I visited my wife the next day. Bereyar wanted to make love again, but she was too sore. That didn't prevent me from bringing her to orgasm with my fingers, lips, and tongue. She was thrilled.
She insisted on returning the favor. For a virgin (until last night), she was remarkably well-informed about matters of the bedchamber. She licked and kissed my penis, and finally took it between her lips.
She could only fit the first two inches into her mouth. When I suggested that she could also use her hand, she thanked me. In terms of technique, she was nowhere near a match for, say, Avadi. But as the recipient of her attentions, I can attest to the fact that affection rivals or beats technique most every time.
She swallowed every drop of my ejaculate without hesitation. Then she sat in my lap, and wrapped her arms around me.
- "Where did you learn ... so much?" I asked her.
- "My mother is shy." said Bereyar. "But Father's concubine taught me a great deal. She answered all of my questions - in great detail." She smiled, revealing that endearingly chipped tooth. "I asked quite a few questions."
- "Your enthusiasm is ... infectious." I said.
- "I should hope so!" she said. "I know that we are expected to produce children. But that doesn't mean that we can't enjoy the process."
- "You are wise beyond your years."
Her smile faded. "Are you mocking me?"
- "Not at all. That was admiration. I knew that you were intelligent, Bereyar - but you
are
wise as well."
- "It's not
that
wise." she said. "I want you to enjoy being with me. I hope that I'll please you enough that you'll come to my bed more often. I just accept the facts: in time, you'll have second and third wives. And you have concubines."
- "None of them are like you." I told her. "You are one of a kind."
- "That's my goal. I won't be able to monopolize your attention. But that doesn't mean that I can't
try
."
"My mother gave up too soon. When Father took a second wife, she was happy. She didn't enjoy being pregnant. She stopped trying to gain his attention at all."
- "She was lonely?" I asked.
- "In the end, yes. Very lonely. Then she tried to use guilt, to make my father pay attention to her. It only drove him further away."
- "Tell me about your family." I suggested.
- "Really?"
- "Yes, please."
It was amazing to listen to Bereyar. Highly conscious of her audience - me - she tried to tailor her account to suit my interests. She told amusing anecdotes, and skipped over details which she thought might bore me.
When I asked questions, she was happy to fill in the picture for me. While she talked, I made an interesting discovery.
I liked my wife.
Oh, I found her attractive, and couldn't wait to bed her again. It might be too early to speak of love, though I was definitely
in
love with her. I simply enjoyed her company. The sound of her voice, the light in her eyes, her enthusiasm ... all of it. I could only hope that she would be as happy with me.
We made love - twice - the following day. And twice the day after that. The next day, we only had intercourse once, but she insisted on taking me into her mouth as well.
- "How else will I improve, if I don't practice?" she asked. I couldn't argue with her logic.
A day later, she wanted to experiment with new positions. She enjoyed being on top, but discovered that she loved being taken from behind, with my hands on her hips, or reaching around to squeeze the firm cones of her breasts.
I also showed her the position Semira had taught me, where she sat atop my thighs, facing me. Though the penetration was not so deep, she approved of the intimacy and closeness. I could delay my own orgasm indefinitely in that position.
A week after the wedding, Bereyar's enthusiasm for love-making was only increasing. When I arrived in her chamber, she greeted me with a cry of "Oh, good - you're here!", and began to disrobe immediately, looking back at me over her shoulder with a huge grin.
- "You could let me do that." I said.
- "Take my clothes off?" she asked. It was too late - she was naked. "I'm sorry. I didn't think of that. It might be fun to ... leave some mystery, from time to time. Is that what you mean?"
- "Exactly." I made her get dressed all over again. That in itself was very pleasurable to watch. Then I proceeded to kiss her and caress her through her clothes, for the longest time. I brought her to orgasm with my fingers before removing even a single article of clothing.
I continued to tease her, until she was ready to climb the walls. By the time I had her on her back, with my face between her legs, she was approaching a second climax. When I finally penetrated her, Bereyar let out a deep sigh of satisfaction.
- "I will trust you more, in future, husband." she promised. "You
do
know what you're doing."
It would be incorrect to give the impression that we spent every moment having sex. We lay together, resting, for long periods of time. I took many meals with her, as well. Not all of them, by any means - I didn't want her to expect that I would eat with her
every
night. I knew that I wouldn't be able to sustain that indefinitely.
But we talked a great deal. Her childhood and upbringing were safe subjects. Likewise we could discuss the city, the water project, poetry, and a host of other topics - but I tried to steer clear of Bishkur's childhood, for fear of making a mistake.
That kind of evasion left me feeling a little morose. I was entirely enamored with Bereyar, yet I was lying to her. I wasn't who she thought I was. Bishkur might have been right when he said that she was better off with me. But it still bothered me to be dishonest with her.
Bereyar was already far too adept at reading my moods.
- "Have I displeased you?" she asked. "Have I disappointed you, in some way?"
I smiled at her. "Not in the least." I said. "You are a constant delight."
- "But if I did annoy you - would you tell me?"
- "I believe that I could. Though I find it hard to imagine you disappointing me."
She grew serious, then. "Will you always tell me the truth, Bishkur?"
That was cutting too close to the bone. I chose to tell her the truth - in this case. "No, Bereyar. I cannot promise that. There will be Palace secrets which are best left unsaid. Some are dangerous. But I can swear this: I will never lie about my feelings for you."
That was less than ideal, and we both knew it. But Bereyar did not hold it against me.
- "Forgive me." she said. "I should not have asked. You have known me for so short a time. I should not have presumed."
- "Presume away." I told her. "If you do not mind being told 'No' from time to time, I will not object if you ask any questions you wish."
A few days later, we had been making love, and were still wrapped together in a tangle of arms and legs when I saw her smiling.