Thornback Lover: A Dark Romance

A tasteful dinner

Aribeth

A tasteful dinner

Once I am dressed, I groan realizing, I don’t know where we are going to eat or even what we will eat! I have been eating in my room the last few days and I can’t do that with Charles. I really did not think this through. When he comes to retrieve me from my bedroom, I am pleased to see he looks as amazing as ever and thankfully not wearing all black. He beams at me as he enters my sitting room. “I am so glad you sent that letter. I must apologize I have been quite busy as of late and neglected you.” I smile meekly at him still trying to think of what we will eat for dinner.

“I am happy you could join me as well, though I must confess… I did not plan anything for dinner.” I admit. He frowns thoughtfully.

“I can have a runner sent to the kitchen to prepare us something and we can have dinner in the garden.” Perking up at the suggestion, I had forgotten about the garden. I wonder if it’s as beautiful as it was that night. I hope so.

“That sounds lovely. Lead the way.” Bridget accompanies us staying a respectful distance away, we arrive at the garden as dusk starts to overtake the sky, so fae light have begun to appear, providing more light. I see that a few others have chosen to take their evening meals here as well. One being the King. I can feel Bridget’s aura practically giggle behind me. The Kings aura begins to spill from him as our eyes reach each others. He was hiding from me then; I have never met a person who can hide their aura like that, and it frightens me. When I look at him, he only looks at me passingly, not seeming to care that I am here. Once we are seated, I can’t help glancing at him, thankfully he never glances back at me. He just sits eating alone. I feel bad and annoyed Ver doesn’t even glance at me. Taking a deep breath, I try to relax.

I am here with my love, the man I have always loved. I am getting what I wanted!

“So, the King says you looked at a contract, but you requested it to be sent in writing in the person’s hands instead of a scribes?” Charles asks as our drinks are being poured.

“Yes, it seemed very old too, the traces of the writers’ intentions were all ones that point to scribes.” I lean in closer. “Do you know what it says?” He shakes his head in response.

“No that is the one the king has been trying to negotiate for a while and it has eaten up all of his time. That and why your father and I are taking care of the others. I am curious as to what it says.” I nod, I am too. It seems very mysterious when it should not be it is a simple labor contract or goods. What could he be hiding? I don’t need to think about it, about him. I push Ver from my mind and fill it with thoughts on Charles instead.

“How have you been doing? Do you think the King will bring you on permanently?”

“Yes, in a different capacity. I am assisting him with… other matters.”

“How exciting, what matters?” He sighs heavily.

“I cannot discuss them, but I think I will be able to help bring happiness to those who may not have known it before and a type of freedom that is not allowed to all.” I smile, he is always so noble, but I have felt the heaviness of his soul. It’s filled with so much worry, it seems more than anyone would have. I have not dared dive into his thoughts, I want him to tell me himself. I want him to trust me to unburden himself.

“I feel you are worried, is there anything I can do to help lift your burden?” He wants to say something but holds back and simply smiles reaching across the table to hold my hand.

“No, I am sorry you have to feel my worry. You are too happy of a person to be weighed down by me.” He rubs my knuckles lightly with a finger absentmindedly. My heart swells at the thoughtless gesture, he does care for me. I will forever cherish this moment, him touching me in such an intimate way.

“You need not worry, you always worry. I am use to it. If I can relieve a burden, please let me know.” I lay my other hand on top of his own, but he only smiles politely. And then his face lights up.

“So, tell me what your mother was thinking making you wear that dress of her’s the other day?”

Aribeth

Once we finish dinner, he walks me back to my chambers and I feel like I am walking on air. His blue eyes were filled with amusement all of dinner as we spoke of my mother. We are still laughing down the hallways even now. Once we are at my door, we both linger, Bridget is still a respectful distance, but she is not looking our way.

“I had a great night Aribeth. You bring so much light and laughter into my world.”

“Thank you, Charles,” I slip his name while smoothing out my dress from invisible wrinkles. “We must make this a habit.” I smile at him. I can’t read his face in the dim light of the hallway, so I open my senses. He is worried and… nervous. Peeking behind me he sees the maid looking at nothing in the distance.

“We must,” he agrees “Good night.” He quickly bends down and kisses me on the lips and before I know it, he is turned around walking away.

“Good night,” I shudder as Bridget walks over rolling her eyes. Opening the door for her I bow, “My apologies my queen.” She simply snorts walking in. As she helps me out of my dress into my nightgown, I am lost in thought of the quick kiss. Each time I think of it, a smile graces my lips. When Bridget disappears to her quarters I fall onto the bed, the happiest I have ever been.

Aribeth

I can’t sleep no matter how hard I try. I feel so giddy! Charles kissed me! He kissed me! Waving my hand I cast out a few fae lights and sit up in my bed. I should write him a letter telling him my feelings, so he won’t be so nervous. Shifting the covers off me I catch the dusty pink dress at the end of my bed. I redden thinking of wearing it and only that with Charles, my love.

Smiling I jump out of bed. I want to try it on. I can send a letter declaring my feelings and maybe he will come back… and I could wear this, with a robe of course. I feel so cheeky! Throwing off my nightgown I slip the dusty pink one on, I am wearing no undergarments so I am sure it will be loose, but it fits perfectly, and is perfectly molded to my body. I notice two large slits in the front, ending at my hips that open up when I walk. It is not something to be seen in public with that is for sure, but I cannot deny its beauty. Twirling around I watch as it flares open, pure joy pooling out of me and filling the room.

I sigh heavily admiring it in the mirror. I should return this… tomorrow though, tonight I will enjoy it. Walking over to my desk the fae lights begin to flicker. I am not the best with them, so I call them into my hand and just focus on one. It still flickers and then dies out. Okay, I will light a candle then. An uneasy feeling washes over me, and I freeze. I am being watched.

“Bridget?” I call out but she doesn’t respond. Only the moonlight streams in the windows giving me some visibility, it looks like no one is in the room, but I still feel like someone is. Panicking I run back to my bed where a candle sits but I don’t make it there. Large hands grip my waist and I am pulled back into someone… male. That is when I feel him, his darkness seeps out slowly this time as if he was trying to conceal himself from me once more. However, his aura is mainly filled with hot liquid desire now and I squirm against him. I don’t want his aura to confuse my own, but he has me locked in his embrace.

His lips are pressed against my ear when he speaks, “So you deny my dinner request only to dine with someone else. I find it odd that you still wear my gift.” His voice sends delicious vibrations through me, and I almost miss that his hands are sliding down my hips and then further down my legs where the slits start. I don’t respond, I can’t my mind is frozen in place, I am doing all I can just trying to ignore his heated aura…and the way his touch is making me feel. “I guess it is good that you denied me, now I have a reason to see you… like this.” He bites my ear lightly sending glorious chills down my body and unfreezing my body a bit.

Grabbing his hands before he can move any future I finally find the nerve to speak, “Your-“

“Ver” he growls snaking his hands in the slits of my dress regardless of my efforts. His hands feel so warm on my bare thighs, and I find myself not wanting to stop him. I press on anyway; I have not dreamed of him all my life. He is not the one for me.

“Ver.” I test his name as he starts swaying us lightly. “I was merely trying the gown on. You know that Charles is courting me. You know this and still, you come here and –“ He violently grabs my face angling it towards him, freeing one thigh. I am not able to suck in a breath when his lips are on mine, hungry and demanding. Warmth fluids my body at the sensation as he sucks in my bottom lip, then biting it lightly. As a moan escapes my lips Ver quick darts his tongue in quitting it.

I… I don’t know what to think. This kiss has so much passion in it. It seems my body is moving on its own accord, and I kiss him back, my finger lancing through his hair holding him to me just as he holds me to him. This kiss is better than Charles’ and I shamefully want more. I didn’t think I ever wanted the King; he is such an asshole, but here I am kissing him in the dark. His other hand begins to slide to my core, and I can feel myself becoming wet between my thighs. Instead of trying to push in a way, I am pulling towards him.

I hear a door creak and suddenly I am alone, flushed and panting. Dim light fills the room, and it is Bridget. “Are you okay?” she asks and then sees what I am wearing. “Why on Anpauen’s green Earth would you wear that? I dare say it’s more scandals than what your mother made you wear that day.” I redden darting my eyes, looking for the King, but only find nothing but my room and Bridget.

“I just wanted to try it on, the fabric is nice. I think it just needs a nice dress underneath it.” She only eyes me, and then turns back exiting my room with a long, “Mhm”. Pressing my hand to my chest I am confused so that the King is not here filling my room and aura, he just disappeared. Walking over to my bed I lay back down underneath the covers hoping that he does not return and denying the piece of me that wants him to come back.