Barbarian Bound Ch. 07

Our eyes connected and my heart was in my throat, threatening to choke me. Why did I feel this way? I was at a complete loss for words, I was spared by Oro's sweet kiss on my lips. Perhaps it was his way of acknowledging that I needed more time. It was gracious, and I felt a measure of guilt that I was unwilling to put to words the anticipation, and warmth I felt.

"Would you like to go to the North Market? We will want to decorate you." Oro smiled.

I could not hide the energy buzzing from me, "Do you need to ask?" I laughed softly. "We are not returning to Havva's shop?"

"No, the North Market will have finer items. I will have Jora attend you, I will stay, I have arrangements that need to be managed. I imagine it should not take you too long, you should be back before sun down." Oro speculated. "Just make sure Jora does not pick out your outfit, we will want you to look like a lady, not a bull." He laughed.

"Ha. Ha." I said dryly.

Within the hour, Jora and I were ready for our little adventure to the North Market. She had a pretty good idea of where we would go, and guided us through the narrow streets, occasionally pointing out old buildings and talking about the history of the town. She was between Oro and I in age, but her knowledge of history was indicative of the Barbarosan's strong culture.

"Here." She said pointing at a well carved sign of a ribbon with the word "şıklık" upon it. "It means, 'Finery'."

The shop was lined with tresses of embroidered fabric, floor to ceiling, coming in all shades and designs. The dye bins smelled further away, possibly in the lower part of the shop, and the upper floor was reserved for the selecting, measuring and tailoring of delicate fabric. I traced my fingers over several fabrics, and was in awe of their smoothness, and lack of flawed tufts. "Feel this." I softly said to Jora.

"It is not my place." There was no negative emotion attached to what she said, it was simply an accepted fact of her class.

I felt odd that for all her service, and the honor of her position, that it would be acceptable for me to touch this linen, but not her.

"Merhaba!" A thin, well dressed woman called, walking towards the center of the room. "Benim adım Magora olduğunu."

"Common?" I asked sheepishly.

"Yes. I thought you looked foreign. My name is Magora." She gave a slight bow, and looked up expectantly.

"My name is Esyld, this is my Bekçi." I advised pointing towards Jora. "I am in need of a fine morning dress."

"Hmm. Easy enough, have you seen any bundles you like so far?" Magora asked, sizing me visually.

"Many, though I think something in red and gold would be best." I said, peering about the room. As I turned to walk the perimeter of the shop, Magora gave a slight gasp.

"You are the Gaul female from Lamoria, yes?" Magora's eyes narrowed as she tried to read my expression. "Your sigil," she said tapping her own left shoulder, "is from the house Doguhan, the heir of which is the renowned Majohr Oro."

I was suprised that she knew who I was, despite my being hidden away at the Doguhan villa. "Yes." I admitted and it suprisingly stung as it reminded me of my homeland. "How have you come to hear of me?"

"Table gossip. Doguhan Canizade Oro was a famed prize for any suitable female, when it was said he had an Eş, well the word spread swiftly. Of course that you are *Gaul* is suprising, but I suppose he would never have settled for someone ordinary." Magora rambled on with hardly a breath between words. "Tell me, when you met-."

Jora could see the flush rising up my neck and broke in, "We are here for a dress, Terzi, it is more appropriate for you to submit your questions to Majohr Oro directly."

"O-oh, yes, indeed. I meant no offense, Esyld Oroeş." Magora stuttered, worry showing on her face. I could tell my opinion on this encounter could hold consiquence, and it was a great opportunity for me to show the mercy common among my own people.

"No offense taken, Magora, please call me Esyld." I said as magnanimously as possible.

"Of course, thank you, Esyld." She practically groveled. "I believe I have the perfect piece for you!" Magora said brightly and walked Jora and I over towards her tall counter. Behind which were held the most intricate in design, and were above any skill that I possessed or could replicate. She carefully pulled down a few yards of cardinal textile the appeared to shimmer as light shown over it. "Canfes, it is more stiff than silk, but very soft." The canfes fabric was bordered with golden fruits which appeared to be bushels of grapes. "Very beautiful, fruitfull, good omen in our culture."

I looked to Jora, who nodded slightly in agreement. "Majohr Oro would be very pleased with this choice."

"Would it be ready by the morning?" I asked.

"You will leave with it tonight. This is designed to wrap about your body." Magora assured. She addressed my quizical look by drawing me behind a privacy curtain. "If you would undress, please."

Again I looked to Jora, who gave little more than a nod, stepping back to guard the entrance of the curtain. I quickly removed my garments, and covered breasts as best I could with my arms. "So shy." Magora giggled, "It is nothing have not already seen." She pulled my arms outwards so that she could begin the process of wrapping my waist.

She tucked the first portion of the wrap into my undergarments, until the disappeared under the shimmering fabric. After the first pass, she began to crease the material and draped it over my shoulder, it narrowly covered my generous bust, the rest of the material flowing down my back. Magora left momentarily and brought back a tie that held many dangling gold coins, and crossed behind my back to tie it both over and under my breasts. Now the I felt truly secure in the dress, and did not think I would accidentally slip outside of its bounds.

"You see?" Magora sang, admiring her work.

I looked down the length of my body, and gave an appraising smile. "Very beautiful, benim teşekkür." I thanked her.

"It is my pleasure." She smiled proudly.

"As for payment-." I began.

"No, I could not accept. I only ask that when you become one with our Majohr Oro, that you think of me for your ceremonial dress." Her voice was slightly desperate, and the thought of yet another binding ceremony to Oro did not seem that unlikely.

"Very well." I responded, unable to form much other thought on the subject.

I redressed and Magora packaged up the dress carefully in a cloth parcel, and I left the shop in a bit of a daze. This would be my life wouldn't it? I would be with Oro, eventually as his partner, and we would live here, people would see my face, know me as the Gaul whore from Lamoria. The idea distressed me, thinking of what they might say about my undo rise in status.

I hardly remembered I had been walking until my foot caught on a raised stone and I pitched to the right falling on my side before a horse driven cart. "Zee!" Jora shouted, and ever so quickly gripped my ankle, jerking me towards her, scraping my arms and side in the movement. But just moments later, horses hooves stepped over my extended arm, and the wheel of the cart rolled a small distance from my fingertips.

She pulled me up from the ground, and helped me limp away towards an alley. She looked panicked and fearful desperation clouded her eyes, the next moment between us was filled with her shaky kiss.

The action was welcome, but very confusing given our earlier conversation and my time spent in Oro's arms. "J-jora." I whispered, feeling guilt settle into my stomach.

"Y-you nearly were run over." Jora sucked in a breath, trying to calm herself, and shook away her troubled thoughts, "I am sorry, I should not have-."

Jora's was honor bound to protect me, her duty should overshadow all else, and it was not a simple thing for her to discount this in the face of what was between this. "It is fine Jora, I understand, truly I do." Our conversation at the atrium resounded in the walls of my head, and I felt the loss of what could have been between us, had she not been my Bekçi, and had I not been claimed so fully by Oro. "This will remain a secret between us, one that we will forever remember, but never repeat." I said soothingly.

Jora cleared her throat, and wet her dry lips, "It will not happen again, on my honor, Esyld." It did not take long for her to gather her composure, and began guiding us the short distance back to our home.

My belly growled in protest, and I hoped that the evening meal had already been prepared by the time we arrived. Though the clouds floated over Barbos, to shade the city from the sun, it was still a few hours from sundown. I wondered if Oro might see the guilt upon my face, when we arrived, could I hide my kiss from him, the man that saw everything?

It was humorous that just earlier I was practically begging Jora for time alone in the atrium, careless of the consequence, and yet now, after the briefest of kisses, an intimate exchange, I was acutely aware of my disloyalty to Oro. What had suddenly changed between us? I thought.

Jora was very quiet the entire trip back, and I could see her own thoughts playing across those black eyes. She could see her regret for her dishonorable behavior. I could not agree that she behaved dishonorably, but how could I possibly know the standards she or the rest of the Barbarosans held themselves to? Their unflinching code of conduct and self-sacrifice was archaic and spoke to their nature. Oro would surely know something was wrong, if Jora kept up this appearance.

I stopped her just as we were about to the enter the iron gate, "Please, Jora, you cannot somber about like this, something will be suspected."

Jora stood a bit straighter and nodded, "Aye." Though her expression did not change much, she handed me the delicate parcel, and opened the heavy iron gate, allowing me to enter, and following me up the path towards the doors.

I descended the iron handle, and pushed the heavy doors open, and called out, "We are back!" The villa seemed quiet, and lanterns were already lit. I could smell food wafting from the cookspace and saliva coated my mouth. I was beginning to be accustomed to the strong Barbos spices, though my belly protested at first, and I could smell Adalet's flamed peppers.

I spied Oro out in the garden with Adalet, clipping some greens while the peppers roasted. I left the bundle nearby on a long table, and joined them outside. Oro smiled as I walked up, and it had the power to make me shiver and run hot all over. "The dress is beautiful, and it came at the best price, free." I laughed softly.

"I cannot wait to see it on you." Oro's deep voice sent another set of shivers down my spine. "Where is Jora?" He asked, looking back towards the entrance of the garden.

"Not feeling well, I believe she may have gone to rest." Looking away from Oro while I lied, helped to stomach it, and hide my guilt.

Oro kissed my forehead, and breathed deeply, for a moment panic fluttered in my belly, could he smell the scent of her lips on me? I withdrew quickly, much to his amusement, and realized I probably gave off the air that I wanted to play once more with him.

Oro stepped closer to me, and I extended a hand, "I-I fell, in the streets, and I could use a quick bath. How long until supper is ready?"

"No long, bayan." Adalet chimed and resumed her humming while she clipped additional greens.

"I will join you, I could also use a bath." Oro winked.

"Help Adalet first-."

"It is fine, bayan." Adalet laughed.

"See, Eş, she does not need my help." Oro smiled seductively and squeezed my bottom, causing me to jump and make my way towards the atrium.

Just beat him to the water, I thought. Then you can scrub your burning lips, and he will be none the wiser. Once I was inside the atrium, I quickly began to strip down, but before I could move to walk down the tiled steps into the water, Oro grabbed me from behind, arms wrapping around my waist.

Gooseflesh sprang across my exposed skin, as I felt him naked behind me. I squirmed agaisnt him, trying to break free into the pool.

"Why are you so anxious, Eş?" Oro mused, rocking himself against me, and inching us closer to the water.

"I am unclean." I whispered, which was certainly one way to explain the way I felt. It still struck me as odd that despite my earlier affection for Jora, I now felt a loyalty to Oro that had not been there before.

"I do not care if you are unclean, it would not stop me from touching you." Oro soothed, kissing the side of my neck. He scooped me up into his arms, and walked carefully down the tiled steps and into the water. Showing his strength by crouching us into the water, my arms still wrapped around his neck, as he cradled me against his chest.

My heart resonated its song in my chest. I took a deep breath, feeling nervous as I asked, "Things have changed between us, have they not?"

"From what it was, yes." Oro lowered me to my feet in the water, and hugged me tightly. "You struggle with this." It was not a question, but a statement that underlined my unease.

"Yes." My voice lilted softly. "How is it that you do not?" I pressed my forehead against his chest.

"From the beginning I knew I wanted you, and would do anything..." His voice trailed off, his unspoken words hanging over us. "The warm sun suits you."

"Yes, though I doubt I will ever be as dark as you." I was thankful for the shift in topic, as I rubbed my wet hands over my sun kissed arms.

"We will do well here together." Oro concluded, his voice becoming reverent as he said, "Seni seviyorum, Eş." He lifted my chin, separating my forehead from his hard chest, and brushed our lips together.

He did not repulse from me, as I thought he might if he discovered the residual taste of Jora's lips. Instead his kiss deepened, his hands moving to cup my face behind my ears, and coaxed my mouth open with his tongue. He was breathing heavily into my mouth, and the water seemed much colder against my skin now, as desire coursed through me.

My body and soul begged my mind for release. Little traitors demanding that I forget the past, and submit to the love offered before me, and to embrace what was growing inside of me. I felt affected, as I had with that stout drink, only this time it was from the mere taste of his lips, and the closeness of his need.

"I am tired of fighting." I groaned against his tempting lips.

"Then stop." Oro coaxed, and stroked his tongue against mine once more, in a wet, desperate dance. I relaxed into his hold, no longer trying to separate myself from him, no longer running or hiding from my own desires.

I realized that I held fast to Oro as if he were the only solid thing in this chaotic turn of events. It was comforting to feel him holding me back, as if in his arms I would never be lost or unwanted. I shuddered as our lips parted, I was shown in these moments together our intense connection, over and above what I had experience with Jora. It seemed shameful now to compare the two, but as I stood, I knew the difference between the love for my sister and that of my mate.

Oro, was my Eş, my match. It could not be denied any longer. I brought a hand up into the base of his curly hair, and twirled my fingers against his scalp. I whispered, looking up into those dark brown eyes, "I am yours and you are mine, Eş."

Oro was so powerful and intimidating as I his body was wrapped around mine, and we hardly seemed to care or notice how loud our cries seemed in the tiled atrium. Echoes of our passionate throws, resounding in our ears, as we submitted to eachother's needs.

Supper had long since been prepared, for after our coupling had come to an end, the food was cool and the hall was empty. I sat upon Oro's lap, and we took turns feeding eachother small morsels, nourishing our bodies and hearts with eachother's care. This tenderness was exactly what my inner spirit wanted, and I wrapped myself in its cocoon.

Once most of our meal had been cleared, Oro carried me up the stairs, and into our bedchamber. "I would like to make you dirty once more." Oro huskily bragged.

I smiled widely and joked, "Once more? I hardly remember getting a moment to bathe."

Oro mirrored my toothy grin, and paced towards me like a predator about to capture his prey. A soft knock at the door stopped him, and he grumbled "What?" to the person on the other side.

"Majohr Oro, may I have a word?" I recognized Jora's voice, and guilt resurfaced to make my stomach flutter.

Oro looked to me, and my expression must have perplexed him, he was looking for an answer from me, on whether I should send her away, or allow her a moment. But I had no answer for him, I was frozen in my unease.

"Come in." Oro replied, and turned back towards the door, sitting upon the stool at my little workspace nearby.

Immediately as Jora entered I could see the familiar guilt upon her face, and the wet mark of tears. Her eyes flitted apologetically towards where I stood by the bed, and I felt weak in the knees. Oro and I had worked so hard to come to our present terms, how far would her moral code take us back?

"C-can this wait, Jora?" I stammered. Clutching the bedpost with my right hand to steady myself. "It is quite late..." I felt panic begin to bubble up, and I felt a strong urge to cry or scream out.

"No, Esyld." Jora said steeling her resolve, and turned to face Oro.

"Has something happened?" Oro asked with great concern.

"Yes." Jora replied meekly, and came to her knees at his feet. Her face was downturn for several moments, before her dark eyes met Oro's.

I could see Oro's anger growing as tears slipped down her face, he looked over at me, and my own expression cracked under his scrutiny. "When?" He demanded, bunching his hands into fists.

I stepped forward, "It was a m-mistep-."

"When!" He bellowed into Jora's face.

She leaned back onto her heels, and with great courage in the face of his anger, said "Earlier today."

Oro stood abruptly, towering over Jora, "You have come to receive my judgment, is that it?"

"Yes." Jora croaked, lowering her head to look back between her knees.

"How far did it go?" Oro asked, once again looking to me.

"Only a kiss. Short lived-." I began.

Oro grunted, his lips forming a thin line as he growled at Jora. "You seem to think it is your place to touch what is not yours..."

"Oro-." I begged.

"Quiet!" Oro exploded, "Your Bekci came for my judgment, and she will have it!" He started to cross the bedchamber towards his long iron chest.

I ran over in front of him, dropping to his feet, and clutched at his thighs, "Please, Eş, hear me." I begged.

Oro's chest was heaving, as he nodded.

Tears leaked from my eyes, "I had fallen into the road, a c-cart came close to-. She saved me, Oro, in the intense moments that followed, yes she kissed me." Before Oro could interject my voice rose and I gripped him tighter, "We drew the line, we knew it would never happen again."

"If you knew it would never happen again, why did you hide it from me?" He snarled, looking down at me with a looming sadness.

"I did not want to hurt you." I wept, my scarred knees bruising against the hard wood.

Seeing my discomfort, Oro raised me up by the arms, and guided me to the bed. "Is this true Jora? Do not think to lie to me." His voice was every bit of a commanding leader.

"Yes, on my honor. I overstepped my liberty more than once, Majohr, and I fear I cannot be trusted from failing you both again." Jora divulged, getting up from her knees to face Oro.

With a heavy hand on my thigh, Oro grimaced, "Leave us."

"Majohr?" Jora questioned.

"Get out of my sight!" He insisted heatedly. Jora quietly left, and then it was just Oro and I alone in the room. I was trembling with stress as Oro now leaned in front of me, his hands on my thighs, and looking up into my face.