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In this dim room that somehow smelled like the roses sprinkled on the bed that very first night, knowing that the mansion was empty with all the servants celebrating in the garden, it was deathly quiet.
So quiet, in fact, that Hestia could hear her own heartbeat hammering against her ribcage. She met Caelus' amethyst eyes, which were gleaming with admiration.
“Hes,” he murmured upon approach, his whisper so loud in the silent room. “I want to hold you.”
Despite her nerves, she couldn't look away as he lowered his lips to hers, ever so soft and loving. His hands on her shoulders grounded her as he deepened the kiss.
His hot breath in her mouth was intoxicating. The world felt like it was spinning, and it was a lie if she said she didn't enjoy this.
Yet, there was a sting in her heart that she was too afraid to name.
When they pulled apart, breathless and flushed, Caelus caressed her cheek. “Are you nervous?”
She didn't realize she had been trembling. She swallowed.
“Yes.”
But not for the reason you might think…
He smiled. “Me, too.”
Gently, he set her down on the bed. Their clothes were already gone and she didn't notice how or when. Just that they had undressed each other, and his perfect body now hovered above her.
“You’re breathtaking,” he whispered, full of awe, as if she truly were the most beautiful thing. “I always knew you were.”
Strange, she thought with a shaky breath. I was just thinking the same about you.
How perfect and beautiful he was; cheeks and lips full of colour, eyes full of life.
Unlike that time…
Her heart ached, and he kissed her again, firm and decisive and awakening a repressed passion long buried within them both. Her hands clasped behind his neck, holding on tightly even though it was her who was lying down. They kissed until they were out of breath.
“Hes,” he muttered as their lips parted, breathing heavily. “What are you thinking about?”
She stared at him. He looked back at her with such… longing.
“I'm a bit scared,” she replied, her own voice not more than a whisper.
He chuckled, and oh, what a magnificent sound it was. “I’ll be gentle, I promise.”
“That's not…”
That's not what I'm scared about.
She couldn't bring herself to correct him as he left a trail of kisses along her jaw, down to the collarbone. With one hand supporting her head and the other trailing down the side of her body, he worked his way further down, eventually settling just before the curve of her breast.
“You were saying?” he asked, a smile on his face the only thing betraying his feigned innocence. “You didn't finish your sentence.”
She looked down at him with a pout, desire, fear and nerves mixing into a conflicted mess. “I – ah!”
The abrupt warmth of a tongue dragging across her skin was so foreign that her body hyper focused on the sensation. She shivered, goosebumps crawling down her body as the nagging fear in the back of her head mixed with an unfamiliar heat in the bottom of her stomach.
“C-Cael…” she moaned.
His hand cupped one of her breasts. His palm was soft and gentle, but that did nothing to diminish the gasp that escaped her lips.
“I didn't know you could make that kind of sound,” he observed, eyes smug. “It makes me want to hear more.”
Before she could react, he leaned down and latched onto one of her nipples, tenderly caressing with his tongue, his hand gently kneading the other. Her body arched, a response she was powerless to stop.
“Cael!” she cried out, her own trembling hands finding their way into his hair. “That's–!”
It was as though he wanted her to watch, to see him explore her. She wasn't expecting this. It was embarrassing.
Yet, she couldn't look away when their eyes met.
“What is it, Hes?”
Her face was surely a deeper red than it had ever been before, especially as he so cheekily moved on to the other breast. She flinched, gritting her teeth as he circled his tongue.
“This feels…. weird,” she admitted, fighting through the sensitive pleasure to make a coherent sentence. “S-Shouldn’t I do something — ah!”
Her body arched upwards in response to a sharp sensation. His free hand was now between her shoulder blades, keeping her torso elevated as he licked the spot on the underside of her breast that had just been bitten.
“Why did you do that?” she asked incredulously, but her incredulity was dampened when Caelus’ gaze sparkled with mischief.
“I couldn't control myself,” he casually admitted. “I wanted to hear all the sounds you can make.”
How could she ever scold him when he was looking at her with those eyes? She swallowed hard.
“I think I have to do something too, I can't be the only one receiving,” she offered shyly, then gasped when her husband suddenly resumed his kisses down her torso. “C-Cael, listen to me!”
Despite her weak protests pushing against his shoulders, his strategic hands on her hips kept her in place. His lips dragged down to her belly button, and mercifully stopped their torturous teasing as he laid his head against her tummy, looking up at her.
Hestia's breath hitched— the playfulness from earlier was gone. Now, it was just pure admiration.
“Cael?”
Almost as though compelled, she lifted a hand to sift through his hair. Instead, he caught it and placed a kiss on her wrist.
“You've done so much for me already,” he said, eyes shining through with a strange vulnerability— it was then she realised it was a plea. “Please… let me do everything for you tonight.”
His voice tugged at her heart; so full of desire and sincerity. No matter how anxious she was, how could she ever turn him away?
“Alright,” she conceded, brushing some hair away from his forehead. “Don't push yourself too hard.”
He smiled. The expression was so sweet and pure that her heart ached with how much she wanted to protect it.
He resumed his kisses, and he took his time exploring her— placing tantalizing kisses and nibbles over her entire upper body, occasionally revisiting the nipples he had teased earlier. His hands kneaded her breasts, thighs and rump as he left no part above her waist unkissed; merciless despite the writhing and gasping elicited from her mouth.
“You look so precious, flinching like that,” he praised. “Like a cat, yearning for my touch.”
How could he say such a thing so casually? She pouted in embarrassment, but could hardly scold him with his gaze so endearing.
When he was finally satisfied tracing her upper body, he lifted her legs onto his shoulders.
She squealed, her face blushing a deeper pink than it already was. Covering her face with both hands, she peeked through the cracks of her fingers. “Cael, what are you–? H-Hey!”
The exclamation died in her throat when she realized he was staring straight there. But before she could protest, his eyes flicked up to meet hers.
“This is embarrassing!” she exclaimed, and then gasped when he kissed her ankle. “Ah!”
A smirk formed on his lips, and she could feel that smug expression on her skin as he left a trail of fiery kisses from her knee to her inner thigh. The leg that wasn't being kissed was being softly caressed by his other hand; up and down her skin, massaging her foot so delicately that it was almost ticklish.
It was strange to see him worship her legs like this, and she was hypnotised by the sight. When his hot breath blew against where she was sensitive the most, she abruptly realized what he was planning.
“Wait, don't tell me you're going to—”
His answer was a hot, wet tongue against the center of her arousal.
There was no stopping that surprised yell. Her body jolted, lifting her hips up from the bed as she dug her fingers into Caelus' hair. His strong hands supported her, unrelentingly holding her in place as he tasted her, ignoring the way her legs trembled.
“T-This is too much,” she moaned, mortified to look down. “Cael…”
It was impossible for her to escape. The sensation was so foreign, so sensitive, so good. Her mind was blank.
“You taste so sweet,” he murmured.
She dared to open her eyes. His gaze was so hungry, like a predator devouring his prey. She had never seen him like that before, and it made her shudder with desire.
But there was something else in his gaze, too. It took a while before she realised what it was.
Reverence, like a devout believer praying at the altar.
Since when did he become so sultry? she wondered, body shivering as she gritted her teeth.
“W-Why would you say something so embarrass— ngh….”
Her whole body trembled as he slowly dragged his tongue upwards, maintaining eye contact ever so slyly. As much as she wanted to look away, now that their eyes were locked, she just couldn't.
His tongue was so soft.
“Everything about you is sweet, Hes,” he reiterated with a smirk. “Don't deny it.”
She was about to do exactly that when he suddenly lifted her hips further, damn near folding her in on herself. She yelped again, but could hardly get a coherent word out before Caelus' lips were back on her.
In this position, she could see everything. She wanted to tear her gaze away, but it was impossible. As ravenous as he was, there was a certain care in the way he caressed her with his tongue– delicately mapping out the spots she loved the most, savouring every moment. It was mesmerizing to watch him.
“Look at you,” he breathed, and it was then she realised he was just as mesmerized as she was. “So, so beautiful.”
Suddenly, there was a tight knot in her stomach, which twisted even tighter when Caelus focused on a particular area. Her panting grew heavier, reaching out blindly towards him as the urge grew ever desperate.
“Cael, wait, I think I'm gonna— C-Cael!”
His eyes locked onto hers, acknowledging her pleading. But his tongue didn't stop. He wanted her to come.
The intense climax tore through her body, drawing out a long, wanton moan that she was powerless to stop. Her toes curled from where they were hanging over his shoulders, and her thighs squeezed together in response to the sensation, only to be blocked by Caelus' head still buried between her thighs. Despite the pleasure clouding her mind, she saw him flinch when she came, his cheeks blushing darker as his mouth continued to kiss her there, determined to guide her through the orgasm.
His eyes clouded over with heat. Like making her climax was an achievement he longed for.
As the intensity waned, so did his ministrations. She was panting so hard that she hardly registered the tender kisses he placed on her mound and thighs as he slowly, gently, laid her lower body back down onto the mattress.
He climbed on top of her, caressing her cheek as her vision adjusted to his handsome face hovering just inches away.
“Hes?” he smiled, amused. “Are you tired?”
She almost didn't hear him. She felt sluggish and heavy, flooded with endorphins, but even if she wanted to say yes, there was something poking her thigh. His eagerness was apparent.
Normally she'd be flustered in a situation like this, but right now, she was calm. Basking in the glow of post-ecstasy.
“No,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Keep going, Cael.”
His gaze became concerned. “Are you sure?”
How sweet…
She wrapped her legs around his hips. The center of their bodies inadvertently brushed against each other, and he flinched, cheeks shading darker and arousal clouding his eyes once more.
“I'm sure,” she said, offering him a small smile. “Please, let's continue.”
He didn't hesitate any longer. Positioning himself, he cradled her head as he pushed into her, careful and slow.
She gasped, feeling every inch. This was the first time she experienced this in all three of her lives; the feeling was all-consuming, mentally and physically, as her breathing grew heavier to accommodate its intensity. It was simply impossible to think of anything else.
Her husband's eyes shut at the sensation, but she consciously kept hers open. There was a sharp ache in her stomach as he finally buried himself all the way in. He groaned, dipping his face into her neck as he held onto her so tightly.
“You… feel so good,” he said, breathless, pulling back slightly to meet her eyes. “Are you… alright?”
She was panting too, her brows tensed. “Give me some time…”
He nodded and kissed her, careful not to move his hips as she adjusted to his girth. His lips against her face were so gentle. She couldn't help but whimper, overwhelmed by the intensity between her legs and the tenderness of his gestures.
“Just focus on me, Hes,” he murmured in between kisses. “Let’s live in this moment together, right now.”
Those words. Abruptly, tears sprang to her eyes. That was her exact same thought, once upon a time.
Before the most crippling point in her life.
And here she was, setting herself up to experience it again by sending him into an unknown future.
No, I don't want to think about this…
With pressure building behind her eyes, she clung to him tightly, hiding her face against his chest. “I'm ready, Cael.”
He kissed her shoulder. “Tell me if it hurts.”
Carefully, he started moving. To say that it was completely painless was a lie, but it was far from unpleasant. More intense than the pain was a carnal need that she had never experienced before. As they fell into a comfortable rhythm, she never imagined anything feeling so blissful.
She moaned, nails digging into his back as he gently rocked against her, so careful and loving, yet hitting her hard and deep where she craved it most.
“Hes… the sounds you make…” Caelus groaned into her ear, making her tremble. “Everything about you is so perfect.”
Hearing his voice so close only bolstered her pleasure. She grabbed onto him tighter, as though he’d disappear if she let go.
“Cael…”
As their bodies harmonised, full of passion and patience, she had no time to think about the dread nagging in the back of her mind. Instead, there was a different kind of pain— delicate and fragile— tugging at her heart as it swelled with a tender emotion.
An emotion that she was just too afraid to admit to herself.
Her husband lifted his head, eyes wide with concern as he stopped moving. “Hes… you're crying.”
She froze. She didn't even realize tears had escaped.
“Should I stop?” Caelus asked, his thumb swiping over her cheek. “I’m sorry, I was so lost in pleasure that I was careless.”
Before he could move away, she wrapped her arms around him tighter. He paused, surprised.
“Hes?”
She didn't know what to say. He could never know about that dark past, and she was too afraid to say aloud those three words ringing in her heart.
“No, Cael, I'm not in pain,” she finally said, pulling back to meet his eyes with a reassuring smile. “These tears are because it feels good. It feels really good… so please, keep going.”
She punctuated her plea with a kiss to his lips, conveying as much desire as possible. She wanted him to continue. In fact, she needed it.
She wanted to forget.
Her husband succumbed, wrapping his arms around her as he pushed inside, eliciting a moan from her lips that was muddled by his own. Their pace from earlier resumed seamlessly, if only a little faster.
“Cael— please, don't stop— ah!”
She blurted each word in between each thrust, completely surrendering to the pleasure. Each movement touched a part of her she could never reach, consuming her thoughts until she could only think of one thing— that they were safe. He was safe, in front of her, right now.
They were together.
“You're driving me crazy,” he confessed, peppering kisses along her jaw. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
Urgency further fueled their lust. Clawing at his back, her body arching against him as they rocked together, it was impossible to form a single coherent thought.
“Just let go,” he whispered, pulling away to admire the way she was losing her mind. “Let me take care of it, Hes, I’ve got you... I'm right here.”
Despite her hazy thoughts, his words echoed in her head.
I'm right here.
Desperately, she found his lips again in a fierce kiss. Her husband reciprocated well, drowning away the last of her thoughts.
Caelus was also losing control, panting with effort, no longer holding back his groans and hisses as she squeezed him. Whether the effort was for holding back, or for giving it his all, she had no way of knowing. They were both too consumed with desire.
“Cael,” she moaned, “you're going to make me… again…”
“Just come, Hes,” he urged, interlacing their fingers and pressing her palms against the bed. “Together…”
His voice, usually so collected but now strained with arousal, was all she needed to go over the edge. But unlike her first climax, this one was seamless and kind, crashing into her as gently as waves meeting the shore.
She trembled, jaw clenched, body held in place by her husband who hungrily watched her come undone, as though her undoing was a work of art he couldn't tear his eyes away from.
“That's it, Hes,” he murmured, panting as he rocked their hips in unison. “You're doing so well.”
Despite the embarrassment, a part of her was happy at how much he relished this. Whatever guilt she harboured— whatever fear she felt— it was washed away as she had no choice but to accept this tender onslaught, laid completely bare, physically and emotionally, for him to see.
“Hes…”
He shut his eyes, groaning low into her neck as he pulled out, spilling all over her stomach. At the feel of warm fluid on her skin, echoes of her own climax somehow responded— her toes curled with pleasure as he panted and flinched; satisfaction at knowing he had released onto her body. Even in the peak of wanton desire, Caelus looked majestic.
He would have collapsed onto her if he didn't prop himself up by his elbows. With her wrists now free, she weakly wrapped her arms around him, massaging his scalp in a soothing manner as they both eased down from the high.
His breathing was still heavy. He nuzzled into her neck.
Finally, after what felt like a long while, their heartbeats slowed, and he lifted his head to meet her eyes.
“Hes…”
It looked like he wanted to say something.
She traced a thumb on his bottom lip, shaking her head. “I know, Cael.”
Swallowing hard, he sought her lips again. Their kiss was gentle and slow, patient as though they had all the hours in the world. Perhaps it was because they knew their time was borrowed, and in a few days they wouldn't be seeing each other again for a long time.
Neither of them wanted to say it. They didn't have to— their desperation to cling to each other was evident as their kiss became more passionate, their fingers interlocking once more.
When he pressed her hands back into the bed, Hestia was sure of it now. Her feelings for him were no longer those of an admirer.
She truly, dearly, loved this man.
Tonight… just for tonight…
It was her last thought before Caelus groaned into her mouth, and suddenly, she couldn't remember what had her so troubled.
That night in his arms, the dark sky seemed to stretch out forever.