I Desire You

Shuri stood in the center of the room she’d been residing in during her time in Talokan. Shortly after arriving in the underwater kingdom with Riri, Namor had given the two young women separate quarters. Riri’s place was akin to a prison cell—just slightly cozier. And it had been made so at Shuri’s insistence. She refused to allow Riri to come to any harm or suffer unnecessary discomfort while they were here and Namor had honored every single demand Shuri made on behalf of Riri. Meanwhile, Shuri was given a grander room, far from the cavern where Riri slept and a mere stone’s throw from the private quarters of the feathered serpent god, K’uk’ulkan.

“A place worthy of royalty,” Namora had told her. “It is K’uk’ulkan’s wish to see you honored in your full glory as princess of Wakanda.”

Shuri balked at the change in accommodations—especially after seeing the clothes that K’uk’ulkan had placed in the room for her. Every dress was dripping with pearls, jade, feathers, gold, and Vibranium. There were more colors visible than necessary for the mere three days that Shuri had been here. All the dresses gave her the impression of a trousseau, but she shook the thoughts away, hoping that Namor was simply a generous host.

Shuri had just returned from touring the capital city for a second time and had desperately needed to change her clothes after being stuck in that cumbersome, funky diving suit for hours. As ungainly as American technology happened to be, it was still more than worth it to float in the suit—which was clunkier than an American car—in exchange for a second glimpse of Talokan. Shuri’s heart was still racing from the experience. Talokan was nothing short of dazzling.

As she slipped on a robe and began looking at the bevy of clothes Namor had sent to her, she heard his voice from behind her. “It’s a shame to see you covered at all. Your skin is beautiful, Princess.”

Shuri gasped, clutching her robe shut as she turned to face him. Her hands quickly fastened it closed before moving to her hips in a defiant posture. “I’m changing! What are you doing?”

“Is it so wrong to look at you, Princess?”

“I haven’t invited you in and I sure as Bast wouldn’t call for you while I’m getting dressed!”

Namor approached her. His hand snaked around Shuri’s waist, feeling the curve where her hip met her abdomen. “‘Keep me instead,’” he whispered. “Those were your exact words not more than two days ago, Princess.”

Shuri felt her chest tighten as Namor brought his other hand to her cheek, stroking her radiant face as he continued. “You offered yourself to me.”

“Yes, but…,” Shuri squeaked out.

“You’re young Princess; do you understand what it means to give yourself to a man?”

“Don’t condescend to me,” Shuri says, her tone biting.

“I know you’re an untouched maiden,” Namor whispered, still caressing her face. “I accepted your offer; now you’re mine. Mine to enjoy, mine to keep, mine to treasure.”

Shuri felt sweat forming on her face. Namor’s hands are on her body and he’s closer to her than anybody has ever been before. She shifts nervously and inches away, but she quickly feels her back press against the cave wall and Namor closes the minuscule distance between them in the space of half a heartbeat.

“Princess,” he murmurs, “I want your virtue.”

“What—?” Shuri tries to question, but Namor silences her by claiming her mouth with a kiss. His tongue is ravenous as it explores her mouth and connects with her own. She’d never been kissed like this before. Shuri feels heat from his body pressing against her and the urge to explore it further. Horrified at her own curiosity, she shoves him away. “Stop!”

Namor eyes her for a moment, his gaze traveling down to her wrist. It still bears his mother’s bracelet. “I am the god-king of this realm. You cannot command me here in Talokan, Princess. And you’ve already consented by accepting my mother’s bracelet,” he gestures to her wrist.

“Tonight, and for every day onward, I will have you.”

“Have me?!” Shuri scoffs, incredulous.

“Such an innocent question,” Namor teases. “This innocence of yours…I shall remedy it.”

Namor turns to summon his servants. “See to the princess’ care. Bathe her, adorn her with nothing less than the dress of royalty, and bring her to me,” he said the last words as he turned back to face Shuri, “for dinner.”

“Am I some morsel to be devoured?”

“Now you’ve got the right idea, Princess.” He caressed her cheek again. “Tonight’s dinner is merely an appetizer; you’re the main course and the dessert.”

Shuri glared at him as he continued. “Tonight, you’ll become a woman—my woman.”

“I refuse,” Shuri said plainly.

“You have no choice.”

***

Shuri is dressed in orange, a color that the maids claimed would compel K’uk’ulkan to reach the peak of his arousal. “He prefers these colors when he paints. They make him passionate and remind him of the sun,” they explain.

Shuri had half a mind to tear the dress off and throw it to the ground, but she suspected Namor would take that as an invitation to her body. “I spit on the colors he loves because he loves them!” she hisses at the maids.

“Should I translate that, Princess?”

“Shush, Griot!” The last thing Shuri needed was for Griot to make things more unpleasant. It was bad enough that he could only translate for her through her earrings. If she had her full Kimoyo bracelet, she might be able to contact her mother or escape. She made a note to herself to upgrade her earrings’ range and capabilities as soon as she was back in Wakanda.

Namor was waiting for her. He stood like a gentleman to receive her when she approached the table. “Eat,” he commanded. “I’ll not have it said that you were starved and mistreated in my realm.”

“No,” Shuri said as she rolled her eyes. “You’re such a gracious host. You’d never deny food or finery. I don’t expect to suffer any indignity from a lack of dresses and jewelry. The dishonor of despoilment, however, is another thing entirely.”

“I have not—!” Namor started to say.

Shuri was quick to cut him off. “But you will! Isn’t that what you just said hours ago?”

Namor’s face twists with disgust, “You misunderstood me, Princess.”

“Then clarify,” Shuri spat back.

“You told me to keep you and I accepted by giving you my mother’s bracelet. It’s the symbol of a promise made to my family and Talokan. Now, in the eyes of my heritage, you’re positioned to take your place as my wife. And a husband and wife must fulfill their union. It is a sacred act between connected souls.”

Shuri felt her stomach drop and her head began to spin with anxiety. She desperately wanted to lie down and could barely understand how she managed to stay standing after the shock his words served her.

“Wife!? Oh, Bast! I didn’t know that’s what I was agreeing to! And our souls can’t be connected so fast. It takes more than a few days’ worth of gifts, meals, and a couple tours of Talokan. It takes….much more than all of that!”

“I’ll not leave you with your maidenhood and have you for a wife. Such a thing is… simply not possible,” Namor said. It will not be said that K’uk’ulkan neglects his husbandly duties. When the marriage comes into being, all efforts must be made to—.”

“I didn’t know I was consenting to be your wife! I just wanted to protect Riri and keep peace between our nations.”

“You will not have me?” Namor questioned. His tone was edged with bitterness and his gaze, something else. Perhaps sadness.

“I don’t know you well enough to accept you,” she said quietly.

Namor turned away suddenly and Shuri felt every part of her body tense. “Please eat, Princess. Excuse me.” He left the table quickly and disappeared into the surrounding waters.

***

Later that night, Namor came to the chamber where Shuri was staying. He entered the room while she was lying in her hammock, staring at the glow worms on the cavern ceiling.

Shuri tensed, half in eager curiosity and half in fear. She didn’t want him to go too far, but she did want to re-experience his touch. “Have you come to make good on your threats?” She asked.

“Please rise, Princess.“ He extended a hand to her with two items: Kimoyo beads and an envelope bearing the Vibranium seal of Queen Ramonda. “I’ve contacted your mother and asked for her permission to court you in hopes that we’ll unite our nations through a marriage alliance.”

“You did what!?” Shuri said as she lifted herself from the hammock. She takes the letter and beads quickly and starts reading, her eyes widening with each line. “My mother says she’ll allow me to choose whether or not I want to be courted for an alliance and that you’ve agreed to return my Kimoyo beads so that I can choose to stay or leave at my discretion.”

“Yes,” Namor said. You don’t have to stay here with me now, but I hope you will. I can still court you if you choose to return to Wakanda, but I’d like to show you more of Talokan. Chaac willing, it will be your home someday, should you accept my offer. I hope you’ll come to love it as I do.”

Shuri was touched—even shocked. “I…never expected this.”

“I heard your words at dinner, Princess. I apologize. I assumed many things of you, and spoke force and fear into what I only wish to breathe hope into. You aren’t obligated to stay, nor accept my offers and forgive me. But if there’s a hope of having you, I will do what I can to nurture it. And let it be known, I desire you as a man desires a woman. As the flower craves the sun’s light, I desire you.”

Shuri shivers at his words. Her heartbeat pulses with the speed of a hummingbird’s wings and she freezes as she feels true arousal awaken within for the first time.

“Rest well, Princess. My servants are here for your every need.” Namor turned to leave.

Shuri stared after him in awe. He’d not only listened, but apologized and sought her mother. He gave her the option to choose what happens next. He supplied her beads so she could make decisions and communicate without him if she chose.

She considers this new information as she stands alone in the grand room full of gifted dresses, clutching the keys to her freedom in her shaking hands.

“Namor…perhaps, we really did misunderstand each other before.”