Happy Together

Marionette

Victoria’s expression softened further, and she leaned in closer, resting her forehead against his. “I don’t see a monster when I look at you, Alistair. I see a man who’s been through hell and still has the courage to care, to feel, to love. That’s who you are to me. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Her words pierced through the darkness, and for the first time, Alistair felt a flicker of hope. He tightened his arms around her, holding her as though she were the only thing tethering him to the world. “You make me feel like I can be better,” he whispered.

“You already are,” Victoria replied softly, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips.

The kiss was different this time—not rushed or passionate, but full of unspoken promises. Alistair let himself melt into it, allowing the fear and self-doubt to fade, if only for a moment. When they finally pulled back, Victoria rested her head against his chest, and he held her, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.

“Just take it one step at a time,” she murmured. “We’ll figure it out together.”

Alistair nodded, his grip on her tightening slightly. “Together,” he echoed, the word feeling foreign yet comforting on his tongue.

For the rest of the evening, they stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms. Alistair still felt the shadow of Lucius lurking at the edges of his mind, but this time, he believed he might not have to face it alone.

Morning came as the couple were on the couch wrapped in a tender embrace. Victoria was the first to rouse her hips pushing back into him feeling his member hard and pressing against her. He woke with a low guttural growl his voice deep his left hand gripping her hip tightly. “MMMMMMMRGHH…” he grunted “Good morning.” he said his hand sliding forward and up to her stomach as she moaned slightly. “Don’t start what you can’t finish.” he said. She felt the sound rumble through his chest to her back and she felt safe.

“Can I tell you something? I know what it’s like to feel hurt and like you aren’t in control.” Victoria said sheepishly. Pulling her closer his head buried in the back other nest of hair. “I’m listening.” his breath on the back of her neck his voice deep in her ear he stiffened a bit and his hand twitched slightly. “So I used to date the manager of Journeys at the mall. His name was DJ. We were on vacation and he took me to a porn theatre. We sat and he started to play with me." Her voice was tentative and sheepish as she told her story. His left arm tensed as his right arm under her held her shoulder tightly. “MMMM HMM” his acknowledgement of her statement was a sound that was rough and carried a different weight than before. “He wanted me to try these things called poppers and put a bottle under my nose and told me to breathe deeply. I felt strange and then I found myself being touched by other guys. I didn’t want it or like it but I am awkward and the way I respond when I am like that is to go with it and pray it is over quickly. He filmed it and laughed as I quietly cried as man after man had their way with me.” her voice shook as she spoke. He inhaled sharply through his nose growling deeply. “And where is he now?” he asked, his voice cold and deep as the sea. There was a hint of anger,malice and concern. He works in Mililani at Spectrum. He went silent, his arms relaxing, his head nestled in her hair. They laid there a bit longer.shifting his position he hugged her tightly and Kissed the back of her neck. “He will never hurt you again I promise,” he said sweetly, his voice deep and caring. Victoria’s eyes opened wide as a sense of dread washed over her, her body stiffening a bit as the realization that the feeling of warmth and safety she just felt was from Lucius.

Alistair—no, Lucius—continued to hold her, his hand gently stroking her back as though nothing had changed. The contrast between the dangerous presence she knew Lucius to be and the unexpected tenderness he showed now was almost too much for Victoria to process. Her smile remained fixed on her face, but her thoughts raced wildly.

“Did you sleep well?” Lucius asked, his tone light and genuine, but that deep edge in his voice was unmistakable.

“Yeah,” Victoria said softly, her words careful. She nestled closer, as if leaning into the lie could make it true. Her head rested on his chest, and she could feel his heartbeat—steady, calming, but completely unlike Alistair’s usual rhythm.

“That’s good,” Lucius murmured, his fingers trailing absentmindedly through her hair. “You need rest after the week you’ve had. It’s been... eventful.”

Victoria swallowed hard, choosing her next words cautiously. “It really has been.” She tilted her head slightly to glance up at him, her smile faltering for just a moment. “You’re... different this morning.”

Lucius smirked faintly, his eyes meeting hers. “Am I?” he asked, his voice tinged with amusement.

“You are,” Victoria said, her tone steady but her heart racing. “You feel... I don’t know. Calmer. Softer, even.”

For a moment, Lucius said nothing, his expression unreadable. Then, he let out a low chuckle. “Well, maybe it’s the company. You have a way of soothing even the most restless parts of me.”

Victoria felt a shiver run down her spine at the implication in his words. She forced herself to stay calm, not wanting to trigger anything unpredictable. “Maybe,” she said lightly, her head still resting on his chest.

Lucius’s hand paused its gentle strokes through her hair, and she felt him shift slightly beneath her. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, Victoria,” he said quietly, his voice taking on a more serious tone.

Her breath caught, and she hesitated before replying. “I’m not afraid,” she lied, her voice soft.

Lucius tilted her chin up with a finger, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. “Don’t lie to me,” he said, though his tone wasn’t harsh—it was almost... understanding. “I know you’re afraid. And maybe you should be. But I meant what I said —I’ll protect you. Always.”

Victoria blinked, her throat tightening at the sincerity in his words. It was disarming, unsettling even, to hear Lucius speak with such conviction. She nodded slowly, unsure of how else to respond.

“Good,” Lucius said simply, his hand dropping back to her waist. “Now, why don’t we make breakfast? Alistair will be back eventually, and I deserve time with you too. Plus I have more questions.”

The casualness of his tone caught Victoria off guard, and she let out a small, nervous laugh. “Sure,” she said, sitting up and trying to compose herself.

As Lucius got up and headed to the kitchen, Victoria stayed on the couch for a moment, her mind whirling. The line between Alistair and Lucius seemed to be blurring in ways she couldn’t have anticipated, and while Lucius’s current demeanor felt safe, she couldn’t shake the underlying tension.

With a deep breath, she stood and followed him, determined to navigate this precarious new dynamic as best she could. For now, she would play along, dancing like a marionette but the question still lingered in her mind: Was Lucius’s tenderness genuine, or was it just another layer of danger he had yet to uncover?