Gay Harem

Lover Number 6.4

Li Jie's mind was clouded with conflicting emotions as he reluctantly succumbed to Valerian's advances. It was not love or attraction that guided him, but a sense of duty and obligation as the crown prince. The weight of the emperor's orders hung heavily upon him, demanding that he treat his concubines with care and attention.

As their lips met once again, Li Jie couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Each touch, each caress from Valerian reminded him of a love he had lost, a love that still held a powerful grip on his heart. The memory of Parsa, his deceased lover, haunted him, a ghostly presence that overshadowed his interactions with Valerian.

Valerian, unaware of the internal turmoil within Li Jie, continued his seductive gestures, his lips and tongue skilled in the art of pleasure. The concubine's actions were met with compliance rather than genuine reciprocation. Li Jie went along with it, his body responding mechanically, his mind elsewhere.

Caught between the expectations of his duty and the lingering grief for his lost love, Li Jie felt trapped in a world of contradictions. He knew he had to please Valerian, to give him the attention and affection he craved. But with every intimate touch, a sense of hollowness echoed within him.

Valerian's eyes glittered with desire as he leaned closer, his voice a seductive whisper. "My prince," he breathed, his words laced with longing. "Allow me to fulfill your deepest desires, to be your solace in this realm of shadows."

Li Jie's gaze met Valerian's, his eyes clouded with sorrow and resignation. He hesitated for a moment, the words of his deceased lover echoing in his mind, warning him against trusting easily. But the weight of his duty and the need for temporary escape prevailed, and he nodded in silent agreement.

Valerian's smile deepened, a glint of triumph dancing in his eyes. He reveled in the power he held over the crown prince, aware that his every whim was being granted. He took Li Jie's compliance as a sign of victory, fueling his desire and determination to unravel the prince's emotions.

Valerian's grin widened as Li Jie led him to the empty bedroom adjacent to his own. The concubine's excitement grew, mistaking the prince's actions as a sign of further intimacy. Unaware of the heavy burden weighing on Li Jie's chest, Valerian eagerly followed, his thoughts consumed by the prospect of indulging in the desires that had been building between them.

As they entered the dimly lit room, Li Jie released Valerian's hand and turned away, his back facing the concubine. His shoulders slumped, betraying the weight of his conflicted emotions. He couldn't bear the thought of sharing the same bed with Valerian, not when the memories of his love for Parsa still haunted him.

Valerian's enthusiasm faltered for a moment, sensing the shift in Li Jie's demeanor. He approached cautiously, his voice laced with concern. "My prince, is something the matter?"

Li Jie wanted to stop but then he got reminded of his father's words this morning.

* * *

As Li Jie entered his father's private garden, he immediately sensed the tension in the air. The emperor's stern gaze met his, piercing through his defenses. The weight of his father's disapproval bore down on him, causing his face to pale and his heart to race.

"Father, I..." Li Jie's voice faltered, uncertainty gripping his words. The thought that his father had spies monitoring his personal affairs struck him like a cold gust of wind. Could his actions have been witnessed firsthand?

The emperor's warning tone cut through the silence, conveying his anger without the need for further words. His eyes, refusing to meet Li Jie's, revealed the depths of his disappointment and frustration.

"He didn't want to," Li Jie stammered, averting his gaze, unable to face his father's disapproving stare. "I can't force a relationship with someone who doesn't desire it, imperial father."