Emily's mind became hazy, as she found herself defenseless in Lord Arthur's firm embrace. It was easy for her to abandon fear and surrender to a dormant desire. Her fingers lingered in his sharp jaw, his nape and his strong torso, whilst he was stealing her breath with every single kiss, pulling her closer and closer to his energetic chest. She eventually felt his swollen length pressing hard against her belly. Her knees turned weak, and she fought the urge to grasp his body tighter.

–Master…

–Don't call me that.

Arthur pushed her against the nearby wall, leaning down to kiss her with greater ease. Emily allowed him to slide his ardent tongue inside her mouth, embracing every new sensation. He seemed to be in control of the moment; however, he hesitated for a second when his curious palm reached Emily's cleavage. She decided to guide him then, grabbing his hand and helping it explore her breasts. He had never touched a woman, and she had never touched a man. Therefore, they were both equally swooned at each other's shapes and textures.

Gradually, Emily mustered up courage to move his hand further, all the way down to her hips. He traced her waist, her butt and her pubis, pausing finally between her trembling thighs. Emily groaned in arousal, allowing him to discover her humid and throbbing femininity. She raised her skirt as Arthur promptly fell to his knees, yearning for more.

–Go ahead, take my panties off.

Arthur breathed heavily; his eyes were gleaming like Rosetta's ancient night sky. He undressed Emily very carefully, gliding his fingertips across her naked south. He ventured himself inside her, piercing the folds hiding behind the trail of thin hair. She was pleasantly soft, torrid and wet to the touch, like anything he had experienced before.

–Do you like that, Emily?

–You can tell I do.

Arthur pulled away momentarily, taking off his trousers and revealing his ribbed erection. Emily gasped at the sight of it. She had learned about men's anatomy through her books. She had also fantasized about it numerous times. Even so, the discovery was still staggering for her. Lord Arthur noticed right away. He grasped his stiff manhood and stroked it before her eyes.

–You have never seen one before, am I right?

–Can I….?

Emily's cheeks flushed brightly as she reached out to touch him. She satiated her intense curiosity, circling her thumb over the thick, pink tip. Arthur moaned, so she started to squeeze it more firmly, incessantly. It was not long before he was panting and melting in her palms.

–Fuck… Turn around for me.

Emily followed his command and rested her hands on the cellar's wall, bending her tush for him. Arthur lifted her skirt and gripped her waist tightly, adjusting himself right behind her. His desirous manhood rapidly found its way inside her, sinking deeper with each diligent thrust. Emily bit her lip hard. Her femininity ached and burned, as if he was ripping it apart. Despite that, the increasing friction was making her squirm beneath him. Her pulse spiked, and arousal rapidly burst inside her. Arthur increased his pace. He was about to reach his peak too. However, he suddenly pulled away in haste. Emily's legs were shaking uncontrollably; every nook of her body craved more. Nevertheless, as soon as she saw him pour his hot seed on the floor, she realized what he had done. What they had done. She felt so overwhelmed by emotion, she immediately fixed her clothes and ran away.

–Emily, wait! Please don't go…

*

Emily could barely sleep that night. She did not feel remorseful for her desires. After all, she despised the religious council's prudery and refused to believe a simple inclination could be deemed abhorrent and condemnable. What truly wrecked her nerves were the possible consequences of her encounter. Loving a man was already a risk, let alone her master and Lord Leandre's trophy husband. She reproached herself for being so bold and acting recklessly. A casual affair could cost her life. In addition, she was a woman; therefore, she would never win the judges' favor. In the worst-case scenario, Lord Arthur could even try to save his skin by accusing her of using witchcraft to seduce him. She prayed he was cautious enough to keep the secret and stay away from her from now on. She also hoped no one had heard them talking in the cellar.

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Emily did not have to work the next day, which was a tremendous relief for her. Jenna left the room at sunrise, and she was able to sleep in. She also took her time cleaning herself, pouring scented water all over her body. Part of her did not want to forget Arthur's rough touch, the ravishing feeling of their flesh merging. She was even tempted to caress herself in the washroom, recalling each forbidden tingle. She headed to the dorm's kitchen shortly after. She almost lost her cool when she heard the staff gossiping about Lord Arthur. She spied on their conversation, terrified. Fortunately, no one mentioned her name.

–His father is coming for a visit. Truth be told, he is a weird man, indeed!

–What's wrong with him? I heard he is a renowned artist. He painted one of the most beautiful murals I have ever seen.

–He is; he is a kind man too. The thing is, one of my former sisters knows him very well. Rumors claim he is… well… too fond of women.

–So what? Many men are fond of maidens. They spy on them when they bathe in the river.

–And they have intercourse with them, of course; that's where their babies come from.

–Yes, but everyone says he took it a little too far, if you know what I mean. Actually, he never got married. And that would make Lord Arthur…

–A bastard.

–Hush, both of you! How dare you refer to your master in such a vile manner?

–We have nothing against him. We are just being honest. He was not conceived during the Moon festival, with the blessing of the gods. If it wasn't for his illustrious lineage, he would have turned into a pariah.

–Right. Some people even speculate that the bond servant who gave birth to him raised him as if she was some kind of… second father.

–Gross!

Emily served herself some stew and rushed to the dining hall. So, Lord Arthur had been secretly raised by a woman; that made sense to her. He came from a diverse background. Therefore, it was easier for him to understand different perspectives. Moreover, his father had been rebellious and impious, at least in private. Arthur's backstory made Emily root for him. Even so, she realized she had to forget about her feelings and stay away from him for good, for the sake of everything they had ever known.

*

Emily resumed her duties the next week, including her regular working hours. Winter festivities were just around the corner, so Lord Leandre was busy with the mandatory preparations and the final feast for Rosetta's elite citizens. According to Jenna, the top religious council and the royal family attended his ball every year. It was hard for the staff to meet Lord Leandre's demands for the event. However, it was worth the struggle. The maidens were allowed to throw their own party afterwards; sometimes they even received lavish gifts from the guests. Male laborers were equally happy, because they were paid an additional contribution by the end of the season. Emily focused on the garden and the floral arrangements. Luckily for her, she did not run into Lord Arthur in the following days. He was probably busy spending time with his father. She saw Lord Leandre a couple of times, though. He seemed so full of himself, strutting down the hall and ordering everyone around. He would lose his mind if he ever knew the truth about his husband, and that mere idea scared Emily to death.

She was sitting next to the gardener's hut, working on a flamboyant floral ornament, when she heard Lord Arthur's voice in the distance. He was greeting some of the workers and asking them about the harvest. Emily stood still and lowered her gaze, selecting the most suitable rose bushes and gardenias in the nearby basket. Arthur walked past her and their gazes did not meet. However, he discreetly tossed something right beneath her dress. Emily almost cursed. At first sight, it looked like a crumpled piece of paper. Although, she could tell exactly what it was. She reached for the letter with a swift move and hid it inside her bodice. She did not dare to read it until she was completely alone in her room.

"Dear Maiden:

I have attempted to write this letter over a dozen times. I never know how to start; and I certainly never know how to stop. Part of me wishes we had never encountered each other. Part of me understands the implications and the immorality of our actions. I am also ashamed of myself for putting you in such a scabrous situation. Even so, I try my best not to think about you and I end up defeated every single time. You are kind, passionate and clever. You are marvelous in every aspect, a pleasant surprise in this ordinary world. Most importantly, you are true to your fierce soul and leave a trail of wonder everywhere you go. I want to see you again. I long to make you mine somehow. If it is all the same to you… Meet me in the pond's shed tomorrow at midnight.

Ps. We can keep this between me and you"