Master of Love is a historical romance set in the land of Neodeshea, year 1673. It is about forbidden passion and preordained love between a fleshly master, Prince Lucius Aurelius, age thirty-five, and his innocent young temple slave, Isabella Obadiah, age seventeen. Isabella had been secretly in love with her master since she was a young child and when her father becomes ill and dies, she finds herself removed from the sanctuary and bequeathed to the handsome prince of Neodesha. Being dran into each other's comforting embrace, Lucius awakens Isabella's sexual curiosities, but her innocent and humble servititude awakens much more in the wayward prince - his heart. Though Isabella is just a humble slave, her everlasting love and devotion the prince, and her God, not only changes the heart of her master, but also changes an entire empire. From steamy harem sex to near tragedy and suspense, Lucius and Isabella find their tumultuous beginning leads to love in this powerfully adventurous romance.
Neodesha 1673
It was a rainy day in Neodesha and the king was expecting his father, Emperor Bedeck Aurelius of the Shalom Dermas Empire. Bustling servants prepared the afternoon feast as the harem dancers prepared for the entertainment for the evening. King Hayden Aurelius loved his father Bedeck and looked forward to his weekly visitations at his kingdom. Summoning one of his officials he spoke with authority.
“Gaius!”
“Yes King Hayden.”
“Bring my son Lucius to me. Tell him the emperor will be here mid afternoon.”
“Yes King Hayden.” Gaius went to the neighboring palace several miles away north of Neodesha, riding upon his black stallion he sped through the hilly pasture. It didn’t take long for Gaius to reach the gate at Artesia, the palace of Prince Lucius Salas Aurelius.
“Who goes there?” the guard bellowed as he approached the gate with caution.
“Rondos it is me old friend, Gaius. The king has sent me to give an urgent message to Prince Lucius.”
As Rondos opened the gate Gaius dismounted from his steed. Rondos walked over to his old friend who was eager to see him again. Wrapping their arms about one another they gave an affectionate pat on each other’s back. Rondos spoke with a hearty tone, his laugh jovial. “It is good to see you again my friend. It’s been too long since you’ve last visited the palace.”
“I’ll have to make amends for that and come by more often to see you and your family.”
“We look forward to such a day.”
“Do you know where the prince might be?”
“He’s in the bathing pool with his concubines.”
“Then I should go to him straight away for the king has summoned him.”
All the while Prince Lucius was basking in the attention of his concubines,
enjoying the affectionate caresses as they bathed him without inhibition. Sitting in the pool Lucius leaned his back against Sabetha’s breasts, her legs wrapping around his waist as she ran her hands across his broad shoulders. Miriam ran her palms over the front of his body, kissing his smooth chest and nipples with affection, as the prince watched them tend to his every need.
Lucius was a handsome man of thirty-five, his broad muscular chest and strong arms were the embodiment of maleness, while his six-foot build made him most intimidating in stature. His black wavy hair complemented his piercing blue eyes, for the contrast between the two left one entranced. His long black eye lashes lent a dramatic flare to his already stunning features. With passionate intent the prince kissed his concubine Miriam. Gaius approached the bathing pool and observed their behavior with an impish smile.
“Prince Lucius, your father is summoning you. Should I ride back and tell him that you’re indisposed at the moment?”
Laughing out loud Lucius confessed. “I’m afraid my father wouldn’t appreciate me putting my concubines before him. What is it he wishes to tell me?”
“The emperor will be arriving at mid afternoon for the feast. Will you be attending sire?”
“I wouldn’t think of missing the festivities. Tell my father I’ll be joining him and the emperor within the hour, once I finish here of course.”
“I hate to disappoint you sire, but King Hayden did request that I bring you back with me on my return to the palace.”
Looking into Miriam’s big brown eyes Lucius sighed with disappointment and leaned forward to peck her on the lips. “I suppose we will need to cut this short Miriam. Do you forgive me?” Lucius ran his fingers through her damp blond tresses, smoothing the stray hairs away from her cheeks with tender fingers.
“Of course my prince. I look forward to your return so I may finish serving you my lord.” Lucius kissed her again with fervor as Gaius laughed to himself as he watched them lip to lip. Getting up from the pool Lucius pulled on his robe and motioned for Gaius to follow him to his private quarters, leaving the four naked women to bathe alone.
Lucius was the most handsome man in all of Neodesha, his stunning good looks bringing many princesses throughout the region to seek him out as a possible husband. However Lucius was not an easy man to satisfy where women were concerned, his need for physical pleasure his only interest when it came to the opposite sex.
Though he had a harem full of beautiful women and could pick and choose any female from the land, he only had concubines and wasn’t eager to acquire any wives of his own. Lucius was in essence scared of love, afraid of giving and sharing with another, and kept a wall about his heart like a fortress. Though many women had fallen for the prince no one had been able to penetrate the well-guarded wall of his heart.
Within the hour Prince Lucius was approaching the corridor of King Hayden’s palace and the prince turned to see his father on his thrown. The king opened his arms to his son and Lucius embraced him.
“Father how are you?”
“I’m well my son.”
“When I heard that you were summoning me I came as soon as possible. I was bathing when Gaius arrived at Artesia.”
King Haden looked at his son with a lighthearted smile as he sat back down in his chair. He motioned for Lucius to sit beside him on the thrown and questioned. “My son, when will you ever grow out of all those women?”
Finding his fathers remark humorous Lucius chuckled. “Whenever you do father.”
“But I married your mother Cornelia and she provided me with an heir. I fulfilled my obligation as king and took a godly wife to be my queen. Now that she’s no longer with us, God rest her soul, I’m allowed the physical comforts of my harem. But you my son, when will you ever take a wife and have children of your own?”
“I haven’t the need or the aspiration to acquire a consort at this time. My concubines make me content enough, without all the hassles that marriage can incur. What is a wife other than a glorified concubine anyway? No, until I am deep in love I shall never take upon myself a wife. I’m sorry if my reluctance to marry and propagate the royal family displeases you.”
King Hayden looked at his son most concerned, his expression of intense contemplation, and turned to face him. “You are a respectable man Lucius but I fear I have spoiled you all these years. Giving you your own palace and harem at fifteen was perhaps a terrible mistake on my part. You’ve never known physical restraint and I worry you would never be satisfied with just one woman to warm your bed.”
“Father, in all my life I have never once known love. There have been countless women that have loved me, some desperately so, but until I share that same feeling with another, I will never make the sacrifice of getting married.
I want more than anything else to love a woman as you loved my mother Cornelia. Is that too much to expect father?”
King Hayden looked at his son with compassion. “Lucius, your mother was a rare jewel. I only pray you will find someone as extraordinary as she was. I would hate to see you live your whole life without ever experiencing true love at least once.”
Lucius went into deep thought and looked back up at his father. “I hope that someday I will find someone as special as my mother was, but until then I am willing to wait. When I do find that special woman I will never desire another to take her place. I will honor her as you honored my mother, by making her the only one in my heart and in my bed.”
Gaius walked up and bowed down before them. “The emperor has arrived.”
The king turned his attention to the guard. “Bring him in Gaius.”
“Yes King Hayden.” Gaius showed Emperor Bedeck inside and turned back to the corridor to leave so they could be alone.
Standing to their feet Lucius and Hayden faced the approaching emperor, who walked toward them with an unhurried stride. Bedeck was a slender man with longish gray hair and a full white beard. “It’s good to see my boys.” he said smiling, and with outstretched arms received them into his embrace. Hayden wrapped his arms about his father and then Lucius wrapped his arms around him as well. Bedeck pushed Lucius back a little and studied him with a careful eye as he complemented him. “My grandson grows more handsome by the day. I look forward to the time when he marries and makes lots of babies for the royal family. He would make fine looking sons and daughters.”
Lucius reiterated the same message he had given his father moments ago. “I’ll tell you the same as I’ve told my father. I’m in no hurry to do such things.”
“You just haven’t met the right woman yet Lucius, but you will my boy you will.”
They all walked to the open chamber where the feast was being held. Festive music played in the background as maidservants scurried about serving their masters with trays of food and wine. They took a seat on the purple-blanketed floor with cushions and throws made of tangerine velvet and crimson silk.
Gold goblets and silver platters were filled with food and wine as the harem dancers came out to dance for the royal family and their guests. Grabbing their golden goblets full of spirited drinks, they filled their plates with provisions. Roasted pig and ox had been displayed with cooked vegetables on large silver platters.
All three of the men lounged in comfort on the floor as they watched the near naked harem dancers perform their seductive art. With golden chains hanging about their waists and charms on their ankles and wrists, the dancers made clinging sounds as they moved about the floor. All the officials and senators were there gazing upon the six women that held them in an erotic trance of sensual display.
Approaching the royal pallet was an older gentleman. He went to his knees and leaned down low before the royal family exclaiming servitude, his grayish black hair hanging about his shoulders in casual disarray. His temple garment was a deep royal blue that was made of a cotton blend. It hanged from shoulder to ankle in one long sweep. “I come to give you honor oh royal family of Aurelius.”
Prince Lucius smiled at his old friend once he bent back up into a sitting position. “Zephaniah, it is good to see you my friend.” Lucius patted him on the back, his happiness to see him genuine.
The emperor asked with a teasing tone. “Zephaniah have you been taking good care of my grandson? I worry about his soul you know.”
“I do my best to instill good morals in the man Emperor Bedeck. However, he does have a love of the ladies.”
Bedeck chuckled and nodded in agreement. “Yes, I am afraid he has taken after his father on that one. Do you think we can straighten him out old friend?”
“That is most difficult to answer sire. Perhaps we should dry him out first and then see what happens.”
The prince shook his head in bewilderment. “Doesn’t anyone realize that I am sitting here beside you? I feel like I do not even exist in this conversation.”
King Hayden lifted up his glass and spoke before taking a drink. “Lucius has learned from the best, myself. If anyone should straighten the boy out it should be me.” Everyone laughed at the notion that King Hayden could accomplish such a feat, considering his own immoral hang-ups with women.
The emperor turned more somber as he looked over at Zephaniah. “You look a little weary old friend. Is everything well with you?”
“I’ve been feeling rather weak for some time now. I just can’t seem to get my strength back since my last lapse with illness, but God is good and he will see me through it.”
The prince seemed concerned about Zephaniah’s lingering condition and offered. “Perhaps you should see my personal physician at the palace. I don’t like the thought of you being ill Zephaniah. You are not only my spiritual advisor but also my best friend.”
Zephaniah held Prince Lucius in high esteem and knew underneath his fleshly sins were a man of great honor. “As you are mine Prince Lucius. I will see your physician as you have suggested.”
Zephaniah’s daughter, a young girl of seventeen, approached their pallet. Her willowy frame was most dainty and fragile, her tender features more angelic than human. Her long golden auburn hair was swept up into a gentle coiffure, her silky tresses falling about her face and neck in tiny ringlets.
She wore a long empire waist gown made of pale pink velvet that tied about her waist with a silky pink ribbon. She bent down to the floor onto her knees and bowed before them, her hands going over her head in a submissive gesture. In a tiny voice she spoke.
“I give honor to you oh royal family of Aurelius.”
Prince Lucius looked upon her and spoke with a soft sensual whisper. “You may rise Isabella.”
“Thank you master.” Her gaze met his in a most intense fashion. Her green eyes were most loving with servitude. Reaching for his hand she placed loving kisses upon it and stayed at his feet tending to him with submissive obedience.
Prince Lucius complimented Zephaniah on his young daughter, most pleased with her innocent beauty. “Your daughter grows lovelier each time I see her Zephaniah. It’s a shame that she spends her time in the temple all day. I could get use to seeing her curled up at my feet.” Isabella’s cheeks turned a rosy red under the prince’s gaze as she continued to caress his hand with loving featherlike kisses.
Zephaniah smiled with appreciation for Lucius recognizing his beloved daughter. “Isabella looks just like her mother Dora. God took my wonderful wife home but left me with a childlike angel for a daughter.”
Prince Lucius often felt Isabella was an angel from heaven for she exuded an innocent quality that left him breathless with sexual curiosity. He longed to hold her dainty body close to his overpowering one. To love her with gentle yet passionate embraces, teaching her everything she needed to know to bring him physical pleasure. Her fair complexion was flawless and perfect, and her cheeks were colored with a natural rosy hue, which only deepened when he embarrassed her, which was all too often.
Her bright green eyes captivated him, for her gaze was always saturated with a curious fascination of his muscular stature. Though Isabella was still in her youth Lucius found her delicious and exquisite. The way she had looked at him ever since she was a young girl always made him feel warmth for her deep within his loins. Isabella reached for the prince’s feet and removed his sandals, kissing and stroking them as well as his inflated ego.
Emperor Bedeck noted her affection for the prince and looked over at King Hayden with curiosity. Looking in each other’s eyes they spoke silent words with their gaze. It was customary for women and men to show obedience by kneeling before royalty and kissing their hand once, but continual kissing and caressing was unusual unless they were concubines. The fact that Isabella loved his feet with such adoring affection suggested a far more intense need to serve her master.
Lucius looked up at Zephaniah and praised the young girl at his feet. “Your daughter pleases me with her tender affections. You have taught her well in the area of servitude. Perhaps I should send my concubines over to her for lessons.”
Zephaniah chuckled. “Devout women like Isabella know what it means to be subservient to their masters. It is her love for God that allows her to express
her love for you with such piety. You are her prince, her guardian and master. Pleasing you pleases God. Therefore she treats you with unselfish affection, knowing that serving you well is looked upon as righteousness in Gods sight. However I doubt she would make a well-behaved concubine. The moral fabric that is woven into her would never allow her to become such a thing. She is pure in the sight of our God, both in mind and body.”
Lucius had a hard time thinking of Isabella as pure because his thoughts were the furthest thing from it. He looked upon her dainty body, which was curled up by his feet, and all kinds of sexual images raced through his mind. Isabella was always at his feet when he was around. He often wondered why her intimate affections never traveled to his father Hayden or grandfather Bedeck, since they did out rank him in superiority.
The emperor spoke with favor as he looked over at Isabella. “She will make a man a wonderful wife someday Zephaniah. You have raised her well despite of her mother Dora’s unfortunate death.”
“Thank you Emperor Bedeck.” Zephaniah bent his head in appreciation for it was a great honor to receive such generous praise from a member of the royal family.
Lucius looked down at Isabella again and teased. “Isabella you are spoiling me with your caresses. I do enjoy your attentions but I fear you will wear yourself out by the end of the evening. Come sit next to me so we can talk.” Lucius patted the cushion beside him and Isabella looked up into his warm blue eyes with nervous anticipation.
His black ruffled shirt was open down to his navel. His broad smooth chest moved up and down with each breath he took. Isabella longed to look at him for he was breathtaking in all his beauty and crawled to him on her hands and knees. She sat beside the prince, her body shaking with nerves. Zephaniah went and sat next to the emperor and the king and they talked amongst themselves.
Lucius admired the innocent girl sitting next to him, his body closer than it had ever been to her dainty one. His frame towered over hers as he leaned into her. Lucius looked deep into her innocent green eyes, but Isabella lowered her lashes demurely and focused on her hands that lay folded in her lap, most embarrassed by her master’s intense observation. Isabella was never able to look into the prince’s eyes for long. His gaze was always intimidating and was always heated with fervent desire.
Lucius reached under her chin and lifted her face up to his. “I don’t like it when you look away from me Isabella. Look at me, now.” His voice was firm and Isabella did as he commanded. Her innocent eyes lifted to meet his as he searched her expression for clues to her feelings for him. Lucius wanted to ascertain whether his little friend felt the same way for him as he did for her. Wondering why she always looked away from him he questioned. “Do I frighten you?”
Hesitating she swallowed before she spoke, biting her lower lip with trepidation. “I am not afraid of you master.”
“Then why do you not like looking at me?” Instinctively Isabella lowered her lashes again, trying to hide her intimate affections for her master. “What did I just tell you? You make your master very unhappy when you defy my wishes. Isabella, I won’t ask you again.” Lucius spoke with less patience this time. His desire for love-gazing most intense for he desired to look into her innocent green globes.
Lifting her gaze to meet his piercing blue eyes she began to tremble. He noticed her discomfort from his proximity and lowered his hand away from her chin. Isabella was not use to being so close to the prince, or any other man for that matter, for she was always sheltered within the confines of the temple sanctuary.
Leaning down Lucius lowered his lips to hers and studied her delicate face for a few long moments, teasing her mouth with the subtle suggestion that he was going to ravish her at any moment. “You fascinate me Isabella. Your timidity and shyness are not traits I’m use to in a woman. I’m sure I would find much pleasure in breaking you of that.” His teasing come on sent a rush of red to her cheeks and Lucius knew that he made his little slave very uncomfortable. He intended too, he loved to see her tremble under his heated gaze and to feel the warmth of her submissive green eyes roam across his skin.
The emperor was seated behind Lucius as well as the king and Zephaniah. They overheard the prince’s repartee with Isabella and the emperor turned to scold his grandson. “Lucius do you have to seduce every woman you come in contact with? Especially sweet Isabella, you know she’s not like your other women.”
With reluctance Lucius backed away from the small girl sitting beside him, getting the distinct impression that Zephaniah’s daughter was off limits to him. “That’s why I’m so fascinated by her grandfather, because there is none like her in all the land of Neodesha and beyond. I do apologize though, I suppose I’m an opportunist at heart.”
“Well you have plenty of opportunity waiting for you in your harem of women at the palace.”
Looking back at the diminutive young woman sitting beside him the prince offered his sentiments. “I apologize for my forwardness. My behavior was not at all befitting of such a sweet and innocent child. I so enjoy teasing you that I find it almost impossible to resist doing so.” His smile was impish, not at all a look that seemed apologetic. “Do you forgive me Isabella?” His look was tender as he tried to make amends for his naughtiness.
Reaching for his hand, which was so much larger than her own, Isabella put
warm kisses upon it and spoke with soft adoration. “My master needs not to apologize to me. I am your slave and I am here to serve you my lord.” Her adoring eyes met his and Lucius nodded his head in appreciation. Hearing her loyalty made him melt with a burning passion deep within him. How he wanted her to serve him but in private in his own bedchambers at the palace.
Running his thumb across her cheek he answered with a heated reply. “And serve me you shall Isabella.” She leaned her cheek into his caress, relishing in the skin to skin contact that otherwise would have been forbidden to her, and rubbed her face against his hand. Her eyes closed as she felt herself becoming lost in his touch and with passionate abandon kissed his fingers with fervor.
Zephaniah got up from the pallet, concerned by the intimate exchange between the prince and his daughter, and walked over to where they were seated. He reached for Isabella’s hand. “Come my child we must be heading back to Artesia now. I’m feeling rather weak and I long to go rest for awhile.”
Isabella questioned with disappointment, her voice sounding desperate as she pleaded. “Father, may I stay with my master for awhile? I promise I will be good and not stay out long. Perhaps I can ride back with the prince on his return?”
“You need to come back with me Isabella.” Zephaniah knew how his daughter felt for the prince and how the prince felt for his daughter. He didn’t think it wise they spend too much time with the other without careful supervision. The prince was a master at seducing women and Isabella was no match for his practiced charms. Though he loved the prince as a son he wanted his daughter to be kept undefiled and holy before God.
“But father, please. I don’t get to spend much time with my master.” Tender tears were filling her eyes as she pleaded with him and Zephaniah was beginning to lose his patience with his daughter.
“Isabella, I will not tell you again.”
“Yes father.” She sniffed and turned to face Lucius most disappointed, her bottom lip in an adorable pout, and bent down low before him and kissed his hand with loving caresses. “I bid my master goodnight. You will be in my prayers.” Looking over to the emperor and king she said her farewells. “It was nice to see you both again. I pray that God be with you always.” Reaching for her father’s hand she arose and followed him as he led her away.
With tenderness Lucius spoke unto her. “Until I see you again Isabella.” His voice was warm and full of affection as Isabella was escorted away by her father. His gaze followed after her and he noticed Isabella looking back over her shoulder at him as they departed from the room. It was obvious she wanted to stay by his side for the remainder of the evening and Lucius was well pleased.
He had wanted on many occasions to go to the sanctuary at Artesia and take her back to his private bedchambers. He desired to take her unto him and show her the ways of pleasure, but had to show restraint toward his little friend. Zephaniah was Lucius’s spiritual adviser, the prince’s love for the man like he was a second father, and it was not acceptable or lawful to trespass against such a friendship by bedding his daughter without permission. Isabella was forbidden fruit but Lucius wanted nothing more than to be the first one to taste her, for she was sweet.
Hayden noticed the infatuation Lucius had with Zephaniahs daughter and knew his son had always been fond of her. “Lucius I am afraid your wandering eye will be the death of you.”
“You may be right father but it’s so much fun.”
The evening ended late into the night and Lucius made his way back to the palace of Artesia. Walking into his bedchambers Lucius called for one of his chamberlains who stood outside his door.
“Hashish my friend.”
“Yes Prince Lucius?”
“Send Miriam and Sabetha to me. I require their services for the evening.”
“Yes Prince Lucius, right away.”
Lucius undressed and lay naked upon his bed. His back propped up against piles of pillows made of crimson velvet and purple silk. His hard muscular body was dark against the red silken bed linens and he slid his arms around the back of his neck as he waited for his slaves. His thoughts were of Isabella, her innocent gaze still warming his imagination with thoughts of passionate indiscretions.
It would be so easy to sneak within her room and satisfy his baser needs with her innocent love. Isabella was so submissive to him out of her fear of displeasing her master that seducing her would be like taking candy from a baby. As he closed his eyes to fantasize about her he felt his desire rising. He heard someone approaching him and within moments Sabetha and Miriam’s hands were stroking his muscular legs.
Opening his eyes he looked upon his two concubines, their bodies naked and glistening in the glow of the candlelight. Removing his hands from behind his head he opened his arms to them and summoned. “Come to me and let me hold you both.” They were eager to do as he requested and slid into his strong arms. Lucius sought Sabetha’s mouth with a passionate kiss.
Miriam ran her hand down to his hard maleness and stroked him with her palm. She sat up in the bed and bent down to his manhood, her mouth covering him in pleasurable wet caresses. Lucius stroked Sabetha’s breasts and cupped them with his hands, his fingers playing with her hard nipples as he violated her mouth. Rubbing his hand down to her hip he slipped his fingers into the dip between her thighs.
He stroked her wet folds and slid his fingers deep into her warmth, making her moan in erotic pleasure as his tongue played with her mouth. Miriam lifted up and mounted him, sliding his throbbing maleness deep within her as he continued to caress Sabetha with his fingers. Bending down to his smooth rippled chest Miriam began kissing his nipples and stroking his stomach with her hands. Sighs of gratification escaped into the stillness as Miriam rode Lucius to pleasure. Lucius felt his need mounting and within moments of heated passion filled Miriam with the warmth of his essence. Miriam leaned down and lay her head on his chest, letting the sensation waft over her. Lucius cradled Miriam in one arm and Sabetha with the other. Lying there fulfilled he looked over at Sabetha with tenderness. “You are next my love.” And they lay there in each other’s embrace, kissing, fondling and caressing one another into the night.