Return to Glory

The Aftermath

The cold air touching her neck awoke Alex, making her find that the quilt that had kept her covered almost up to her head had now fallen to the side, exposing her down to the small of her back. The unfamiliar sensation of strong arms embracing her, keeping most of her spine warm, brought back the memories of the previous night. The stickiness at her groin confirmed nothing of it had been a dream or fantasy.

Her cheek rested against Aidan's clothed neck and she could hear his deep breathing above her head. A sudden, quenching feeling invaded her chest. Despite the fact that she had only been with the blond for half a month, she had grown attached to him. She enjoyed the routine they had, like an old married couple, doing household chores and just lounging by the fire in the afternoon. And this. This encounter they had had last night had left her entire being sure that there was no one else she would connect with so easily.

But she also knew the sour truth that he was a prince who she had come to take back home, and she was a peasant who would simply go back to working on her missions the moment she received her payment for this last bounty.

She closed her eyes, nestling against the warm body beneath her. The tightness in her chest reminded her that he was, in fact, her bounty. And her need for the money would eventually surpass the moral compass that told her it would now be wrong to accept the payment, as Aidan was not a stranger or an object for whom she didn't care. And, to top it all, she was practically forcing him to return to a place he hated, to live a life he'd despise, after being so peaceful on his own for so many years. After having been shunned from that same place, by one of the closest person's in his life.

"Morning," she heard as she felt the vibration in his throat. The voice sounded as cheerful as ever. Her stomach tightened; he was happy. And she was thinking of taking him back to what he no longer considered his home.

She shook her head unconsciously, immediately hoping he'd think it was that she was waking up. "Morning," she mumbled, slowly turning her head towards his, still unable to rise from the tight grip that held her close to his chest. Not that she'd want to move away. She wondered if she had ever been as comfortable in her entire life, even while she felt her legs still open and bent at the knee as she continued to straddle him. That was definitely going to hurt today.

Emerald eyes met hers as he pulled back as best he could to be able to see her face. "Alex…" he began, expression now more serious, almost nervous, even.

"Hmm?" the brunette replied languidly. She was still a bit spent from the previous night's activity, and very much lazy in her comfort.

"Was last night good for you?" he asked, the tips of his cheeks and his elegant nose, the only skin visible under his facial hair, growing crimson. Alex smiled contentedly; they had already mumbled their shared expressions of pleasure in the aftermath. Just how insecure could this man, a prince, no less, be?

"Best lay of my life," she admitted, her tone and entire demeanor still as lax as before. She noticed after the words had left her mouth, that maybe they weren't the best pick for a common woman speaking to a noble, but the sticky fluid that adorned her insides indicated that they were far past courteous formalities. Her language wasn't suitable for a lady, either, but she had never been one to begin with.

Aidan's face grew redder, if possible, but his lips curled into a dubious smile as his arms' grip around her tightened just a bit more. The extra warmth was a welcomed sensation as she thought about how she should get dressed if she didn't want to get sick.

"What about you?" she asked, though, unlike the blond, she had no insecurities regarding this matter; he had been more than evident in his expressions of pleasure.

He averted his gaze, letting out a small, nervous laugh that made his entire chest shake under her. "Want the honest answer?"

Alex frowned; he couldn't possibly now say he hadn't liked it. "Yes," she replied flatly, now suddenly irritated.

"Okay, but no mocking me," Aidan requested, glancing at her briefly to ensure she indicated her agreement. The brunette nodded, knowing well that her annoyance had to be visible all over her features. The prince looked towards the opposite wall, twisting his face completely, but Alex could see the crimson tone. "It was the only lay of my life…" he admitted with another little nervous chuckle.

Alex watched him with suspicious eyes. He couldn't possibly be serious. Was he choosing this matter to lie to her? "Are you mocking me?" she asked, the angered tone in her voice now evident as it became slightly more high-pitched.

The emerald eyes still faced in another direction, but his skin was red-hot. "No… does it bother you?" he asked, now suddenly timid, his nervous gaze falling on her face as he turned back to check her reaction.

The brunette observed him with narrow eyes. "Of course not. But are you being serious or kidding with me?" She knew she was being insistent, but even she, with her awful manners and truly unladylike demeanor, had had her own s****l encounters with people who had been interested in her; she couldn't believe the blond hadn't had at least one person who would want to give him a try.

Her heart skipped a beat and her own face flushed red as she noticed she had basically pressured him the night before. "Oh, gods, I ended up forcing you," she stated in embarrassment, trying to get out of his embrace, but finding it growing tighter.

Aidan laughed heartily. "Alex. Stay still. You did nothing like that. Stop squirming," he insisted and Alex noticed he was much stronger than she had suspected, as it was more difficult than she would have expected to release herself from his arms. She wasn't trying as if her life depended on it, but the grip was tighter than she'd have thought he could manage. If he tried, he'd be able to give her a respectable fight.

Calming down and accepting his words as truthful, she cursed herself for how blindly she trusted him. She now became painfully aware that she would probably believe anything he told her. Glancing up at the deep, green eyes, feeling something tingle in her chest, she decided that it didn't bother her. It was time to let herself just enjoy the peace of being with someone she had quickly come to care for, and who had been nothing but perfect so far. If she was going to be vulnerable, even if it meant eventually getting hurt, she was happy to be it with him.

"Okay, I'll believe you. With everything. But how is it possible you hadn't done this before?" she asked, bewildered at the thought. Feeling the hard body beneath her, watching those green eyes, seeing that elegant nose, and knowing that the heavy facial hair did nothing to disguise his handsomeness, she couldn't believe how he didn't have lines of maidens, and a few men, begging for his attention.

"I'd like to remind you that I've been exiled here since I was a young teen," he stated, laughing heartily.

"Yeah…but you go to some town every now and then," she retorted; he had told her himself.

"To buy stuff. I spend very little time with the sellers and that is all."

"And when you've received visitors from the forest here?" Alex was sure he must have had some scenario where he'd had the chance.

Aidan again laughed and pushed a few strands of hair out of Alex's face. "Burly men lost in the woods. Not once had I received a visitor like you." His voice sounded sincere and the brunette felt herself blushing like a maiden under his soft caress.

"And no creatures from the forest?" She knew it was possibly less common, as these generally were more aggressive, but the chance of a succubus coming into the small cabin didn't seem too far fetched.

The prince shook his head in the negative. "There are protections all around the area to stop them from invading. No succubi, no vampires, no faeries," he eyed Alex with a bit more mischief, "no gnomes, no centaurs…"

The brunette laughed at the last bits. It was heartwarming to see him so relaxed with her.

Nuzzling against him, she broke eye contact and muttered, "Well, it's been an honor, then."

Aidan laughed again, hugging her close. "I wouldn't have had it any other way."

Alex smiled against his chest. She would have changed him for any of her previous partners, if she'd had the chance. Assuming there was no point crying over spilled milk, she accepted that those sub par encounters had been a road to this. "We should go clean ourselves up," she mumbled against him, though she didn't move from her comfortable position.

Nodding above her, Aidan replied, in the same, lazy voice, "We should," and they remained cuddled close together.