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your stomach erupted with butterflies the second you heard the familiar low rumble of his jeep turning onto your quiet street.
weeks of brutal exams, your parents watching your every move, and leonâs exhausting shifts at the RPD had kept you apart. you missed his voice, his smell, his gentle touches, the way he made you feel like the centre of his entire world.
so, youâd finally managed to convince him to come over tonight. he had been hesitant, ofcourseâworried about getting you in trouble with your parents because of him, but you knew he could never really say no to you.
youâd sneaked out that night through the back door in just an oversized hoodie and a skirt. his jeep waited for you at the end of the block. you ran and climbed into the passenger seat, leon didnât even let you close the door fully before lunging at you, hands cupping your face with desperate trembling fingers.
âbabyâfuck, finallyâ he whimpered against your lips, kissing you hard. it was messy, needy, all tongue and soft broken sounds spilling from his throat âi missed you so muchâŚâ
you melted instantly, your fingers twisting in his uniform jacket as he kissed you deeper, moaning softly every time your tongues slid together. his hands roamed all over your body, your waist, your thighs. âdrive somewhere darkâ you managed to mumble, biting his bottom lip âi need you, right nowâ
leon nodded frantically âyeahâŚyeah, okay. anything for youâ he said starting the car, one hand gripping hard on the wheel while the other stayed glued to your thigh, squeezing it hard, like he couldnât bear not touching you.
he looked too good, his hair messy from the long day, his tight uniform stretching across his broad shoulders and chest, you were already throbbing and wet for him.
you couldnât wait even a minute. as soon as he turned back on the road, you reached over and tugged at his jacket âoff. nowâ
âtake it baby, itâs all yoursâ he shrugged and twisted awkwardly so you could yank the jacket down his arms. the second you had it, you leaned back in your seat, spread your thighs and pressed the bundled jacket right between your legs
a needy moan slipped out as you started grinding, you rolled your hips in slow circles, dragging your dripping folds along the thick, rough fabric. the material rubbed perfectly against your swollen clit through your panties, the stiff collar and cool metal name tag teasing you with every movement. you pressed down harder, humping the jacket with long, desperate strokes, the wet sounds of your slick soaking into it getting louder.
âfuck, leonâŚitâs still so warm from you,â you whimpered, grinding faster. âsmells like youâŚfeels so good on my pussy.â
leon glanced over, his pretty blue eyes widening âOhâmy god babyâŚlook at youâ his voice was already wrecked and trembling âyouâre actually doing this while iâm driving? fuck..â
leon looked devastatingly hot beside you, he was flushed all the way down his neck, his lips parted, breathing heavily. his fitted black shirt clung to his toned chest and arms. his cock was visibly hard and twitching against his uniform pants and those gorgeous blue eyes were glued between your legs completely mesmerized.
âshitâŚbaby,â he whined, voice low and shaky âyou look so hot like this, iâve been leaking in my pants the whole way here just thinking about youâ
you moaned softly pressing the jacketâs sleeve right against your soaked core, rubbing it in needy circles.
his eyes were flicking desperately between the dark road and the sight of you using his jacket ââfuck, thatâs so hot. youâre soaking it, arenât you baby? getting your pretty pussy all over my uniformâ he gripped your inner thigh and spread you wider
âbaby, iâm gonna crash if you keep doing thatâ he whined, his voice cracking âiâve been jerking off every night thinking about you and itâs never enough, never as good as youâ
you whimpered his name and humped the jacket even harder, chasing the pleasure, your thighs were trembling. leonâs hand slid higher, fingers slipping inside your skirt to feel how wet you were.
âyouâre dripping everywhereâ he gasped, almost sobbing with need âall over my jacketâŚfuck, i love you so much. need you so fucking bad loveâ
the wet patch on his jacket grew bigger and darker under you with every grind
âpull over baby, now!â
you grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him into a messy, desperate kiss. It turned sloppy instantly with your tongues sliding, spit swapping and strings of saliva connecting your lips every time you parted for air.
you kept frantically grinding on his jacket the whole time, hips rolling and thrusting against the bunched fabric like you couldnât get enough.
between wet kisses, you moaned against his mouth, âcouldnât wait for this honey, âs perfectâ
leon whimpered into the kiss, the sound so cute yet so hot coming from him. he kissed you even messier, drooling into your mouth. âyouâre so fucking dirtyâŚmy pretty girl couldnât even wait five minutesâ
âgonna cum all over your jacketâ you gasped against his lips, licking his mouth again. âyouâre gonna wear it tomorrow covered in me.â
leon moaned, the sound downright sinful. his pretty face was burning red. âgod, yesâplease, i want it. want to wear your mess all day.â
that pushed you over the edge.
you came hard with a loud, broken moan into his mouth, your hips stuttering wildly as you rode his jacket through it. your thighs clamped tight around the fabric while fresh arousal soaked through, ruining it even more. leon kept kissing you the entire time, sloppy, spit slick, and desperate, holding your face like you were the only thing in his world.
when you finally slumped back against the seat, panting and satisfied. leon stared down at the shiny, soaked patch you left all over his RPD jacket. his chest was still heaving, lips swollen and red from your messy kisses, looking ridiculously hot and wrecked.
he let out a shy, embarrassed laugh and ran a hand through his messy hair.
( Ę¡ᴼ¡ĘăŁá˘đŠ âËâš) đťđâŻđđ¸đ˝ đđžđđâŻđ â leon kisses you like heâs a man starved. itâs always messy and driven by desperation. itâs natural to him. he knows how to drag kisses out to make you breathless and when to nip at your bottom lip to make you gasp, letting him lick into your mouth so that youâll pant and whimper into him. he gets lost in kissing you and it never fails to make you feel dizzy đŁ˛
( Ę¡ᴼ¡ĘăŁá˘đŠ âËâš) đâŻđ¸đ đđžđđâŻđ â leon is obsessed with kissing the sensitive spots on your neck. he loves being able to feel your soft whines and gasps catching in your throat, right under his lips, as he starts to graze his teeth against your skin. it drives him crazy, spurs him on and he canât ever get enough before youâre hissing with the sting of his beard bringing your skin out in a pink rash đŁ˛
( Ę¡ᴼ¡ĘăŁá˘đŠ âËâš) đđ˝đžâđ˝ đđžđđâŻđ â the soft skin of your thighs gets kissed, bitten and littered with bruises that bloom slowly as leon takes breaks from making you come. his stubble damp with your slick and his eyes half lidded whilst he watches your cunt clench with every kiss that eventually turns into a deep, throbbing, suck that makes you choke out a little sob before you beg for more đŁ˛
( Ę¡ᴼ¡ĘăŁá˘đŠ âËâš) đđ đžđ⯠đđžđđâŻđ â any time that leon has you bent over with your back arched while he fucks into you slowly but so deeply, he dots kisses down the length of your spine. all the way from the very top, by your neck, to the bottom. mumbling praise in between each soft kiss, telling you how good you are and how well youâre taking him, leaving you whimpering into the sheets đŁ˛
Hey! I hope you are doing well, and I love your works so much! Do you have an estimate on when the next chapter of dwoht is going to come out? Take all the time in the world btw Iâm just very excited
hi anon!!!
to be completely honest, iâm not 100% sure when the final part will be out. it is in the works and coming along pretty good i think.
iâve had some major life hurtles lately that have put a wrench in my writing (a few losses in the family, career changes, love life hiccups, and getting ready to start nursing school in the fall (!!!)) and thatâs why it hasnât been out yet.
i am sorry to keep you all waiting, i am so eager for the final part, the motivation and time just keeps slipping away from me to write. it is almost done though, i promise. it should be out in the next couple weeks.
thank you for checking in and iâm so glad youâre enjoying the series so far!!!
so, smau's are kinda my hyperfixation right now... i kinda want to make a leon one (like an older man with his young gf and he never knows what tf shes talking about)
synopsis; your wedding to the Crown Prince Leon is drawing closer, though you cannot help but feel there is a chasm between you and your betrothed
content warnings; language ; fantasy violence ; misogynistic themes ; royalty au ; heavy themes of misogyny ; hurt comfort ; emotional themes ; a singular kiss ; leon is sort of a flirt in this one ; light angst ; light smut ; mentions of masturbation (f) ; its reader's turn to yearn now ; mentions of reader being a virgin
story notes; as usual, dancing with our hands tied takes place in a fantasy medieval & renaissance time period. there are themes such as fantasy and war violence, sexuality, sexual violence, and misogyny in the chapters. please read with caution if any of these topics are triggering to you
author's notes; we are here, the penultimate part to the final chapter. i sort of think the writing for this one is ass, but its the best i can do right now lol. thank you all for your love and support the past few weeks, it means the world to me. enjoy!
word count; 5.19K
now playing; once upon a dream ; lana del rey
series masterlist | previous part | next part
The wedding preparations had finally begun. Although they had been occurring since your arrival, your involvement was just beginning. Dress fittings, wine tastings, discussions of floral arrangements, cake tastings. It had never previously occurred to you that you would be able to make decisions revolving your wedding. You had thought it would all be decided for you. With no care of your preferences. But the Queen cared. She had taken it upon herself to involve you in the matters of your wedding ceremony.Â
Of course there were parameters of which things must fall into. Such as successions and attendance and the way the vows would be completed. But, she wanted you to be a part of the personal side of the affair. For things to be your decision, if possible. Such as your dress, for starters.Â
It happened ten days before the wedding. The Queen had entered your room in the early morning, the servants drawing the thick curtains open to reveal the sun. You groaned, tucking your head under the plush pillows. Your ladies roused you, assisting you in dressing for the day as the Queen explained you must be fitted for your dress. You must choose the fabrics and the cut and the accessories to go with it.Â
So, it began. You were ushered to a parlor with ample lighting and space. The best seamstress in the country was brought in and studied you as you stood up on a pedestal. She and her attendants circled your body like vultures, measuring your bust, waist, hips, anywhere you could think of. She would call out numbers and her attendants would scratch them down on parchment with lead pencils. This went on for several hours. Just the process of finding your exact measurements and specifications. This was to be your wedding gown. Custom made for you and your body.Â
After a few hours of measuring, the seamstress pulled out rolls of lush fabric. Whites and ivories that were delicate and smooth. Laces and silks and brocade. Each were carefully crafted and rich. Of course you would wear white, you were considered pure, untouched. And maidens wore white. You spent several more hours looking over each fabric offered to you, discussing each option with your ladies.Â
As to be expected, Ashley was a romantic. She loved every part of this process. Every once in a while, she would let out a sigh, and say sweetly âI cannot wait to experience this myself someday.âÂ
Rebecca wanted you to be comfortable above all. She would feel the fabric between her fingers and think for a long moment before she would tell you if she thought it would be right or not. You valued her advice the most, you believed.Â
And of course, Claire was against the notion of white for purity. She sighed when all the ivory swatches were taken away, mumbling under her breath. She claimed it was an insult to the female sex that a woman was expected to stay pure when a man was not. That a woman save herself solely for a man who may not even appreciate her when that very man would visit whorehouses in the dead of night. You supposed she had a point, but to you, there was something exciting about saving yourself for your husband. For Leon.Â
The fitting spanned over several days, the seamstress taking her time to decipher what would be flattering to you and what would clash with you. According to her, there were many factors â the color of your eyes, the shade of your hair, your complexion, the build of your figure. She wanted harmony, she did not want anything to clash. You did not question this. You just decided what you wanted to let her do the hard work. For what did you know of making a dress?Â
It was seven days before the wedding when a cake tasting was scheduled. This would involve Leon. The mere thought made your heart lurch. For convenience, the tasting was held in your parlor in the early afternoon. Your ladies would attend, of course. But this was a decision you and Leon would have to decide on together.Â
He had arrived just shortly after the pâtissier, bowing to you and then your ladies. He made mindless small talk as the servants prepared the table. It was a small table, round. Small enough where you sat very close to him. Your ladies sat at a separate table, whispering amongst themselves. The moments until the pâtissier was ready were painfully awkward. You shifted in your seat several times, your eyes drifting everywhere but on Leon. You wondered if he could sense your discomfort.Â
âI present chocolate and coconut,â the pâtissier placed a small cake in front of the two of you, small enough for one person.Â
You looked at him, then the cake, and picked up your spoon. Chocolate and coconut sounded pleasant enough. Leon followed your motions of scooping up the cake on the utensil and taking a bite. It was fine. Not grand enough for the Crown Princeâs wedding. You set the utensil down, looking sidelong at your betrothed.Â
âDo you dislike it, princess?â Leon asked softly, brows raised. He looked ethereal today. Though, he wore what he always did. Trousers with a doublet over a shirt with billowy sleeves. That earring adorned his ear today though. The ruby dipped in gold. The one he wore in your portrait together.Â
âIt is⌠fine.â You hoped your declaration did not offend the pâtissier. When you looked at him, he did not seem upset. He simply nodded and brought forward another cake to replace the chocolate and coconut.
âRaspberry and lemon.â The pâtissier announced. And for a while, it went on that way.Â
You and Leon would taste a cake, voice your opinions, and taste another. This went on for some time. It was well over a few dozen cakes by the time the pâtissier placed the final cake in front of you. Your belly was full, your eyes heavy lidded, satisfaction settling into your bones. That heaviness that came with a full stomach weighed on you, the urge to lean your head against Leonâs shoulder was strong, but you resisted. You licked the back of your spook clean, watching as the final mini cake was placed before you.Â
âAn earl grey cake with citrus filling and a honey cream.â The pâtissier declared, a shine in his eyes that made you believe this must be his own personal favorite.Â
You eyed Leon sidelong â the entire tasting, he had allowed you to always take the first bite. This time was no different. You reached forward, scooping up a spoonful of the light cake, taking a bite. Your hand covered your mouth as you chewed. Immediately, you knew this was the flavor. Leon looked at you.Â
âYou like this one, princess?â He asked, leading you to nod fervently.Â
Then, he leaned forward toward you, hand gingerly grasping your wrist and bringing your spoon to his lips. He took the rest of the bite that remained on the utensil. Your eyes went impossibly wide, your lips parting in shock. This inadvertent kiss, it made your chest tighten, your stomach flip. Which was truly ridiculous. All he had done was take the remainder of the bite of cake on your spoon.Â
Your eyes drifted up to meet his, finding him already staring at you beneath his lashes. Your heart stammered again, your stomach dropping. He blinked, the corner of his lips turning up ever so slightly as he soaked in your shocked expression. Leon lifted his head, looking toward the pâtissier, his grasp on your wrist still steady and gentle.Â
âThis one will do.â He announced. He must have seen just how much you liked this particular cake. He demanded this be the one at your wedding.Â
âYes, your highness.â The pâtissier seemed pleased with this selection, like it would have been his choice as well. He bowed at the waist before he picked up the cake and turned.Â
Your eyes were still wide and trained on Leon as he looked back at you finally. âI am afraid I have a meeting, princess. I will see you at dinner.âÂ
His voice was soft and tinged with a hint of regret as he gingerly took the spoon from your hand. He stood and bowed his head, placing a firm kiss to the back of your knuckles. He smiled once more as he straightened, letting go of your hand, and immediately turning to walk out of the room.
The events of the cake tasting lingered in your mind for days. No amount of shame could rival what you felt as you discreetly slipped the spoon into the pocket of your dress. His lips had touched where yours had. Late in the night in a sleep ridden haze, you had pressed the back of the spoon to your lips, closing your eyes, and imaging it was Leonâs lips in its place, fingers buried deep in your cunt. The indignity that always followed was overwhelming, but you could never seem to bring yourself to stop thinking of him.Â
You dreamed of him nightly. All the dreams were hazy, but his face was always clear. The baby blue of his eyes, the gleam of his spider silk hair. His soft smile. You heard his laugh in your dreams and it always made you dizzy. Just as it did when you heard it in your waking hours.Â
The preparations for the wedding had officially begun. The throne room was in the process of being transformed into the space for your ceremony. Gauzy white curtains hung from the high stone ceilings, bouquets of ivory flowers lined the windows. It was magnificent and clearly the crown had spared no expense. This was the Crown Princeâs wedding, after all. He was next in line for the throne. The future kingâs wedding must be grand.Â
It was three days before the ceremony that the seamstress arrived to make final adjustments to your dress. It was brilliant white and heavy with layers of silk and satin and lace. It was fitted perfectly to your body, like a glove. The corset wrapped around your middle, cinching in your waist, the sleeves were long and tied around your arms periodically, the fabric underneath bunching out. The train trailed behind you for at least six feet, the fabric itself gauzy and light. The middle of the corset was adorned with embroidery of the Kennedy crest. Pearls and diamonds studded the low neckline of the corset, stringing along so that it tinkled every time you moved. Once you were secure in the dress, the seamstress secured a juliet cap veil to your head. The edges were scalloped and studded in the same pearls and diamonds that lined the corset.Â
It was grand and beautiful and you felt slightly out of place in the dress. She had you stand on a pedestal, adjusting the hem and other minor issues she found that you assumed were fine. She picked and prodded until you were heavy with fatigue. Your ladies fawned over the dress and praised how beautiful you looked. Swore Leon would find you just as, if not more, beautiful. Though you scarcely believed them.Â
Outside of small moments and kisses on the back of your hand, you were worried about Leon's affections for you. No amount of reassurances or consolation from your ladies could soothe such worries. Aside from breakfasts and dinners and those occasional days where he stole you away from your ladies, you had spent hardly any time with him. There were no private moments â as it was deemed unseemly for you to be alone before you were properly wed â where you could ask him of his feelings. And even if there were, you did not believe you would have the courage to ask such questions.Â
You knew he must hold some feelings for you, as kind as he was to you. To go through with this arrangement. Or, perhaps, he was just agreeable. Though the way Claire spoke of him had you believing in the latter. She told you â in confidence of course â Leon had no lovers. No previous women that she knew of, that held his heart. There was a brief fling in his early years with a rogue noblewoman from a kingdom to the east. Though she swore it lasted no longer than a few weeks before information came through that she could not be trusted. And loyalty was something deeply important to Leon. He could not stand the thought of being involved with someone disloyal, so he cut it off the moment he heard the information.Â
This caused mixed feelings in your heart. Elation that no other held his heart. But worry that perhaps those vile rumors of his incapability to love were true. Those sickening rumors that he could not love a woman, that there was no room in his heart, in his bed, in his life. That he held no interest for a lover of any kind, much less a wife. This was your sole worry. You were not enough. He could not love you. He would be unable to make room for you in his life, his bed, his heart. He would not want to even fuck you on your wedding night.Â
Which was another problem. You knew nothing of sex. You had not taken part in such activities, of course. It was expected that your maidenhood would be intact the night of your wedding. Leon was to be the only one you were to ever lie with. These facts brought up new and different fears in your mind. What if you could not satisfy him? Please him? What if you were not enough and he sought such warmth and pleasure elsewhere? The mere idea killed you. That you may not be enough for him, in any way.Â
Your ladies did their best to soothe your anxieties and banish these thoughts. Claire told you the facts â Leon did not expect you to know what you were doing. He did not expect you to be experienced, to know how to please him. She whispered to you that Leon would focus on you. She swore she knew him well enough to know that he would be a giver â whatever that meant. You did not want to ask what that phrase meant in such a context. However, she comforted you and instructed you not to worry yourself over matters that required no such worry.Â
And your heart near stopped when the seamstress presented you with a velvet lined box with lacy negligee designed solely for you. This made the spiral in your chest worsen. The worry deepen. You wished there were someone for you to speak to who could tell you what to do. Instruct you step by step of what to expect on your wedding night. What it would feel like, how you could make Leon feel good, how to be sure it wouldnât hurt.Â
The air in the room was warm, thick. You felt like you couldnât breathe, like your lungs were too full and too empty all at once. Your head felt light, the room spinning, your body swaying where you stood. In an instant, you grasped the skirts of your dress and stepped down, briskly walking through the room toward the wide double doors leading to the gardens at the back of the room.Â
âPrincess!â Claire called, standing to follow you. The alarm was evident in her voice as she watched you almost sprint out of the room.Â
âI need a moment. I will be back.â You called through panicked breaths and a tight throat.Â
You heard low chatter behind you, Claire and Ashley and Rebeccaâs voices drowned out by your racing heartbeat in your ears. You needed out. Just a few quiet moments of fresh air and peace. No one touching you or talking to you or fussing over you. No discussions of expectations or the wedding or your wedding night. It was all too much.Â
Your hands pushed the doors open, a ragged gasp ripping through your throat as you stepped down the stairs, walking aimlessly until you stood in the middle of the garden. The air was cool for the spring weather, the sun hidden behind thick gray clouds, the promise of rain in the distance accompanied by rumbling thunder in the mountains. The gardens were empty, at least as far as you could see. Finally â peace.Â
âPrincess?âÂ
You froze, back rim-rod straight. Your hands tightened around your skirts, your breaths high and panicked â you felt them now, the tears that had begun to course down your hot cheeks. When had you started to cry? You hadnât even realized.Â
âPrincess?â The voice repeated, careful footsteps sounding. Then he came into your view. âWhat happened?âÂ
Leon stood before you, bright blue eyes filled with concern. Those eyes darted down your figure, widening as he realized you were in your wedding gown. His eyes snapped back up to meet yours. He cleared his throat, shifting on his feet like he didnât know whether he should be looking at you or not. You shook your head, blinking away a wave of fresh tears.Â
âIs everything alright?â He pressed further, but his voice was still gentle. He looked like he wanted to comfort you, open his arms and pull you in. But he didnât, even though you wished he would.Â
âYes,â you nodded, lying through your teeth, even though you did not want to lie to Leon. âIâm fine.âÂ
Leonâs face flickered with an expression you could not really read. Like he did not believe your claim to be just fine. You were standing in the gardens crying in your wedding dress, after all. If only you knew how much he wanted to comfort you. Pull you into his chest and shield you from the world, from the expectations that weighed on your shoulders. Despite yourself, you wished he would. You wished he would pull you into his arms and protect you. Tell you everything would be all right and you were safe. As foolish as it was, it was all you wanted.Â
The frown on Leonâs face deepened, his eyes going soft as he seemed to realize you were not being truthful. He could somehow see straight through you. Through your lies and your false smile. A single whisper of your name from his lips was all it took for you to break.Â
âI do not know what I am doing here.â You finally managed to say, the words ragged and your breaths panicked. âI do not know you, you are a stranger.âÂ
Leon did not speak, he did not even look offended or bothered by your words. Likely because he knew them to be true. He was a stranger. Someone you met a few weeks ago. A man you did not know but were required to marry. You did not know his temperament, his likes and dislikes, what he was like behind closed doors. You had yet to have the chance to know. He wished he could wipe away your tears and worries. Take them on himself and assure you there was no need to be so anxious. For now though, he knew you needed to simply let the words out.Â
âI do not know you. Yet I am supposed to marry you? I am supposed to provide you heirs? To please you? I do not know if you even like me.âÂ
The moment the words fell from your lips you wished you could take them back. An imperceptible emotion glazed over Leonâs eyes â almost like shock. Like he couldnât believe you said such a thing. Or believed such a thing. You did not know if he liked you? To him, that was such a preposterous notion. How could he not like you? You â his princess. Beautiful, kind, and smart. Proper and elegant. There was not a world he could imagine where he knew you but could not like you.Â
âPrincess,â he murmured, shaking his head. âWhy do you think I do not like you?âÂ
âYou⌠we never spend any time together. We never see each other outside official matters and meals.â You begin to explain, voice breaking again with a new wave of tears threatening to spill from your eyes. âI just do not know.âÂ
Your voice trailed off sadly, your eyes drifting away from him at the rush of embarrassment that filled your chest. Suddenly, you wished you could disappear. Evaporate into thin air so you never would have to meet his eyes again. He must have been thinking a million things of you. Making assumptions. Imagining what kind of wife youâd be â the type to cry or complain or be angry. But these were not the thoughts that raced through Leonâs mind. Really, he felt guilt. How had he not known you felt this way? How had he not made a better effort to quell your worries? He was thinking of what kind of husband he would be.Â
âI do like you, princess.â Leon admitted, his words soft and careful as if he were afraid you would break with even the wrong tone. âI like you very much. More than I care to admit.âÂ
His confession shocked you. It was your turn to be surprised now. He did like you. More than he cared to admit. You had no clue what that meant, but it rattled you nonetheless. You blinked, tears still steadily running down your hot cheeks. While it was nice to hear, it did little to soothe the ache in your chest. To diminish the doubt in your heart. The lingering fear that this marriage was simply a transaction to him. While Leon did not seem to be the type of man to think such a thing, it was a worry you could not banish.Â
There had been no real reassurance or admission that he did not think that way. So, how were you to really know? Your eyes would not meet Leonâs as you stood there, the heat of embarrassment creeping into your chest from your emotional outburst.Â
âYou mean that?â Your words were small and soft, that quiet tone of uncertainty. Your hands wrung together at your front, your face and ears warm.Â
âOf course I do.â Leon nodded, his own words gentle. You could see the slight hesitation in his expression as he stepped forward, now standing less than a foot away. âPrincess, you neednât doubt how much I do like you.âÂ
It was a moment as he took a breath before speaking again, tone still gentle and careful. âYou fill my days, you plague my nights. I dream of you, I think of you, I cannot rid my mind and my soul of you. You have all of my love, you are its keeper.âÂ
Your heart nearly stopped, the air around you heavy. The world stopped, everything and every sound distant and hazy. The feeling of Leonâs hands reaching for and grasping your own made you come back. The air was punched from your throat, skin hot and ears ringing. He did not only say he liked you, he said love. He said you were his love and his heartâs keeper.Â
âI regret I did not tell you sooner, princess.â Leon shook his head, hands wrapped around yours and his thumbs rubbing over your hands. âIt was stupid of me to assume you knew.âÂ
There was really nothing you could say, there was no way to respond. He had confessed his love to you and you were stunned silent. âLeon,âÂ
âNot yet, please.â He shook his head, clearly not finished. âI apologize I did not do everything in my power to be sure you knew. It was foolish of me. And I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, princess.âÂ
Now he was finished. And you did not know what to say. What was there to say? Of course you forgave him. You knew your outburst and your feelings were likely overdramatic, even though everyone around you had assured you they were not. Though it was a fear you could not seem to banish.Â
âOf course I forgive you.â You shook your head, hands subconsciously tightening around his. The tears in your eyes still stung, still coursed down your cheeks as you stood before him. âI hope you can forgive me for my outburst.âÂ
âThere is nothing to forgive.â He said softly, shaking his head. You hadnât noticed he was in his flying leathers, hair slightly mussed from flight. âI am only happy I now know.âÂ
You shook your head, still embarrassed and guilty. âI should not have spoken to you that way, though. I should not have said those things or accused you of indifference.âÂ
âThis is a strange place, a strange circumstance. Princess, you are allowed to feel confused.â He whispered, one hand leaving yours to wipe away the tears from your cheeks.Â
Leonâs touch was soft. His hands were calloused of course â years of dragon riding and sword training making the palms of his hands and the pads of his fingers rough. You found you liked it though, strangely. It was a comfort to you to know your betrothed was strong and capable but could be gentle with you. He touched you as though you were fragile, breakable.Â
You were frozen on the spot, feet rooted to the ground through your ivory wedding slippers. Your gazes were locked, and he blinked, eyes flicking from your eyes to your lips and back to your eyes in a soft triangle. Time slowed to an imperceptible speed as he stepped forward again, now mere inches away from you. His eyes flicked down to your mouth again, locked there as he whispered.Â
âI only wish for your happiness,âÂ
Then, in a blur and rush of emotions swirling in your own chest, he kissed you. It was soft and slow and nowhere near rushed. Like he was afraid of scaring you. The moment his lips slotted between yours, your eyes fluttered shut. It was dizzying, the feeling of his kiss. It was your first kiss â and it was perfect. His hand gingerly cupped your cheek, the pad of his thumb brushing over the skin of your cheekbone in a soothing back-and-forth pattern. His other hand stayed clasped around yours, his chest brushing against your own.Â
The movements of his lips against yours were sweet and soft â his lips capturing your plush bottom lip, his hand soft on your cheek. He did not rush this kiss. He let it linger, he let it be soft and sweet and full of what could only be called devotion. You wished it would last forever.Â
It was over before you wanted it to be, Leon pulling away, his eyes half lidded and hazy as he studied your face. He found you so beautiful â your eyes still shut, your lips parted and kiss bitten. It was as if you were still in a haze from his kiss, like you were trapped and you did not want it to end, which was the truth.Â
Slowly, after a moment, your eyes fluttered open. Your gaze met Leonâs once again, and he had only the softest of smiles on his face. His thumb traced over your cheek, his hand running up your arm and back down again to your hand.Â
âDid that bring you assurance of my favor, princess?â He asked softly.Â
You nodded, lips still parted and your heart still beating wildly. âYes,â you whispered, once you were able to find your voice again.Â
Leon only smiled in response, his touch still gentle, his eyes still soft. âYou look beautiful.âÂ
For a moment you were confused, then you remembered you were in your wedding dress, the veil attached to your head as well. He should not be seeing you in this attire yet. âThank you.âÂ
He opened his mouth to speak again, but was cut off as a drop landed on his cheek. He blinked, then looked up at the sky. A roll of thunder echoed above, and he looked back down at you. The drops were scarce at first, and then they quickened. A few landed on your own face.Â
âAllow me to escort you inside.â Leon said quietly, his words gentle but leaving no room for argument.Â
He turned, hand still grasping yours as he began to walk through the garden. His steps were slow for you as he led you toward the stone stairs to the parlor. He stood at the base of the steps, still holding your hand as he guided you to climb them. Once you reached the glass double doors, he then followed and pushed them open with one hand. Under the cover of the awning, the downpour began. As if it had been graciously waiting.Â
âAfter you, princess.â Leon nodded toward the room.Â
You obeyed, taking a step in. But you paused as you felt his hand tug. You looked at him over your shoulder. âAre you not coming?âÂ
Leon smiled, a small huff of a laugh â warm and fond â falling from his lips as he shook his head. âI would not be welcome.âÂ
While he did not say it was malice or any unkind tone, you frowned. You shook your head. âNonsense.âÂ
âI wish to wait.â He whispered. âI have seen enough of what you will look like for now. I wish to see you in full when I marry you.âÂ
For some odd reason, his words panged against your heart. But, you listened and you would grant his wish. âVery well. Thank you, Leon.âÂ
âOf course, princess.â He smiled once more, bowing his head to place a kiss on the back of your hand. There was a moment of hesitation as you stepped further inside. Like neither one of you wanted to let go.Â
Both your arms stretched out as you walked deeper into the parlor. Only when you could no longer reach did Leon drop his hand. He bowed to you with that still soft smile and nodded for you to go on.Â
You obeyed once more, smiling at him before you turned around and walked in. That doubt in your heart lessened with each step to the pedestal, the warmth on your cheeks seeping into your chest.Â
Yes, you were still afraid. But Leon assured you that there was no reason. And maybe it was time you listened to and trusted your betrothed. For while you knew that you were the keeper of his love, he had yet to know he was the keeper of your love.
had to come into work sick today... and when i'm sick, my pots is like a million times worse. i've almost passed out several times today. i have just accepted that dizzy is a constant feeling for the day
and of course, i started my period this morning too...
