Arsalan made it to his bedchamber and closed the door with a louder thud than he intended. His hands were shaking, and the indentations of her bejewelled dress still decorated his fingers. He closed his hand into a tight fist and raised it to his lips, trembling with both rage and despair. Even his hand smelled of her light, sweet, floral scent.
"Fuck!" he bellowed out, feeling as if he could punch something. He knew it wouldn't do him any good though, only leave him with a painful wound on his hand that he’d likely wake to regret.
Why was he such an idiot? For months he'd been pining over her, never wanting to admit just how drawn to her he was, for fear that she didn't feel the same, and now, tonight, she’d finally made herself clear to him and what did he do? He royally, colossally fucked up!
Perhaps this was for the best. After all, he didn't know how he would continue to train her, and eventually watch her demonstrate her power without being terrified of losing her. He had made himself a promise after Amira had died, that he would never love someone with a like ability to his. And never had he expected that promise to be such a hard one to keep. After all, it was an exceedingly rare ability to have. And yet here he was training her. Fortunately, he was hopeful that as long as she didn't try to further her power outside of training, and never overwork her ability, she should be able to live out a nice full life. Even still though, images flashed of Amira, his first and only love, lying on her deathbed, the insanity coursing through her veins. He closed his eyes as they strung with hot tears. He couldn't go through that again. He may have these feelings for Althea, but the thought of watching another lover go through that? It was unbearable. So no, he would not act on these instincts that haunted him. He would show her that her feelings were one sided, because that was the only thing he could do to prevent himself from being scarred again.
…
Althea sat beside Jasper as he and James spoke and laughed about some past ball they'd attended. Monique and Meg sat beside them talking as well. Both ladies looked lovely as they usually did. Monique wore a light blue layered gown with sewn on pink floral details around the waist and bottom of the skirt. Meg, on the usual contrary to her, wore a charcoal black gown with a deeply plunging neckline and an open back. It was simple, and yet she still looked ornate somehow.
Althea could hardly keep her focus, as she stared out at the large ballroom, not taking in any details, but just staring off. Not that she was looking, but she hadn't seen Arsalan since their dance nearly an hour ago. Had she really made him feel so uncomfortable that he now avoided the ball entirely? She couldn't even think of that encounter between them without feeling mortified. She didn't know how she would meet him at training on Monday. Althea cringed at the thought of greeting those icy eyes after the fool she'd made of herself tonight.
Jasper nudged her arm with his. When she looked at him, those bright hazel eyes warmed her. He hadn't the slightest idea of the web of thoughts that was tangled in her mind, and yet, the sympathetic smile he offered her put her slightly at ease.
"Are you alright my dear?" he asked, now rubbing her bare arm, beneath the green chiffon fabric. Goosebumps rose on her skin, and his eyes glimmered, feeling them beneath his touch. "Would you like some more wine?"
"Uh, no thank you, I'm okay, really, I think all of the dancing has just worn me out a bit." This was true. After her dance with Arsalan, she'd only sat for one song before her and Jasper danced twice more. She was fairly tired as she sat now, and she was a bit parched, not for wine but for water.
Jasper stood and reached an outstretched hand towards her, "why don't we go somewhere a bit more quiet?"
Althea let out a thankful sigh, though she wouldn't have said it herself, this was exactly what she needed. The ball was fun and the dancing had been exhilarating, but she had to admit the loud chatter and booming music, not to mention the humid, stale air that engulfed them, weighed on her now.
Taking Jasper's hand, they said goodnight to everyone and walked together up the grand staircase and back to the corridor. The air was much cooler out here, providing Althea with some instant relief. There weren't as many people out here now as there had been earlier, as most were in the ballroom. The wall separating the ballroom from the corridor also provided a much needed sound barrier. There was a light flow of conversation from a group of older gentlemen standing near the doors to the courtyard, but other than that, there were not many individuals out here.
"Better?" Jasper cooed, studying her. Was it that obvious? Althea nodded, gifting him a small smile as they walked towards a marble bench to sit.
The large clock beside them chimed, somehow striking eleven o'clock already. Where had the time gone? She felt as though they had just gotten here. But it did make her feel slightly better to know she had cause for being so exhausted. She knew from what Monique had told her that the ball lasted until midnight when they officially shifted into autumn, but many stayed dancing and drinking long into the early morning hours.
Althea rested her head on Jasper's shoulder, his fingers caressed her outer arm as he held her close to him. She really had missed his warm, vibrant nature. He was never mad, or upset, he never yelled at her, or held any expectations for her. He was just there for her, and that was what she loved about him.
Her lips parted as a yawn broke through them. Jasper chuckled, sending a vibration through Althea's body as she leaned on him. "Come," he grasped her hand again, "let me accompany you to your room."
Althea pouted weakly, "but the ball isn't even over yet, shouldn’t we–"
"Now now my love, don't force yourself into exhaustion, let's get you up to bed." With another sigh, she obeyed, knowing he was right, and walked with him up the stairs to her bed chamber.
As they walked, he held her right hand, drawing small circles over the back of her wrist. His fingers were smooth as they brushed her skin. Nothing like Arsalan’s calloused hands.
"You were a shining gem tonight Althea. You had the eyes of every man and woman alike as we danced, I could see them all staring." She looked up at him, unsure of what to say. Had they really been staring at her? She knew there were some but she didn't think the number was as vast as he portrayed it. All night Althea had gotten questions about her gown, to which she gladly explained who made it.
"Oh stop it, there were just as many female eyes on you," she looked up at him raising a brow. She had always noticed it, but especially tonight with so many new young females around the institution. Young debutantes pined after him wherever he went, and it was no wonder, he was an extraordinarily handsome young man, any woman would be lucky to catch his eye... she was lucky to catch his eye, and yet there she had been tonight, ready to risk that, ready to throw away what they had, for Arsalan. Just the thought made her feel ashamed. She didn't deserve such a kind soul as Jasper if she were being completely honest with herself.
When they reached her chamber door, Althea turned to Jasper, staring into those stunning hazel eyes, glinting slightly with green now, perhaps from the reflection of her own dress. He lifted a hand up, caressing her warm cheek. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes and relishing in the feeling of his skin on hers.
"I love you dearly Althea," he whispered, so quiet she could barely hear the words as they escaped his lips. Her eyes shot open as she realised... this was the first time he'd admitted those words aloud to her. Her lips parted slightly and she looked up at him. He only smiled, those kind eyes looking down at her almost mournfully.
Without another thought she leaned up and pressed her lips to his. She used her right hand to grip his neck, not wanting either of them to pull away. Her lips parted as he kissed her, letting his tongue slip into her mouth. Her hand slowly slid from his neck into his long brown hair, the tie loosening as she gripped it in her fingers. He hummed in delight at this, kissing her harder.
Breathless and panting like an animal, Althea pulled away first, only out of desperation for breath. "I love you too," she breathed, her lips still hot and feeling swollen from their kiss. Jasper took her hand in his placing a molten kiss on her skin.
He loved her, Jasper loved her. Upon hearing those words escape his lips, she realised that she did too. For so long she had pondered what it would feel like to love someone, but now she knew. It wasn't some switch that just magically flipped, it was something that grew over time. Her mind flashed with memories of him since the time they'd first met. The way he had eased her mind that first night as he danced with her, erasing all of the terrifying thoughts that swirled around, about finding a suitor that night. Or the way he had been the only one to stand and clap, when she entered the dining hall that very first day she came here, so that everyone else followed and she may not feel uncomfortable. Or the way that over these past months, he had turned her from someone scorned by the likes of men, into a woman who, despite her past traumas, loved him dearly. It was in this moment that she realised maybe, she could let him in without fear of being hurt again, and maybe, that would be okay.
Althea reached a hand back, fondling for a moment to find her doorknob. When the door clicked open she glanced into her room, thankful she'd put all of the books back beneath her bed. She turned back to face him, biting her lip as she stared up at him through lowered lashes, "could you help me out of my dress?"
He visibly tensed beneath the light grey tailcoat and suit, his pupils dilating ever so slightly. Althea really couldn't take the dress off herself, and he had already seen what lay beneath her gown at the waterfall that day.
"Yes, of course," he said with the utmost refinement. He really was such a gentleman. He never held expectations for her as most men did for women.
Jasper stepped into her room and closed the door behind him, letting it click quietly shut. Althea looked at herself in her vanity mirror. She still looked the part of a conqueress even despite the subtle bags beneath her eyes. Jasper came into view, standing tall behind her. She glimpsed his smile as he stared at her through the reflective pane of glass.
His fingers gently traced the outside of her arms, up to her shoulders. Althea closed her eyes basking in the sensational feeling as he massaged them before moving up to her head. He unclipped the pins that held her tiara in place, and removed it from atop her head, placing it down onto her vanity. She didn't realise how much weight her slender neck had been carrying until it was removed. Jasper brushed her brown, voluminous waves over one shoulder, allowing the left side and back of her neck to be visible to him. His eyes lingered on hers through the mirror as he bent to leave a hot kiss on the space between her neck and shoulder. Her insides turned molten at the feeling of his lips on her skin. She caught a glimpse of him through the mirror and sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth at the sight of him. He kissed a trail down her spine, stopping only when he reached the base where the fastens of her gown started. He kneeled behind her, undoing them one by one to reveal the scrap of nude fabric Layana had given her to barely conceal her feminine parts.
"I love these," Jasper said, tracing over the two indents at the bottom of her spine. She squirmed slightly beneath his touch. Chuckling, he stood once more glancing at the ties around her arms before reaching for the one around her left arm.
His fingers tickled her as he loosened the tie, allowing the emerald fabric to slide down her arm. She folded the long layered chiffon and set it atop her vanity as he went to work on the other arm. Once removed, she stacked it over the other and turned to face him, holding up her dress with one hand.
His eyes bored into hers now as he stood in front of her. She breathed out a shallow breath, wanting to say something, but unsure of what exactly to say. Before she could decide on the words to speak, Jasper said, "well then, I bid you goodnight Althea."
He grabbed her hand, leaving a warm kiss on it before taking a step towards the door. Althea didn't want him to leave, she wanted... ugh she didn't know what she wanted, she just knew she wanted him, she ached for him.
"Wait," she gasped, causing him to stop his motion altogether. He looked back at her over a shoulder, a puzzled expression on his face. "Will you stay with me tonight?"
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His eyes widened slightly and he slowly turned towards her. She swallowed louder than she wanted to, and was sure he could hear it from where he stood a few feet away.
"If that is what you wish," he stuttered over his words slightly. Perhaps she shouldn't have been so forward with him. What if this is not what he wanted but he was too kind to admit it? "It is, as long as you are comfortable staying here with me?"
That beautiful smile full of warmth spread over his lips again. "Althea, I have just declared my love for you... something I have never done for anyone before, you asking for my company is all I could ever want."
Her heart pumped rapidly in her chest as she let go of the dress covering her, and let it fall slowly into a puddle of green around her feet, revealing herself fully to him. His mouth gaped slightly as he reached up, loosening the white cravat from around his neck, his eyes roaming her nearly naked body.
She stepped over the delicate emerald gown and neared him, standing on her tiptoes to reach his lips. Her feet flattened against the cool wood floors as he leaned down to meet her. Their lips moulded together so perfectly she couldn't bring herself to understand how she could have almost given this up mere hours before.
Her hands fumbled with the buttons of his grey tailcoat before pushing it off of his shoulders, letting it hit the ground with a whoosh. He wrapped a firm hand around her bare body, walking them backwards slowly as he removed the cravat fully from around his neck. When she felt the backs of her legs greet the cold metal bed frame, she pulled away to look at him. His white tunic was partially untucked and his hair was nearly pulled from its tidy place at the base of his neck. She reached up and pulled it free, letting his hair fall unbound around his face. Not removing his hand from her back he slowly laid her down on the soft satin blankets, kissing and sucking at her neck only making her incessant need for him grow. He moved down her body with his lips, his long hair tickling her, until he reached the hard peaked nipple of her left breast. She grappled a handful of the grey satin in her fingers as his mouth made contact with her heaving chest. His tongue played in circles around the hardened skin. She was throbbing for him now, her entire body pulsating with delight at his mouth's warm caress.
When he finally pulled away, he stood straight, reaching over his head to remove the white tunic. That beautiful, slender, but muscular, body only made her core grow hotter. She wanted him, no needed him. She'd never felt a feeling quite so primal within herself other than perhaps the day when she'd nearly killed that image of Sir Herbert. Somehow those feelings were one in the same. The hunger that coursed through her now, was the same as the animalistic urge to reap vengeance upon her prey. If she were completely honest, it terrified her a bit to have those feelings within her. But she swallowed them down, reaching for Jasper's belt. She unfastened it, pulling his trousers down to reveal his white undergarments.
He removed his shoes and stripped down his lower half, save the thin white bottoms, the only piece of fabric that separated her from him, that and her thin, nude "panties" as Layana had called them.
Jasper gently placed her down onto her back again, kissing her jaw down between her breasts to her navel. She fought the urge to squirm at the feeling of his tongue ticking her stomach. He placed a cool hand over her thigh, widening the opening of her legs as he leaned in closer to her now. She could feel his hips lightly glide over her core, causing her own hips to buck slightly. It was as if her body had a mind all its own, and it wanted him more desperately than it had ever wanted anything before. He kissed down her stomach until he reached the hem of the nude fabric. She watched as he looked up at her, smirking slightly as he began kissing the insides of her thighs. Her mouth gaped and she stifled a pleasurable moan as his hot tongue swirled just outside of her undergarments. She let go of the firm hold she had on the silk blankets and instead reached out to touch his face. He smiled as he kissed her, his fingers reaching for the scrap of fabric covering the only part of her left hidden.
He paused to look at her, "is this okay?" he asked, his voice so light and so sweet. She nodded without the slightest hesitation. She was ready, she knew she could trust him above all.
He breathed out as he smiled, looking down at the nude panties, his fingers gripped the edges and slowly pulled them down her legs, revealing her to him fully now. As he did, she could feel the wetness that had pooled there, touching her thighs. He licked his lips as he stared down at her in awe.
"You are so beautiful Althea, there is not a single part that I don't love," he breathed out. She didn't know how much she needed to hear those words until he spoke them. But once he did, she sat up and pulled him into a deep, sensual kiss. Althea’s arms slithered up to wrap around his neck, and his hands settled on her hips as their mouths moved and danced together. They were both so caught up in each other that she accidentally leaned back and made him topple down over her. But neither Althea nor Jasper minded as they continued their dance for dominance through the kiss.
She straddled him with her legs wrapped around him until he pulled back, breathing hoarsely.
"What are you doing to me Althea?" he sighed in a breathless whisper. What was she doing to him? What was he doing to her! She never imagined herself feeling safe enough with a man to want this, and yet here she was, laid out before him, ready for his taking.
He leaned down, leaving a soft, wet trail of kisses down her stomach to her hot, molten centre. He kissed down her thighs once more, but this time he grew closer and closer to that bundle of nerves that threatened to come undone.
Suddenly the nervousness of this moment sunk in. She had no idea what to expect, never had she made love to a man before, and aside from the novels she'd read depicting epic mythical romances, she hadn't the slightest inkling of what to do. This absolutely terrified her and she found it imperative to speak, saying suddenly, "I... I've never..." she trailed off, her face glowing with red heat. Jasper removed his head from between her legs, pausing to look up at her now with a wide eyed gaze.
"You've never..." he swallowed, glancing quickly back down towards the apex of her thighs, "taken a lover before?" he asked, finishing her sentence for her.
She shook her head, unsure why she felt slightly embarrassed. Had he? She supposed he must have, for the motions came to him so naturally, it was as if he'd been doing this for years already. Her mind wandered too far, too fast, but thankfully, he calmed her as he said, "I've only been with one other... a girl from the colonies... but she married another, and I didn't love her anyway... She did, however, teach me a few things about how to love a woman during our time together." It put Althea slightly to rest knowing that he'd only been with one other, and although it may have been selfish she was glad he had not loved her.
"I'm glad you told me," he said, leaving a gentle kiss on her knee. She smiled up at him, grateful for how kind he was. "Have you ever... well you know... pleasured yourself?" he asked, trying not to sound awkward. Althea's already red face only grew hotter. She hated that she was so embarrassed by this conversation... intercourse was a natural part of life, and it was nothing to be ashamed of.
Althea shook her head. She had never pleasured herself... she didn't even know there was a way for her to pleasure herself if she were being honest.
Jasper swallowed and looked down at her body, lying still beneath him. She suddenly felt too exposed, but she made no motion to move, to cover herself.
"You've never..." he paused, gliding his hand from her knee, down her thigh towards the spot where her legs met, "taken your fingers and..." her heart was beating irregularly, so fast she thought it would burst through her chest as his fingers slowly met her aching core, "rubbed." As he said the last word his fingers stroked her, causing a purr-like moan to escape from her lips. His fingers slipped over her, gliding effortlessly from the moisture already present between her legs.
Althea's head shot back as he continued rubbing, she never knew that something could feel so good. He slowed his pace a bit, rubbing his fingers down, down, down, until... her eyes bulged as he slowly began slipping his finger into her.
"Wait," she said at the slight pain she was met with. Jasper stopped immediately, removing his pointer finger from her opening.
"Are you okay?" he asked nervously. Perhaps she shouldn't have said anything, it wasn't very painful, just a bit uncomfortable.
"Yes I'm okay... it just felt kind of... scratchy," she said honestly. She wondered if he had trimmed his nails, perhaps that was the issue. She didn't say anything about it though, she still wanted him, still ached for him from within, even despite the slight discomfort.
"Perhaps I will try something else," he smirked, leaning down and putting his mouth to her entrance. She bent her neck to look at him, she could feel his light, warm breath tickling her as he hummed against her. She trembled slightly with anticipation. Suddenly he pushed his lips to her core, kissing her there. Althea's head knocked back once more as his tongue escaped from his mouth and he began feasting upon her. His hot mouth provided her with the most intoxicating pleasure she'd ever known, as his tongue made circular motions around her wetness. Then he plunged his tongue into her, earning a cry from her lips as her back arched off of the bed. She didn't care who heard her, in this moment she wanted anyone who was listening to know that she was being ravished in ways she'd never been before. Jasper thrusted his tongue in and out of her slowly, painstakingly, making her pant with excitement. His mouth on her felt so good she never wanted it to stop. But after a few moments, he removed that godly mouth from her and whispered against her soaking centre, "is that better?"
"Yes," she moaned out. It was practically a beg for more of that delicious feeling.
She lifted her head to look at him, he was wiping his glistening lips with his kerchief. "Mm," he hummed, looking at her with a hunger in his eyes that made her throb for him, "you taste amazing." His eyes glimmered with arousal as he lifted his hands to his undergarments and began slowly sliding them down his legs, revealing himself to her now. She swallowed, his length seemed longer now than it had been that day at the lake... but how could that be possible?
"It's... so much longer than I remember," she breathed out, swallowing back her slight fear.
Jasper only chuckled at her innocence, "well yes... it's hard now, and when we were swimming it was too cold so it was mostly soft." She did remember reading a smut novel once that depicted a man's cock getting hard as he became aroused... she didn't know why but she had laughed, thinking it to be mere fiction, but now, as she looked at his elongated shaft, her mouth ran dry.
"It's okay my love, I will be gentle... it hurts me too if we go too fast before you're ready... but if you're not ready, that is okay too, I can wait for as long as you nee–"
She cut off his rambling kindness before he could finish, she was tired of waiting... she wanted him, all of him, tonight.
"No," she said in a quick, breathless whisper, "I want this... I want you," she insisted. His warm smile reappeared on his lips.
Leaning down over her, he kissed her lips briefly. She could taste herself on him… the essence of the oils she’d used in her bath earlier. It caused that blanket of arousal to grow heavier over her. Althea felt him hanging low, prodding at her entrance. She bit her lip as she stared up at him with anticipation. He reached a hand down to grip himself, positioning his length at her entrance.
And then it started.
His head began rubbing at her open slit. She hummed out a moan closing her eyes and tipping her head back. Jasper left sloppy kisses on her now exposed neck as he, very slowly, began slipping himself inside of her. Her mouth parted as he stretched her open, wider and wider until she was sure something within her would stop him.
"Oh Jasper!" she breathed desperately, and he pulled himself out slightly, before sliding back in.
"Christ Althea, you are," he couldn't even finish his sentence as he moaned into her neck. She swallowed, trying to adjust herself to this new foreign entity filling her body.
She kept thinking it couldn't be any longer but with each slow thrust, there was more of him within her. Finally after what felt like nearly five minutes of slowly sliding in and out of her, she felt Jasper's body at the end of his length. He thrust in and back out again, for a few moments, lifting himself with one hand to gaze down at her. "Is this okay?" he asked, his voice light as a feather. She smiled and nodded, leaning up to kiss his lips.
Now that she had adjusted to him, it was really quite nice. With a sigh, she began slightly moving her hips with him as he slowly slid into her and out of her without fully removing himself.
As the discomfort began to ease, she realised just how good it felt, not only the feeling of him stretching her and thrusting into her, but also the power she felt, it was as if their energy had merged, and she had embraced Jasper's strength and power as her own.
"Christ woman, you’re attempting to make me go mad," Jasper moaned, into her neck. The heat between them was overbearing, almost suffocatingly so. She bucked her hips, wanting him to thrust faster into her as she brushed his unbound hair from her face. It surprised her how naturally this came to her. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting but it wasn't this. Jasper groaned, and plummeted himself deep into her, forcing a loud moan from her lips.
"Mm, Jasper," she moaned his name into his ear as he sank into her again, willing him to do exactly as she wished and quicken his pace. His head burrowed deeper into the crook of her neck while he thrust harder and faster into her.
"You're going to make me," he breathed out but before he could finish, he jolted up and pulled his full length from within her, rubbing himself until warm speckles of white liquid rained down over her still writhing stomach and chest. His moans filled the room as he drained himself entirely onto her pale skin, white hazy liquid now barely oozing from his tip. Althea's eyes widened at what she'd caused from him. Had he... had she hurt him?
"Are you okay?" she asked, biting her lip nervously. He flopped down beside her on the bed, and as he turned to look at her now, he was grinning, "I am better than okay, Althea, you've just made this the best night of my life." So it was over then? Her emerald eyes glimmered at him and she smiled, feeling proud that she’d made it through. Though, she felt as though something within her was left... unfinished. Althea clenched her thighs together, aching to keep the cool air from sweeping over her bared centre. She supposed it was likely just the excitement of their encounter only a moment ago, she just needed time to come down from the high was all.
That night Althea slept more soundly than she had in a very long time. Not only had exhaustion taken its toll on her, but she felt safe with Jasper's arms wrapped firmly around her. She focused on the light trickle of his breath on her neck as he held her, and fell into a deep, deep slumber.