ran his hand down over her breast. The sensation stunned her, and she wondered if she was dreaming. Had the bird's song really put her to sleep?

She jumped out of bed and looked for the bird, but it was nowhere to be seen. The door was locked, and all the windows were closed. She knew she hadn't closed the window after the bird had come in. She looked back to the bed, but the man was gone. She looked all around the room. He couldn't have left, and she had heard nothing. Assassins tended to kill empresses in their sleep, not caress them awake.

"That's not playing fair," she called, thinking she might wake herself up by trying to speak. Then she heard the bird's song again, and the sound calmed her.

She swayed slightly and felt strong hands wrap around her waist. She leaned back and felt the hard body of a man behind her.

"Who are you?" she asked again.

The man still didn't answer. He ran his hands over her body before settling his fingers over her warm center. He kissed her neck as his fingers caressed her through the silk. He breathed in the scent of her hair and nibbled on her ear.

She pressed his hand more firmly against her pussy. She was wet and ready for his touch, and then she really knew she was dreaming. No man had ever excited her so quickly, except in her fantasies.

She rubbed her body against his. "Make love to me," she whispered.

He shook his head, his hair tickling her cheek. He continued his exploration of her hot, wet folds. She gasped when his finger found its way inside her. His thumb moved over her clitoris, making her go limp against him. She'd never had such a sweet, vivid dream in her life.

"I want you. Shouldn't I be able to control my own dream?"

He moved in front of her and knelt down, looking up at her without blinking. He leaned forward and kissed a slow trail up her thigh.

Lucia stared down at him. No man had ever really pleased her with his mouth. She always had to tell them how to touch her, and she would eventually give up on the idea. She waited, wondering if she would finally feel the sweet pleasure her sister said she enjoyed so.

He flicked his tongue over her, just tasting, and then he moved in to really kiss her core soundly. His tongue was warm, but she didn't feel the jolt of pleasure she'd been expecting. Yet as he caressed her, she began to feel a tightening deep inside. She felt hotter and wetter, found it hard to stand.

He stood and swept her into his arms, then brought her to the bed. He knelt down again, even though she tried to bring him onto the bed with her. He looked into her eyes as his mouth found her again.

She liked the way he looked at her, as if she was all he wanted, all he ever had or ever would want. This made her want him even more.

He brought his finger up to her as his mouth concentrated on her clitoris. He moved one finger inside her, and she bucked against him. He inserted another as he sucked harder. He never broke eye contact, and she found she couldn't either.

Her orgasm washed over her slowly, in warm waves, instead of exploding and ending quickly. She loved the way he drew her pleasure out, continuing to lave and caress her intimately as she convulsed around his fingers. She fell back into the bed, moving in time to his fingers and his tongue. She was overwhelmed by the pleasure, the new sensations. He removed his fingers and ran his tongue over her hungrily.

She sat up, wanting to kiss him, draw him closer.

But he stood up and kept her from standing. He pulled the covers up over her, then leaned down and kissed her softly on the neck.

Lucia blinked, and he was gone. She sat up and looked around. The window was open, and the bird that sang so sweetly sat on the balcony, looking at her questioningly.

She smiled at the bird and settled back into the covers.

"Come back anytime, little friend." She heard the bird singing again as she drifted back to sleep.

Lucia sipped her tea slowly, enjoying its warmth on such a damp morning. Jeffrey, her primary adviser, sat across from her looking over two piles of papers. He ate his breakfast and drank his tea without taking his eyes off his work, as usual.

"I was thinking of going to Grenalda for a few weeks. When would be a good time?"

Jeffrey looked up at the ceiling for about ten seconds, thinking. "There's nothing of consequence happening for months. You could go whenever you wished, but I'm not sure when the best time would be for Princess Josephine. Even though Edward is only a prince, his father is so busy that they all have to attend to state matters and functions. I believe they have some nobles from Lucrete staying this week."

Lucia nodded. "So Josephine either desperately needs some support or is too busy to see me. Send a message to her asking if she needs me. If I ask about coming, she'll of course say yes, so I want her to think I'm only offering to help."

Jeffrey nodded and made a note in his red book. He soon lost himself in his papers. He was only about ten years older than she was, and his brown hair wasn't even graying, yet he seemed so much older to Lucia.

She set her cup down. "Jeffrey?"

He looked up immediately, his pen suspended in the air. "Yes, Empress?"

"I've been having trouble sleeping for months, but last night something ... unusual happened, and I slept wonderfully."

That set him off, just as she'd known it would. "You didn't tell me you've been unwell. Months, you say? Your highness, with all due respect, that is most reckless. Even if you are not ill, you cannot function to your fullest if you are not sleeping."

She smiled at him indulgently. "But, as I said, last night I slept wonderfully, and I want to make sure I sleep just as well tonight."

He set his pen down and leaned forward. "What can I do about that?"

She suddenly remembered the servant from the night before. "First, have Renaldo sent to work for one of the nobles. He's very annoying."

Jeffrey looked confused, then concerned. "Has he done anything wrong or inappropriate?"

"He talks too much," she replied with a dismissive gesture. "I just don't want him around the palace."

He looked puzzled, then nodded in understanding. "I might have guessed. He was so eager to take the night shift."

"One of the hazards of still being single." Lucia sighed.

"Your marital status is a subject of great interest these days, but ... other concerns are rightly your own affair. I'll see he's reassigned."

Lucia tried not to smile, as she had to give Jeffrey credit for not blushing.

"What else can I do?"

"I slept so well last night because a small bird landed on the balcony and sang for me. Its song soothed me, and I was asleep in no time." She decided to leave the story at that, though it was tempting to tell all and see Jeffrey struggle for his composure.

"A small bird? What did it look like?"

Lucia tried to focus on the bird and not the man she had dreamed about. "It was very plain. An ordinary brown and white bird with no markings. I was hoping one could be caught so I could keep it in my room."

"I'm sure that could be arranged. The gardeners will most likely know just which bird you're talking about. I'll tell them to begin searching right away."

"Make sure they understand I'm looking for a bird that sings very beautifully. No other bird would do."

Jeffrey stood up and gathered his papers. "I'll go right now. Good day, Empress."

"Thank you, Jeffrey."

Lucia stared out across the gardens. She didn't really believe finding the little bird would mean a continuation of her pleasant dreams, but she felt more rested and relaxed than she had in months. A good night's sleep was just as important, if not as much fun.