Gen's eyes widened slightly at the sudden shift in conversation, his professional composure wavering under the influence of alcohol and unexpected intimacy. He shifted back on the cushion instinctively.
"Your Majesty, please," he said firmly but respectfully. "You are not yourself tonight. The wine has addled your judgment."
Despite his words, his gaze lingered on her face longer than necessary before snapping back to neutral territory. The candlelight caught the glimmer of sweat on his brow from the heat of the chamber.
"Your husband is the Emperor," Gen reminded her gently but with finality. "And I am your sworn general. Loyalty requires distance between us.""Distance?" She laughs.... " Don't be so boringly dreadful.you know are good looking. You think I didn't notice how you stared at my behind sometimes?" She hinted confidently gulping more wine. Cheng's confidence surged with each gulp of wine, emboldening her to cross boundaries she normally respected. She set the vase down with a thud and rose from her seat, swaying slightly toward Gen.
"You can pretend all you want that you're just a dutiful servant," she purred, circling him like a predator assessing its prey. "But I see how your eyes follow me when you think I'm not looking. How they linger on my hips or the way my gowns fit."
Her silk robes slipped off one shoulder as she moved, revealing smooth skin beneath. "So don't act like this is one-sided admiration. You want me just as much as I want to be wanted by someone besides my useless husband."
Cheng's fingers traced along the exposed curve of her collarbone, her touch deliberate and teasing. "I've seen the way you train with the younger recruits, showing them how to hold their swords. So strong, so disciplined." Her voice dropped to a husky whisper. "Yet here you sit like a statue, afraid to admit what your body knows."
She knelt before him on the cushions, bringing her face level with his. The scent of wine and jasmine perfume filled the space between them. "Tell me honestly, General. When you watch me dance at court festivals or bathe in the royal pools - does your heart race? Do you imagine touching what belongs to another man?"
Her hand rested lightly on his knee, a gesture meant to test his resolve. Outside the chamber windows, palace guards changed shifts for the night watch while inside Cheng's private world spun with forbidden possibilities.
Gen's resolve wavers as he looks at her. He pushes the cushion backwards and stands up. " My mistress this is not right" he stutters.
Cheng's chuckled mockingly "Are you now seriously having a conscience? After all the forbidden things we have done . After you sent your assassins to Bella? After following to confirm she was dead?". She struts closer to him.
"My dear, we are way birds of the same feather." She smirks as she her robe falls to the floor exposing her curves, leaving a little to the imagination even with her under garments on. She bored him with her lustful intoxicated gaze. " We both need a reward. "
Gen's breath hitched as Cheng's robe slid to the floor, revealing the delicate lace of her undergarments. His military training screamed at him to retreat, to remind her of her duties and his oaths of loyalty. Yet his body betrayed him, eyes tracing the curves of her hips and the swell of her breasts visible through sheer fabric.
"You speak of rewards," he managed, voice strained.
Despite his words, his gaze remained locked on her form, drinking in the sight of skin flushed pink from wine and arousal. His hands clenched into fists at his sides to resist reaching for her.
Cheng laughed softly, stepping closer until their bodies nearly touched. "The reward of finally feeling alive again," she whispered against his chest. "Of having someone who desires me for myself, not for my title or connections."
" Are you saying you don't want me?" Cheng pouts innocently , as she smoothly wraps her hands around his neck, pulling him to her.
"My empress, you are drunk!" Gen stuttered. "Fine!" Cheng surrendered annoyed. She pull from him and turns away.
"Just so you know, you are never getting this opportunity again". She hiccupped as she bents down to pick her discarded robe. Gen gulped as his gaze falls to the ground of her behind.
"Fuck!" He exclaimed. "Come here!" He spins Cheng to himself.
Gen pulled her undergarments down as he began to kiss her.
Gen's rough hands tugged the delicate lace down her thighs, exposing Cheng completely to his hungry gaze.
He followed the motion with his mouth, trailing hot kisses along her inner thigh as he knelt between her legs on the bed.
"Ah—" Cheng arched into his touch instantly, fingers tangling in his dark hair to guide him higher. "Yes, there—that's where you've been hiding all this passion".
Her voice was thick with wine and arousal as she spread her legs wider for him.
She writhed beneath his expert attention, hips lifting off the mattress involuntarily.
"You learn fast for someone who claimed innocence moments ago," she teased breathlessly between moans. "Who taught you how to please a woman so thoroughly?"
Her nails dug into his shoulders as he explored every inch of sensitive skin with lips and tongue.
Outside their private world, they were unaware a figure was watching them with astonishment.