LILITH sits cross-legged upon his bed--their bed now, and how the possessive sends a shiver down the spine. a porcelain plate is balanced upon her knee, fork poised like a scepter. the cake is a ridiculous thing, buttercream rosettes and edible pearls, and she eats it with the slow pleasure of a woman who knows she is being watched.
and watched she is.
PANTALONE reclines against the headboard, still in his wedding finery, though the cravat has been loosened, the collar undone. his eyes have gone soft, heavy-lidded. he is struggling. the great regrator, master of margins, undone by the hour and the wine and the unbearable sweetness of watching his wife lick frosting from her fingertip.
PANTALONE: [voice thick as caramel] you're tormenting me.
LILITH: [innocent] it's my birthday, am i not allowed to enjoy my cake?
she takes another bite, slowly and obscenely. the fork tines catch the candlelight.
he is losing the war against his own eyelids. she sees the way his head dips, catches, dips again. a sated cat drowsing while his bride devours confectionery in his marital bed.
lilith sets aside the plate.
THE DRESSING ROOM--MOMENTS LATER
silk and lace, pale as the inside of an almond. she slips into the nightie, and it glides over her, smooth as water. the mirror shows her a creature she barely recognises. bridal, of course, but something hungry, too.
THE BEDROOM--CONTINUOUS
oh, the sound pantalone makes when he opens his eyes to his bride. a sharp intake, a syllable that might have been her name, and then his composure shattering like sugar glass struck with a spoon. his hands reach for her, greedy, needy.
she laughs. never the cruel kind, but delighted, eager to climb into his lap to kiss his heated mouth and relieve the throbbing ache in his slacks.
THE BATH--LATER
the steam curls around their embraced limbs, the water perfumed with something floral and clearly expensive; the harbinger would accept nothing less. she leans against his chest, his arms draped around the most luxurious of his debts, and he presses his lips to her damp hair.
PANTALONE: [a murmured confession] happy birthday, my little bride.
to that, lilith hums. content, replete, and married.
— @lilywoof // awoawoo awooooawoo, (happy birthday, howled by me at the moon), sweet creature!!! what a joy it has been getting to know you the past few months!!!!! :D your imagination and creativity, your kindness and all that you share with us in the form of your beautiful art reminds me everyday of how grateful i am to be blessed with your presence!!!! thank you for being such a light in our community!!! wishing you all the happiness in the world and i hope you find whatever you're looking for in this life <3333 and when these beautiful things happen to you, that you can believe you're worthy of them!!!!! love you lotsa!!!!!!!! happy birthday once more, alpha queen moonie~ 🐺💝
I gave me away
I could have knocked off the evening
But I was lonelily looking for someone to hold
In a way I lost all I believed in
And I never found myself so low
And you let me down
