This chapter has been edited due to content. If you want to see the unedited version GO HERE.
SCOUTS-MANY-MARSHES
Alex Casey and I had spent the day walking around the manor. Well except for a few hours when he delivered a dead boy to his parents. It was a hard thing to love Jash at times. He had such caring for those he gave his heart to and yet there was a darkness in him that moved Daedric Princes and Divines.
Now Alex and I were in the Trophy Room where Jash displayed armor he had crafted or looted from fallen enemies. I touched a full Ebony Armor set and felt a tear go down my cheeks. Ebony was not an easy material to work with and my love had been so proud about completing a full set.
I loved him so much and wished that his had been the first face to greet me.
“The sun has gone and the moons are out, Alex.” I said and removed my claw from the armor. “Shouldn’t you contact our husband now? Or is Jash busy with the war?”
“I don’t know how to tell Jash about you.” Alex admitted. “I don’t even know how to explain it to myself. By morning I will figure something out.”
It was not ours to find fault with Alex’s decision. If it hadn’t been me who had come back to life, I would have had trouble believing it.
“I guess we better get the sleeping arrangements figured out.” I said.
In truth I wanted to feel his warmth as my mind wandered off to sleep. I could tell by the way he looked at me that there was some desire in him for me. But I also knew that pressing things could end up pushing him away for all eternity.
“I could sleep in a bedroll or one of the coffins.” I suggested and was glad to see shock hidden in Alex’s eyes.
“You’re not sleeping on the floor, Scouts.” Alex said. “You’re my husband now and Jash would do something worse than kill me if he found out you had slept on the floor. The bed is more than big enough.”
The way he had demanded I sleep with him made me feel as if I were under the summer sun. Heat and excitement began to course through my veins. If only he would soothe this ache in me tonight.
“It has been a long day.” I said with no hint of lust in my voice. “I’m ready to retire.”
Jash’s bedroom in Bloodchill Manor was extravagant. On the first floor were coffins to sleep in as well as tables made for enchanting. There were also various chests to store things in. Since Alex had been staying here I assumed it wasn’t full of my love’s usual assortment of random weapons and items he swore he would need in the future.
As I undressed for bed, I smiled at the memories of whenever he decided to go off somewhere I would organize the property I was at. Most of the time he wouldn’t notice the many items I got rid of.
When I only had breeches on, I looked to the second level. There was a fire place burning, various places to sit, mannequins wearing various outfits, and Alex wearing only his breeches. His age had not decreased how he held himself. It made every inch of him only more desirable.
The only surprising thing would be Jash not embracing such a man after I had died.
There was nothing more that I wanted than to feel Alex’s body. But if he needed some distance tonight I would take such waiting with the strength ingrained in every Saxhleel.
For it was better to be unfulfilled tonight than to never have him.
When Alex looked at me, his eyes examining every inch of me, I followed him into bed and went under the covers.
“Did Jash stay here often before the war?” I asked. “I remember him avoiding it for the most part. If he wanted to stay in Dawnstar he would spend nights in the Dawnstar Sanctuary.”
“This was his winter home.” Alex replied. “He met with his devotes on Mount Anthor, they call it Mount Kysnier in winter, and decided it was easiest to spend the nights here.”
“Do his worshipers know of his Skooma addiction?”
Jash had always been good at hiding the darker parts of his nature. He took Skooma and drank large amounts of alcohol, mainly Spiced Wine from Solitude, in order to not freeze to death. Even though he was a Daedric Prince now, I doubted that he would throw away his old habits so easily.
“They know of it but he doesn’t take any Skooma in winter.” Alex answered.
“And he limits his alcohol consumption?” I asked.
“A lot more than he would like but he knows what people expect of him.”
“It is ours to wonder if Jash commits to smithing or complaining more in such trying times.” I replied with a chuckle.
“I can’t ******* tell.”
A smile appeared on Alex’s face and his laughter joined mine. It was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. All day his face had appeared more unmovable than a mountain. Yet now all the weariness was replaced with happiness.
If only for a moment.
“I understand now.” I said and Alex’s face instantly changed to his usual guarded look.
It must be a testament for how he felt about me as the guarded look changed to one of confusion.
“You are a dryskin that puts on a front.” I began. “You want others to believe that you desire to keep others at a distance. But the truth is you only want to let others in. Yet you have been harmed so much by the world that it is safer for you to keep others out. So when you love someone, truly love someone, that is shown more strongly than most.”
I should have kept my distance. I should have given Alex time but I couldn’t help a simple gesture.
I kissed his forehead gently and then looked to make sure if he wanted me to go further.
“Not…now.” Alex said as he ran a hand down my arm. “I…I don’t want to rush things.”
“It is ours to wait patiently, then.” I agreed and made sure to distance myself slightly from him.
No comments:
Post a Comment