Of Love and Duty
-by: the Yarnspinner-
the_yarnspinner@yahoo.com
A Sekkushiaru Roman
featuring characters from the anime "Sailor Moon"> Chapter 13 - Hearts and Minds <
It was mid-afternoon when Mina and Geoffrey entered the Atlantis Palace. Serenity met them in the library.
"Serenity, what is going on?" Mina asked. "What has happened?"
"I do not know," Serenity answered, embracing her friend. "Lord Devon has sent a messenger, requesting a meeting with you. The messenger did not say what the purpose of the meeting was to be, and Devon has not yet arrived."
Mina shook her head. "I do not like the feel of this. I know there are so many reasons why it cannot be that he is coming to ask for marriage... but I still do not like the feel of this."
Serenity nodded in understanding. Just then a trumpet sounded outside.
"I presume that is Lord Devon. You must hurry upstairs and change, Mina," Serenity said.
Mina nodded, then turned toward the door.
Geoffrey bowed to Serenity. "With your highness' permission, I would accompany Princess Mina to her chambers."
Serenity hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I have no objection, sir. I am sure Mina would appreciate the company of a friend," she said. 'And I pray that I am right in suspecting you could be even more to her,' she thought. Serenity followed them to the door and observed as Mina and Geoffrey hurried up the stairs, noting again his obvious concern for her.
"Serenity," Endymion called quietly. "My father will receive Lord Devon in the audience hall, and we must join him."
"Yes, my dearest," she replied. "At once."- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the grand audience hall, King Darius paced in front of the throne, while Queen Julianna sat quietly. Endymion and Serenity stood to one side. Kunzite stood opposite. Just then the master of ceremonies entered the hall and rapped his staff on the floor. Darius stopped and faced him.
"Lord Devon of Venus requests an audience with your majesties," the master of ceremonies announced.
"Show him in," Darius said.
Both doors opened and a guard escorted the young man in. Of medium build, Devon was perhaps the same age as Endymion. His hair was purest white, and his eyes a dark green. An air of nervousness hung about him. The guard stepped aside, and Devon took three more strides toward the thrones then dropped to a knee.
"Please rise, and know you are welcomed as a guest," Darius said.
"I thank your majesty," Devon answered, rising to his feet.
"What business brings you so far from home?" Darius asked.
"May it please, your majesty. I seek a meeting with her highness, Princess Mina, on a most urgent matter," Devon said, his voice quavering slightly.
"I have no objection, but I believe this is properly a request for Princess Serenity," Darius said, motioning to Serenity.
Serenity stepped forward. "Thank you, your majesty. Lord Devon, Princess Mina will be able to meet with you shortly. I would ask that you await her in the library."
Devon dropped to a knee once more. "Thank you, your highness."
The young man rose to his feet, bowed to Darius and Julianna, and then, receiving a dismissal, turned and followed the guard, who escorted him to the library.
"He seemed a bundle of nerves," Endymion said softly.
"Yes," Serenity agreed. "His hands were trembling."
"Overawed perhaps?" Julianna suggested. "Darius does have that effect on some people, and especially if this was his first appearance at a royal court on his own behalf..."
"I thought the lad handled himself quite well," Darius said. "Although I still think we need to review the protocol on this, my dear. There is no reason why he should have to go through all this just to arrange a meeting with the girl he's betrothed to. A simple request to Serenity should have sufficed, since Mina is under her authority."
"I agree," Julianna said.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Good luck," Serenity whispered to Mina, giving her a hug. The other Sailor Soldiers stood behind Serenity to offer their support.
"Thank you," Mina said, turning toward the library door.
Geoffrey stood by the door. Mina paused in front of him. He pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She smiled at him in return. Reaching for the door handle, she hesitated a moment. Her jaw set, and she pulled the door open.
Stepping into the room, she saw Devon rising to his feet. She pulled the door closed, hearing it latch.
"Your highness," Devon said with a bow.
"Please, Devon. Let's skip the formalities," Mina sighed. "It's all so archaic."
Devon nodded. "I want to thank you for agreeing to see me."
"From the way your messenger presented it, it didn't seem like I had much choice," she said.
"Oh, no... I'm sorry," he said. "That's not... Uhm... I mean... Ah... I didn't... I didn't come to exercise the right of betrothal."
"You didn't?" she asked.
"No... In fact... I came to ask... for a release from the contract."
Her heart jumped with joy. "Release?"
"Yes," he said. "I have found my true love-match."
"I'm very happy for you," Mina said. "So, what is the problem?"
"Your step-father refused to void the contract of betrothal when I sought to claim my rights to a love-match," Devon explained.
"What?! He can't do that!"
"Well, he did," Devon sighed. "That left me with only the option of appealing to you directly, since I cannot marry her when I am already betrothed to you."
"Of course... Of course I release you," Mina said. She rushed to the door. "Endymion!"
"What is it, Mina?" Endymion asked, the others gathering closer.
"I need a notary, or someone else who can record a statement under seal," Mina said. "It's urgent."
Endymion looked slightly taken aback, but nodded, turning to one of the nearby guards.
"Lord Devon is seeking to be released from our marriage agreement," Mina explained. "He has found a love-match. But my step-father is trying to thwart the law."
They all moved into the library.
"What will you do?" Devon asked.
"I will have the notary record my release," she said. "And we will ask Prince Endymion, Princess Serenity, and the other Sailor Soldiers to witness it. Such a statement, recorded under seal, will stand in any court on Venus, regardless of my step-father's scheming."
The notary arrived moments later and took her seat. "What do you wish the statement to say, your highness?"
Mina thought for a moment. "Lord Devon and I are under contract of betrothal by Venusian law. He has requested, and I have agreed to a release of that contract, leaving us both free to marry others as we each may see fit. I need a sworn statement to that effect."
The notary thought for a moment, then began writing. After several minutes, she handed the page to Mina. "There you are, your highness. That is essentially what you've just said."
"It looks very good," Mina agreed.
The notary nodded, then wrote out three more copies. "One copy for each of you, one to be placed in the archives here, and one to be recorded with the proper authority on Venus," she said. "Now, I must request signatures in the appropriate places, please."
Mina and Devon signed first, and the others followed, signing as witnesses. Endymion applied his own personal seal after his name on each copy. The notary signed each copy last, then applied her official seal. She then picked up one of the copies and placed it in her case for filing. Endymion pulled two coins from his purse.
"Oh please, your highness. That is not necessary," she protested.
"No. I insist," he said. "You would be paid for such a job for anyone else."
"Very well," she relented, bowing her head. "Thank you all. I hope this is satisfactory."
"Most satisfactory," said Devon. "Thank you so much."
"Good day your lordship, your highnesses," the notary said, turning for the door.
"Thank you again, Mina," Devon said. "I do not wish to seem discourteous, Prince Endymion, but I wish to return to Venus as soon as possible and have this document filed."
"I understand," Endymion said. "Please convey our best wishes to your intended."
"Thank you, your highness," Devon said with a bow.
"Farewell, Devon. Have a safe trip," Mina said.
"I shall," he replied happily, heading for the door.
Geoffrey drew Mina aside. "I'm very happy for you," he said.
"Thank you. I'm happier than I can say," she replied. "And I'm very happy that you're here too."- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Music filled the ballroom as the Sailor Soldiers celebrated with their princess and her prince. Each of the sailors danced with her companion.
Geoffrey held Mina in his arms. As he danced with her, he looked into her eyes, seeing the happy sparkle and joyful smile on her lips. A warm feeling spreading through his heart, he leaned down and kissed her full on the lips.
She looked up at him in surprise for just a moment, before embracing him tightly and returning the kiss with passion.
"I think Devon is not the only one to have found a love-match," he said softly.
Her cheeks flushed and she nodded. "I'm so glad to have met you."
"I feel the same," he replied.
She kissed him again, sighing happily.
"Say, are you two lovebirds off in your own little world?" Makoto interjected, dancing nearby with Shinozaki.
Mina glanced around the room. "Yes. Just like you two, and all the others," she said. She turned back to Geoffrey. "I love you," she whispered in his ear.
"I love you," he replied.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Later that night, Mina and Geoffrey headed upstairs to her chambers.
"Are you sure you don't want me to get my own room?" he asked.
"Absolutely not," she said, closing the door behind them. "There is plenty of room here."
She pulled the ribbon from her hair, then threw her arms around him, kissing him deeply.
As their tongues danced, he ran his hands down over her back. He felt her press her body against his own, and felt his arousal swelling in response.
"Besides," she said, is a soft sultry voice. "That bed always was too big for just one person."
"Oh, really?" he asked with a grin.
As he maneuvered her toward the bed, she slid her hands inside his jacket and began working it off. He dropped it to the floor, then kissed her once again. His fingers found the clasp on the back of her dress, opening it and sliding it down.
"You know," she whispered. "Yesterday, you promised you were going to take 'full advantage' of having me naked."
"Well then... I guess I need to do something about that," he said.
"Oh, yes," she agreed, kicking off her shoes and peeling off her undergarments. "You definitely need to do something about that."
"Did you have something in mind?" he asked, as she began opening his shirt.
"Oh... I don't know," she said with a grin. "Why don't you suggest something."
He tossed his shirt away, even as she was already unfastening his pants. "Well, let's see... I could drag a certain princess to bed and spend all night ravaging her."
"That works for me," she said, pushing him back on the bed.
She bent down and pulled off his shoes, then his pants. The bulging form of his aroused manhood was clearly visible within his shorts, and she felt a warm wetness spreading within herself. She took hold of his shorts and hurriedly slipped them off.
His swollen penis beckoned to her. No longer needing to exercise self-restraint, she spread his legs and moved between them, taking his shaft in her hand. He groaned softly as she slid her hand over his length. She was fascinated by the way it throbbed under her fingers. Leaning closer, she kissed his tip, then lightly brushed it with her tongue.
"Oh, Mina," he gasped.
His entire body trembled as she continued to lick his member, growing steadily bolder. She swept her tongue up along his full length, then ran it over his tip. Her mouth enveloped him in a silky moistness, her lips rubbing across the edge of his tip and nearly driving him crazy. He groaned, grasping the bed with his hands as sharp shocks of pleasure burst through him.
She thrilled to his response, excited at the pleasure she was giving. His member continued to throb as she swept her tongue over it. She took it back in her mouth and sucked it slowly and steadily, making soft sucking noises as her lips rubbed across the edge of his tip.
Venusian culture taught the importance of giving physical pleasure as part of the act of making love, but the isolated nature of her upbringing had left her comparatively backward in this area. Nevertheless, she was determined to do her best, and was overjoyed to know she was succeeding.
A sharp spasm swept through his body, thrusting his penis up. She rocked back with his motion, but continued to lick and suck his throbbing tip. He groaned as he spasmed once more, and she suddenly felt his fluid surge into her mouth. She clung to him, taking everything he had. Finally, she sat up and ran her hands up over his chest.
"Oh, Mina. You are incredible," he sighed.
She lay beside him, running a hand along his chin. "Part of the role of lovers is to provide each other pleasure in making love."
He rolled over and kissed her. "Then it is only proper that I should return the favor," he said softly.
His hand slid down from her neck and over the swell of her breast, brushing his fingers over her nipple. He leaned down and kissed her other nipple, then stroked it with his tongue.
"Oh, yes," she groaned.
Lingering over her breast, he sucked at her nipple, sending waves of pleasure sweeping through her. His hand moved down and rested on her abdomen. She gasped with pleasure.
He moved down over her body, his fingers sweeping gently over every contour of her soft curves. As he spread her legs open, he ran a finger over the flesh of her pubic mound, then slid it along her moist nether lips. He traced the soft folds of her opening, then slid his finger in through her lips. She groaned as, with a gentle motion, he spread her lips open between two fingers and softly stroked her insides.
"Oh, gods!" she gasped, already feeling flooded with pleasure as his probing fingers only increased the tremendous fire within her. She was certain this had to be very close to the Venusian ideal.
He slipped his index finger deeper into her channel, caressing her there, and further adding to the honey flowing out of her. Drawing his finger back, he stroked it over the ring of muscles within her, then brushed across her jewel, bringing a sharp cry from her as her body shook.
She could hardly think straight as he pushed two fingers into her, leaving her gasping for breath. His fingers seemed to be spreading her open, then stopped at the ring of muscle, stroking back and forth across it. Her head rolled back as she cried his name again and again, pleading for release.
He pulled his fingers back slowly, thrilled with the results of his explorations of her exquisite young body. His fingertip brushed her jewel once more. He slipped his fingers out of her, then leaned still closer and kissed her nether lips. His tongue slipped into her, and he could taste her honey. He reached deep into her, drawing still more of her fluid back into his waiting mouth.
"Please!" she groaned. "Oh, gods!"
His tongue brushed over her jewel, sending fiery bursts of ecstasy through her. She gasped for breath as he repeatedly stroked her pleasure point, leaving her trembling helplessly.
"Oh, yes!... Oh!... OOOHHH, YYESSSSS!!" she cried, soaring to orgasm.
Sitting up, he helped her slide around on the bed, then pulled the covers up over them. He moved over her, lowering himself between her spread legs.
Smiling up at him, Mina enfolded him in her arms. Their lips came together for a deep passionate kiss.
"Are you sure you want this?" he asked.
"Oh, yes!" she said. "Most definitely!"
He rubbed his tip across her nether lips, then gently slipped it just inside. She moaned softly and ran her hands across his back.
As he continued to edge forward, she felt his mass stretching her open. He rocked back briefly, then pushed forward, suddenly producing a sharp pain as he buried himself within her. She winced and gasped for breath. The pain faded, overwhelmed by the intense passion consuming her. She gingerly flexed her inner muscles around him, feeling the full mass of his bulging, warm shaft filling her up.
He pulled back, then plunged himself back into her, feeling her body respond. Their mouths came together and they kissed, tongues dancing slowly and sensuously.
"Oh, Mina," he sighed, overcome with love and passion.
"Yes, Geoffrey," she gasped in reply. "Oh, gods! I love you!"
Passion swelled still higher within both of them, pushing them on faster and harder.
She clung to him tightly, thrilling to the feel of being made one with him as his swollen, throbbing manhood filled her up. Clearly, this was the joining of two halves that was the highest ideal of the Venusian culture of love.
He kissed her once more, overwhelmed by the exquisite sensation of making love to this beautiful young woman. Her womanhood clung to him tightly, stroking his throbbing shaft with their every motion and sending intense waves of pleasure rushing through him. Looking down into her eyes, he could see them aglow with an intense love, warming his heart still more.
Over and over, they moved together, sweeping each other ever higher.
"Oh, yes," he gasped.
"So good," she groaned.
He plunged into her still harder, his member pulsing wildly as it drove deeper into her warm, loving embrace. A fresh tremor shook her body. As he rocked back, he felt her tremor growing stronger, even as a powerful spasm began within himself.
She gasped as he thrust forward, his member swelling still larger within her. Her nerves on fire, her entire body suddenly locked up in a tremendous spasm of climax as a powerful surge rushed along the full length of his penis and flooded her with his seed.
"OH, GEOFFREY!" she cried, clinging to him tightly.
His own body remained locked in spasm, quivering as he continued to empty himself within her.
They lay together quietly, neither moving, just breathing softly and thoroughly enjoying their intimate melding. He finally raised his head and kissed her.
"That was amazing," he whispered. "You truly are a goddess of love."
Mina blushed, pulling his head close and kissing him. "Flatterer. I'm sure I found it just as amazing as you did. It was like I had never experienced the true joy of love until now."
"I know just what you mean," he sighed. "Love takes a physical act... and makes it soooo very much more."
"Soooo wonderful," she agreed with utter contentment.
He gently slipped himself out of her and lay alongside her. She snuggled closer, resting her head on his shoulder.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mina awoke to the gentle feel of his hand running slowly and softly over her bare flesh. Instinctively, she snuggled closer to him, then slowly opened her eyes.
"You are such a beautiful man," she sighed. "I think I could get used to waking up alongside you."
"And I could certainly get used to waking up alongside you, especially after having fallen asleep in the wake of such incredible love-making," he said softly.
She just nodded her head.
"To be followed by still more," he added, running his hand across her breast. "I do seem to recall something about spending all night ravaging a certain princess."
She looked up at him with a smile, already feeling her insides growing warm with anticipation. "Oh, yes," she sighed. "I do like the sound of that."
He moved down over her and pressed his mouth hungrily to her breast, suckling her erect nipple passionately.
She gasped as waves of pleasure radiated outward from her swollen, highly sensitive tip. His tongue rasped across it, then he seized it hard once more between his lips, pressing into it fiercely.
As he sat up for a moment, she pushed him over on his back and moved herself astride him.
"Mina," he gasped.
His hands reached up and took hold of her breasts, his fingertips brushing over the nipples. As fire swelled within her, overwhelming her with uncontrollable longing, she slid back, feeling the swollen tip of his manhood against her nether lips. She pushed herself back, letting out a groan as she impaled herself on his engorged shaft. As her muscles were spread wide around his mass, she felt as though he was even larger than before. In just a moment, she had taken in his full length, and she flexed her muscles around him, suffused by sensations of purest bliss.
A moan of delight escaped his lips as the warm moistness of her womanhood fully enveloped him, holding him firmly. Seeing the expression on her face, displaying a happiness equaling his own, he caressed her breast with one hand, while sweeping the other down over her abdomen and around to her hip.
She lifted herself up, feeling his shaft moving within her and setting her nerves on fire. Already gasping for breath, she plunged herself back down on him, taking his warm mass deep inside her once more. Passion and desire took control as she pumped herself up and down on his bulging member with wild abandon.
"Oh, yes!... Oh, gods!... Oh!... Oh!... Yes!" she gasped.
As she leaned forward, he pulled her down and kissed her lips. Holding her in his arms as she held his manhood deep within her warm, loving embrace, he knew he had never been happier than this with anyone. He tightened his embrace and kissed her once more.
"Oh, honey. I love you so much," he sighed.
Their next thrust drove his shaft within her, sitting her back up astride him. She swept her hands across his chest, her fingers lingering over his nipples. Meanwhile, fiery waves of ecstasy spread from between her legs as they continued to move together.
"Oh, gods!... Oh!... Oh, yes!... Oh!... OH, YYYYEEESSSS!!" she cried, her body locking up in climax.
He groaned wordlessly as she trembled above him. His hands continued to sweep over her. As she slowly resumed her pumping motion on his mass impaled so exquisitely within her, he pulled himself up and took her nipple in his mouth, suckling it passionately.
She enfolded him in her arms as he licked and sucked her breast. Happy beyond words, she could only cling to her lover as her body was flooded with such indescribable pleasure.
He moved to her other breast, running his tongue over her nipple, then seizing the swollen bud in his lips and drawing on it just as hungrily as he had the first. Her hands swept over his back and through his hair. He held himself to her tightly, wrapping his arms around her, as he continued to ravenously devour her breast.
He finally lay back, gasping with delight. She look down at him even as she plunged up and down still faster on his penis. Her head rolled from side to side.
"Oh, yes!... Oh, yes!... Oh!" she gasped.
He pushed up through his hips to meet her next motion, setting off a still more powerful tremor within her. She cried out wordlessly, driving herself back down on his throbbing member, taking him in to the hilt. His entire body pushed up to meet her next motion, and he could feel himself rapidly approaching the brink.
Her own body was spasming wildly. As she pushed down once more, his penis swelled within her, finally pouring his seed into her. She cried out in ecstasy as she was consumed by the power of orgasm.
"Oh, wow!" she finally sighed. "I think that was even better than the first one."
"You are just incredible," he said. "I love you soooo much."
"And I love you," she answered softly, lowering herself onto him and kissing him.
He swept a hand over her back, running his fingers through the long golden strands of her hair, and gently breathed in her soft scent, mingled with the fragrance of their shared passion.
"I'm having such a wonderful time with you," she said, still happily draped across him. "Now that all the fuss seems to have blown over, let's go back to your beach cottage for some privacy."
"That sounds good to me," he replied.
She was already starting to doze. Feeling sleep creeping up on him as well, he pulled the covers back up over them. He wrapped one arm across her, feeling her shift slightly atop him, then closed his eyes, feeling her soft breath on his cheek and the gentle rise and fall of her chest against his own. In just moments, they were both asleep.< To be continued >
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NOTE: Still more to come. As always, special thanks to my better half, Hopeless Romantic.You can now find all my yarns at http://strands-of-moonlight.my3gb.com and http://strands-of-moonlight.6te.net.
Always remember, good gentles, that a yarnspinner works from and within existing legends and stories. The characters of "Sailor Moon" belong to others. In spinning my yarns, I do not seek to infringe on their rights of ownership, but merely to join with other fans to spread the legend still further. "The moonlight carries a message of love." Enjoy.