Lost in his thoughts, Li Jie walked alongside Valerian, unaware of their destination until they stood before the grand entrance of the Crown Prince's palace. Startled, he turned to Valerian, his brows furrowing with curiosity. "How did you know the way to my palace?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of surprise and suspicion.
Valerian's lips curled into a self-assured smirk as he wrapped an arm around Li Jie's waist, drawing him closer. Their bodies pressed against each other, and Valerian reveled in the intimate contact. "My dear prince, I have studied the map of the palace extensively. I wanted to ensure that we could spend this day together undisturbed, exploring the beauty of your domain," he replied, his voice dripping with honeyed charm.
Li Jie's eyes narrowed slightly, his instincts warning him of Valerian's calculated motives. Yet, the prince chose to push aside his reservations, allowing himself to be swayed, if only temporarily, by Valerian's captivating allure. He glanced toward the guards standing at the entrance, their gazes filled with protective vigilance, their disdain for the concubine thinly veiled.
Sensing the guards' hostility, Valerian clung to Li Jie possessively, intertwining their fingers and leaning against him in a gesture of ownership. The guards acknowledged the prince with a respectful nod, their unwavering loyalty apparent, but they purposely ignored Valerian's presence, their gaze cold and unyielding.
Understanding the reason behind the guards' resentment, Li Jie sighed inwardly. He refused to let his concubines bear the brunt of the guards' disdain, especially since Huang Yiming, his childhood friend had willingly joined his harem. With a gentle scolding in his voice, Li Jie addressed the guards. "I appreciate your dedication to my protection, but I expect you to treat all members of my harem with respect. Valerian is my guest and deserves courtesy in my presence."
The guards, their expressions shifting from defiance to contrition, lowered their heads in shame. They saluted Li Jie, their silent apology implicit in the gesture, as the prince passed by with Valerian by his side. Valerian smirked triumphantly, his serpentine gaze fixed upon Li Jie, as if relishing the power he held over both the prince and those who sought to keep them apart.
Inside the opulent confines of Li Jie's private quarters, Valerian wasted no time resuming his relentless pursuit of the prince's affections. His voice took on a velvet tone, his words a delicate dance of seduction. "My prince, as the day grows older, may I request the honor of entering your chamber?" he asked, his eyes simmering with unmistakable hunger.
Caught off guard by the sudden request, Li Jie's heart quickened its pace. His mind raced, torn between the boundaries he had set and the allure of succumbing to Valerian's advances. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching Valerian's face for any sign of sincerity beneath the veneer of calculated charm.
Valerian's hand, still intertwined with Li Jie's, caressed the prince's palm with a feather-light touch. His lips curled into a sly smile as he leaned closer, his breath warm against Li Jie's ear. "Allow me to show you a world of pleasure you have yet to explore, my prince. Together, we can discover the depths of ecstasy."
Li Jie's cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink, his composure momentarily giving way to the intoxicating effect of Valerian's words. His mind raced to find a suitable response, struggling to reconcile his duty as a prince with the undeniable pull of desire. But he quickly regained his calmness, summoning the resolve to navigate this delicate dance.
Suppressing his inner turmoil, Li Jie gently withdrew his hand from Valerian's grasp, placing it in his lap as a subtle gesture of boundaries. He cast his gaze downward, avoiding the intensity of Valerian's piercing eyes. "Valerian, your words hold an undeniable allure, but we have only known each other for a day," he said softly, his voice tinged with a hint of restraint. "Before we explore such intimate realms, let us first take the time to know one another better."
Valerian's smirk deepened, his serpentine charm undeterred by Li Jie's measured response. He leaned closer, his breath caressing the prince's cheek. "Ah, my prince, you possess a wisdom beyond your years," he purred, his fingers tracing feather-light patterns on Li Jie's arm. "But I can assure you, every moment spent with me will be a revelation. Allow me to awaken the passions within you."
Li Jie's resolve wavered for an instant, his heart fluttering like a caged bird longing for freedom. The words dripped from Valerian's tongue, each one an enticement that threatened to shatter the prince's self-control. But he knew better than to succumb to fleeting desires, especially with a concubine whose true intentions remained veiled.
Summoning his inner strength, Li Jie placed a hand on Valerian's shoulder, gently pushing him back to create a slight distance between them. His voice carried a hint of firmness. "Valerian, we must exercise caution in our interactions. While I appreciate your advances, it is crucial that we build a foundation of trust and understanding before venturing into deeper waters," he asserted, his eyes meeting Valerian's with unwavering determination.
Valerian's snake-like eyes flickered momentarily, a hint of frustration masked by a seductive smile. He recoiled slightly, adjusting himself beside Li Jie, his body still radiating an air of smoldering desire. "As you wish, my prince," he whispered, his voice dripping with a mix of disappointment and lingering hope. "But I cannot deny the magnetic pull I feel towards you. Let us proceed at the pace you desire, but know that I am here, waiting to fulfill your every desire."
Li Jie felt a mix of relief and trepidation, grateful that his boundaries had been respected, yet aware of the potential danger lurking beneath Valerian's veneer of charm. Their conversation continued, the air thick with unspoken tension as Valerian's flirty banter persisted. Despite the prince's attempts to steer the conversation onto safer ground, Valerian skillfully weaved his seductive words, his every gesture and innuendo designed to test the limits of Li Jie's self-control.
As the sun began its descent, casting a warm glow across the palace, Valerian suggested they take a stroll in the moonlit garden. Li Jie hesitated, apprehensive about the implications of spending further time alone with the alluring concubine. Yet, in a moment of vulnerability, he found himself agreeing, his curiosity outweighing his reservations.
Under the shade of a blossoming tree, the prince and his concubine found respite from prying eyes. Li Jie settled onto the grass, the cool blades tickling his skin, while Valerian positioned himself beside him, their bodies almost touching. A playful glimmer danced in Valerian's eyes as he leaned his head against Li Jie's shoulder, his voice a silky caress in the prince's ear.
"Your Highness, it amazes me how your every feature radiates with an ethereal beauty," Valerian murmured, his words laced with adoration. "The heavens themselves must have wept tears of envy when they crafted such a masterpiece."
Li Jie couldn't help but be captivated by Valerian's eloquence, the sheer audacity of his compliments. The allure of this unconventional connection sparked within him, a mingling of amusement, intrigue, and a tinge of desire. It was a game, a dance of wits and attraction, and Li Jie found himself both a willing participant and a curious observer.
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, Valerian's words a tapestry of flattery and suggestive remarks. Yet, amidst the sea of flirtation, there was a glimpse of vulnerability in Valerian's eyes, a fleeting shadow that hinted at something deeper beneath the surface. Li Jie couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this enigmatic concubine than met the eye.
Just as the prince was beginning to unravel the layers of Valerian's intricate personality, the flirtatious words ceased abruptly. Darkened eyes locked onto Li Jie's, holding a raw intensity that sent shivers down the prince's spine.
"May this humble concubine dare to kiss Your Highness?" Valerian's voice was a breathy whisper, charged with anticipation.
Caught in the charged atmosphere, Li Jie's thoughts spun in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. A fleeting moment of hesitation hung in the air before he closed the distance between them, his lips meeting Valerian's in a fervent kiss.
Time seemed to stand still as their mouths melded together, a symphony of sensation and desire. Valerian's lips were soft yet commanding, his tongue expertly exploring the depths of Li Jie's mouth, igniting a fire that burned through the prince's veins. Li Jie, torn between the intoxication of the moment and the tangled web of his own complicated emotions, allowed himself to succumb to the kiss, losing himself in the passionate dance that unfolded between them.
It was a kiss that held a magnetic force, drawing them closer, erasing the boundaries that had once separated them. In that fleeting connection, Li Jie felt a spark of something deeper, a connection that transcended mere physical attraction. But as quickly as the kiss ignited, reality crashed back down upon them, and Li Jie pulled away, his face flushed with a mix of desire and confusion.
Valerian's smirking gaze met his, a knowing glint in his eyes as he brought a hand to his lips, his tongue tracing the spot where Li Jie's touch had lingered. The concubine's actions sent a shock wave through Li Jie's body, leaving him shaken and breathless.
Their moment of intimacy had awakened a dormant desire within Li Jie, but the echoes of his past and the complications of his position tugged at his conscience. With a mixture of yearning and apprehension, he looked into Valerian's eyes, unsure of what lay ahead in this intricate dance between prince and concubine.
