Chapter 20 Back home

The carriage that would take Am and her friends back home was waiting for them in front of the palace. Maeh and Maik were already aboard. Lady Charlotte said good bye to Am giving her a kiss. The duchess also invited the red haired maiden politely to come back any time she pleased to. Am turned to farewell the duke.

"Roderick, I want to thank you for all the attentions we received in this beautiful place. We had a great time... I had a great time"

"Am, I want to apologize for yesterday's imprudence. I never wanted to stalk you or bother you in any way. I want to continue enjoying of the pleasure that your friendship gives me... Please forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive. I over reacted at the situation. I am the one who has to be ashamed of my childish reaction. You are a wonderful and charming man, Roderick... I just need some time to mature in some aspects. I think I am not ready to take a decision like that this soon. But when my heart is ready, if you are the one it chooses, you will be the first one to know." Am gave the duke a soft kiss on his cheek. Lord Roderick hugged Amalthea tight and released her by kissing her tenderly in the forehead.

"I will be waiting for your answer, my sweet lady." Said the duke. Then he escorted Am to the carriage and watched with moistened eyes as cart rode away and disappeared in the distance.

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After several hours of riding, Am was finally back home. The carriage stopped in front of Am's cottage and both the driver and a servant helped taking out the luggage. Short after, Am waved good bye to the men and then the chariot left. Jocelyn was very happy to see her daughter back. She hugged Am effusively and greeted Maik and Maeh as well eager to know what had happened in Lannishire in the weeks they spent in the duke's manor.

"Oh, come inside you all. You have so much to tell me." Jocelyn urged excitedly the three to get in the cottage. Jocelyn, Maeh, Maik and Amalthea sat in the living area and drinking hot tea, they gave detailed account of their staying at the duke's palace. They told Jocelyn how charming was Lady Charlotte with them. Also they described with lots of details the beauty of Lannishire and the palace and finally narrated eagerly the happenings at the soirée. Jocelyn listened to them with enthusiasm. She felt so happy for her girl and how she had experienced so many fantastic things in such a short amount of time. Am had met a lot of important people who admired her and accepted her for whom she was, not from where she came from. Jocelyn was very proud of her Amalthea and knew Anibal was watching over his daughter with delight and guarding her from Heaven.

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Am was laying on her bed, staring at the wooden beams of her room's ceiling. Her thoughts became turmoil on her head. She had a lot to think about. How did she get in so much trouble? Maik was waiting for an answer. The duke was waiting for an answer. Both men were amazing. They were young, handsome, smart, funny, and loved her, but she didn't know what to do. Amalthea felt confused and nervous and then excited and anxious with all this. Am didn't know what she felt for Maik... and she didn't love the duke, but she enjoyed the time she'd spent with him. Each one of them was special in a different ways, and that tangled her mind even more.

Maik was so rustic and so funny. He evoked the forest, moistened grass and wood smell, and resembled the fierceness of hunting and the strength of a vigorous man. Those amethyst eyes entranced her when she was close to him. Her body experienced new things that had pleasured her. Every time she remembered that kiss in the forest, her thoughts and emotions swirled.

The sound of the door opening disconnected Am away from her reflective state. Jocelyn came and sat down next to her as she spoke.

"My dear, I know you too well to notice that something troubles you. Something happened between you and Maik... or with the duke in Lannishire?" Am looked at her mother with bewilder. How did her Mamah know? Jocelyn continued talking to Am with tenderness. "You can tell me anything, Am, I am your mother."

Am decided it was better to tell her mom everything that happened in the palace with the duke: his confession and THAT kiss in the library. "I didn't know how to react. I felt so confused. Both men are so charming and attractive... All this is puzzling me Mamah!" Am cried and covered her face. She leaned on her mother's bosom like when she was a little girl.

"Am, everything you are experiencing is normal of your age. You will feel attracted to men and your body will react in different ways you had never experienced before. But remember that you are a respectable young lady. Your soul and body will have to wait for the right man to experience with fulfillment all the pleasure and love your mate could give you. Try to organize those thoughts and feelings. You are not a girl anymore and you are almost in the age of getting married. However you have two handsome young men that pretend you. Take your time to ease those confusing feelings... or you would take a decision that you will regret for the rest of your life... Now rest. I will bring you some tea that will help you sleep." Jocelyn kissed her daughter and left the room.

Am sighed. It felt good to talk to her mother, yet confusion was tingling in her mind.

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The duke was bared chest looking at his reflection on the mirror in his alcove. Then he turned to look at his bed and how empty it appeared to him. He thought of the kiss he gave Am a few days ago and longed thinking of the red haired maiden in all her nudity playing under the silky sheets of that vacant bed.

Am tasted so sweet... the way he expected to. The way she surrendered under the stupor of the moment... He could smell her arousing and feel how her body shivered with excitement. That gave him an idea of how passionate the red haired should be in his bed and all the pleasure she could give him... He groaned at the mere image and felt his member hardening craving more from her.

The duke was an experienced man. Many gorgeous women had passed through his bed. He knew how to pleasure women in all the ways, yet he hadn't loved any of them. But this innocent maiden from the woods provoked things in him he didn't understand in all his manhood.

Amalthea's spell bounding chant wrapped around his soul and will. He was now able to give her anything she wanted to. But he knew she didn't want gold or fancy gowns or jewelry like the rest of the vane and pompous ladies he had slept with. Amalthea was special in all the ways. She was so unique that her best friend already confessed to her his love and... the prince... His fists clenched recalling how Alasther dared to menace him at his own palace.

Lord Roderick realized he had a strong rival on prince Alasther. His body tensed with the recollection of events in the soirée. But he had to remain calm and think wise. The duke knew he was not indifferent to her. That was for sure. It was just a matter of time and Am will become his wife. She will be his for the end of times.