NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42: 42 - A Masterpiece (1.87k words)
A few days later...
As the night wore on, our bedroom turned into a quiet place for rest.
I lay there, appearing as though I'd just sparred with a tornado. My head found a refuge on Vick's chest, while my legs casually draped over Muir's chest. Completely undisturbed, Curtis drifted off with his head gently resting on my stomach. He lay upside down compared to Muir and Vick. (The position:├┴┤)
I was too tired to care about our state of undress or how we ended up in that position after we had cleaned ourselves. My body was still throbbing and sensitive, making it difficult to ignore the sensations that continued to flow through my nerves, so I just enjoyed the afterglow.
The only one who hadn't joined us was Skaris. He stayed away from our unholy activities, not interested in taking part in any way. He was probably disgusted by all this, and I wouldn't blame him. I would probably be too, if I were in his position.
The room was softly lit by illuminating pearls hanging overhead the round table, casting a gentle glow around him. Even with a blindfold, it felt like he was looking right at me.
"If you can't stand these things, why are you still here?" I whispered.
Skaris said nothing, and for a moment, I thought he would continue staring at me in silence, "My spousal mark wants me to be close to you. Whenever you are gone, my mind keeps telling me to follow you, protect you, and stay as close to you as possible."
"What a hopeless guy," I said, "Do you have any desire other than serving your spousal mark?"
He paused, a shadow crossing his face. "There is one," he replied, his voice darkening with each syllable. "Whenever I think of torturing the females from my village, my heart fills with excitement, and my blood boils. But you expect me to do the exact opposite, which just makes me hate you more. You are my enemy, and yet...my spousal mark still wants me to love you."
Skaris's spousal mark had made him a devoted follower of mine, but his rootless side still maintained a large degree of control over him.
I looked up at the ceiling, my hands running through the soft strands of hair on Curtis's head, "Well, I am glad to know you have other goals other than becoming my personal lap dog."
Skaris let out a dry laugh, "It's impossible not to think about you. Day and night, my mind spins with ways to win your affection. It makes me mad when you ignore my efforts, but I'm bound to keep trying, forced by this mark to persist in winning your heart."
"I want to say that I'm sorry, but I'm not," I admitted, "Maybe if you come to hate me enough, you can ignore the pull of your spousal mark."
Skaris said nothing and remained still for a while. Then, he got up and walked over to where we were. His steps were slow and deliberate, and I could see the inner battle he was going through with his actions. He picked my pillow from the floor.
"Can I sleep here?" he asked, placing the pillow at the free area under Curtis's head.
"No."
"...I will go away, then," Skaris said calmly, slowly returning to the table. My words seemed to weigh more heavily on him than intended, making his wolf ears drop as if he'd heard the worst news, his tail dragging so low it nearly swept the floor. His beastly features were absurdly cute compared to his usually tough-as-nails human features.
He stood in place for a long time. I could see the inner struggle between his spousal mark and his free will, and I hoped his free will would win.
"It's so damn irritating," Skaris complained about his spousal mark as he sat back behind the round table. Then, he sighed, looking down at his lap, his fingers tracing over the scars that adorned his skin. "Don't you hate how I look? I know I'm ugly. These scars ─ they make me look terrifying. It's okay, just say it."
"Yep," I admitted. "You're hideous, but honestly, next to me, you might as well be a masterpiece. I'm the real nightmare here. It's a wonder any of these guys can still stand the sight of me."
"..." Skaris remained silent, his head tilted downward as he covered his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Are you upset?" I asked, "I just confirmed what you already knew. Why do you want me to say it out loud?"
As we both stayed awake, unable to find sleep, Skaris's words echoed in the silence, adding a layer of intimacy to the night, "Because you keep calling Vick hideous, even though he is handsome and well built."
Despite the late hour, Skaris seemed to relish in our little talk. His posture reflected a hint of enjoyment as he continued, "You never picked on my looks. You even responded to my kiss without hesitation. It made me feel like you wanted me, even if I'm ugly."
"So what? I have low standards," I said, causing Vick to cover my mouth in his sleep.
A chuckle escaped Skaris's lips, his sharp canines visible in the darkness, "You have such a strange sense of humor...but I like it."
His pale, striking features seemed almost luminous against the shadows, casting an ethereal glow that enhanced the enigmatic allure of his tall, lean figure. His canine smile, flashing sharply in the dim light, seemed tailor-made for this new version of himself, adding a predatory yet playful edge that was uniquely his own.
I licked the hand covering my mouth, causing Vick to retract it and wipe it off my left breast. I was about to scold him, but then he started caressing my breast, causing me to sigh and squirm, which successfully silenced me.
I lifted my head to look to the side to see Vick still sleeping. His face was serene and innocent, completely opposite of the things his hand was doing. It was as if his hand had a mind of its own. The thought was ridiculous, but so were many things about him. I was being molested by Vick's hand, and he didn't even notice. I could stop him if I wanted, but his hands were so skillful I didn't want to.
Skaris noticed the change in my demeanor and just had to point it out aloud, "You are in heat again."
I didn't bother denying it. I could feel it. That sweet, tingling sensation was back, and it was begging to be satiated. It was like a craving, a hunger, and my body would not stop demanding for its satisfaction. The more Vick fondled me, the more my need intensified, and I had to fight to stop myself from humping his hand.
"Do you need me to relieve you?" Skaris abruptly asked.
"Don't even think about it," I said, "You despise these things anyway. Might as well save us both the trouble."
"Yes, I do," he agreed, "But it doesn't matter. I hate many things, but I have been doing them anyway. I've had worse, so this isn't even close to what I can endure. Plus, it's not like I won't get anything out of it. My body is already responding."
My eyes shifted downwards to his lap, and indeed, the evidence of his arousal was there. He was fully hard and throbbing with need, and just the sight of it made my mouth water and my core ache. I was not in my right mind, nor was Skaris, so when he stepped toward me, I stopped him, "Let's just sleep."
"Why?"
"Because I am too tired. I want to sleep," I said.
"But you're in heat, and I'm too."
"I'll live, and you will too," I replied, "If you're not going to sleep, then go jerk off in the corner. Do something other than stand there and wait for me to beg you to touch me."
"But you want it. Don't you? Your body tells me so. You are wet and flushed, and your breathing has become irregular. You are aroused and in need, and your body wants relief."
"My body is not the one in charge here," I stated, "My body wants what it wants, and I'm the one who controls it, not the other way around. It is up to me to decide when and where I get off."
"Are you sure about that?" he asked, walking over to my side and kneeling. He leaned forward, his nose inches from my tights. I could feel his hot breath on my most sensitive parts. He inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of my arousal.
I lifted his ear and guided his head toward the pillow he had brought earlier, forcing him to lie down. "Sleep. Now," I demanded.
"..." Skaris closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep, but I could see he was still aroused, and it was distracting him. Rather than succumbing to his urges and facing regrets later, he should reclaim his autonomy and remind himself that he was indeed in control of his own body and mind.
After a few minutes of watching him shift and adjust, I couldn't take it anymore. With a huff, I grabbed his hand, interlocking our fingers.
Skaris was surprised at first, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he squeezed my hand.
I squeezed back, and we held each other's hands tightly until our fingers went numb like two old lovers on our deathbeds.
The whole scene looked ridiculous, but the contact seemed to help him, and the tension in his body relaxed. It took a while, but eventually, his breathing slowed and evened out, signaling that he was finally asleep.
His grip was firm, crushingly so, but I didn't care. I knew he needed it. He needed to hold on to something, to someone. And for some reason, I was willing to be that someone.
Skaris was a slave to his spousal mark while also trapped by his rootless desires. A prisoner who despised his captor yet couldn't resist being drawn to her. It was a messy scenario, kind of like my own situation.
I couldn't save him from his spousal mark, but I could temper his feelings, preventing him from hating or adoring me with all his heart. I hoped that one day, he would find the strength to break free from his shackles.
And maybe, just maybe, he could help me do the same.
I thought as I glanced at the sunrise, realizing I didn't catch a wink of sleep.
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
I'm not sure if I like this chapter or not. It took me a while to get myself to write it down. 🤧 Anyway, it seems like Skaris admitted his defeat and returned Yaya her old position behind our backs. 😁
Upcoming next:
-Wine and grain distribution 🍷
-Reunion with Nivi? 🤔
╚════════════════╝