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It was the year 1537, the 15th year of the First Emperor’s Reign. And Solus was exhausted. Idly he listened to their talks about the research and development that Garlean’s greatest scientists and theorists toiled over in effort to combat the Eikons. But, even though he made his presence known, his mind was elsewhere.
His thoughts flickered and dawdled until they settled upon Aelia. It had been over two weeks since he’d seen her or felt anything from her through the bond between them. Casually, he twisted the pearl earring between his fingers, and though he had not reached out to her, it was as if she’d heard his need nonetheless, for suddenly there was a spark within his awareness. She called out to him and sent him the sensation of a gray, cold day. Wet paved streets. Tall, looming buildings. She was home.
Standing up abruptly, his chair skidding loudly across the floor, the room once again went quiet. Announcing loudly, he spoke, “I had hoped we had come to more definitive answers, but it seems as if there are yet too many speculations and complications.” Then facing the scribe, he directed, “Send me the transcripts once the meeting has concluded.” And then he departed.
He strode through the halls with such determination that all hastily moved out of his way, not daring to impede him, until he found himself within his quarters. Moving toward a tapestry that hung on the wall near the back of his office, he swung it aside and placed his palm on the stone. Immediately, the brick dissipated to reveal a doorway, in which he stepped through.
And there she was. Splayed out on the bed. From the looks of it, she had been travelling hard and fast over the course of days. At his arrival, she lifted herself wearily up on her side and met his gaze.
His brows furrowed at the sight of her, but before he could comment, she grumbled. “I’m fine.” With a groan, she hauled herself out of the bed and with unsteady steps, she ambled toward him.
“Did you sprint the whole way back?” Then plopping into a seat, his tall body awkwardly bent as he leaned over to shuffle out of his boots, and he groaned slightly when a nerve in his back sparked out in complaint. With the other hand he rubbed against where it stung.
Aelia snickered at the sight of the once mighty soldier, struggling with his boots, and then kneeled before him. “Now, now, Commander. The First Emperor of Garlemald is far too above us all to have to take off his own boots.”
Leaning a back in his chair, he took a moment to assess her. He had long since learned it a waste of energy to argue with her once she set her mind on a task.
“I have seen you hundreds of times over the course of these years together simply magic yourself out of your vestments.” With a clever grin, she peered up at him. “Did you mean to put me here?” Despite her smile, he saw the weariness dulling her pale eyes.
He offered his own somber smile in return. “Sometimes slower is better, if the moment calls for it.”
Reaching out his hand, he gripped hers as he stood, leading her to her feet. Gently, he placed his palms around the curve of her shoulders before running them down her back. Pinching the ties of her bodice, he pushed her closer into his body as he muttered, “I believe it is my turn to return the favor.”
Then with deliberate, measured movements, he undressed her. One article of clothing at a time. And though it had merely been a matter of minutes, it felt like an eternity until her skirts fell to her ankles, spurring time back into motion.
Taking her into account, he grimaced. Her entire body was covered in bruises and cuts. He would draw a bath, he thought, and tend to her as he’s always done. But when he went to disrobe himself, with a pained hiss, he collapsed back down into the chair.
Kneeling before him once more, she began to assist him. “Rough day?” She asked, already knowing the answer. He merely grunted in reply.
Then once he was undressed, she led him to the bed, where he rested against the headboard. Pulling Aelia into his lap, with her back pressed against his chest, he leaned his head forward and spoke softly in her ear. “What happened?” He asked as he started to trail his touch along her injuries, his magic tingling through her as he healed them.
“I ran into trouble with beast tribe in near Locus Amoenus. I sensed a large pooling of aether and discovered a group of them attempting to summon an Eikon.”
“And you were successful in stopping the ritual, I presume.”
“I did.”
“I can’t explain why, but next time you come across something like that, do not stop it.”
“Oh, right… as if I could…”
“I mean it, Aelia.” He huffed, feeling the weight of his years bearing down upon him. “Don’t interfere.”
“I’ve known you long enough to know not to fight it when you use that tone.” Quietly she added, “Ascian business?”
His silence was all the confirmation she needed.
Turning around, she placed her legs on either side of him, then wrapping her hands around his waist, a quiet spark glistened in her eye as peered down to where her she gently squeezed the soft flesh around his sides before trailing her touch over the slightly rounded belly that pudged out around his lower stomach.
“You grow more and more soft each time I return.” She bantered. Then running her hands up his chest, she hung her arms around his neck to look him in the eye.
Rolling his eyes, he retorted, “Lest you forget, this body is mortal… and entering the last phase of its life.”
Wrinkles had set deeply into the corners, and where once his eyes shone golden, they now resembled that of pale morning sunlight. Tenderly, she gathered his hair, which had become mostly white and grown long past his shoulders, and draped its length back over his broad shoulders. Then tracing the line of his jaw with the pad of her finger, she murmured, “You shaped it once before, however…”
“I haven’t found it worth the effort, but if it bothers you so…”
“It doesn’t. I am only teasing.” She smiled, and Solus’ focus concentrated on the creases that had started to form into her expression.
His fingers lightly touched those that lined along her mouth, and a pain struck his chest that made it difficult to breathe. Then pinching a strand of her hair between two fingers, he noted the white strands. More and more each year they came to replace the black that once dominated her wild mane. Under his breath, he muttered, “Such short, fragile lives you all have.”
Lightly, she took his hand into hers and brought it into her lap. Placing the other against his cheek, she kissed him lightly. “I am still here. Do not give up on me yet, yeah?”
Shifting in his lap, he grunted suddenly when her weight settled into the ache in his hip. Closing his eyes, he sighed as repositioned her. Flopping his head back, he rubbed his creased brow then dropped his arm off to the side dramatically. “A soldier’s body does not age well for your kind, it seems.” He grumbled. “It’s no wonder you are all miserable. Traversing into old age with naught but the memories of a too brief life and constant pain to remind you of the ever-approaching end.”
“Oh, poor thing.” She crooned mockingly, placing her lips upon his exposed neck. And though he felt a jolt of excitement cut through his gut, he felt no progress between his legs.
Exhaling deeply, he stated. “My dear, it isn’t that I don’t find you appealing, but it will take a lot of effort on our part if anything is to come of what you’re starting.”
Running her fingers into his hair, her lips teased along the edge of his jaw, “Couldn’t you use your magic…” She murmured.
Groaning resignedly, he uttered, “This body can hardly handle the amount I already spent sealing your wounds. Each time I channel through it I feel it break down even more. Like old stone crumbling against the tide of the sea. If fear by the end it will only be my magic keeping this mortal form alive.”
Her delicate hand gripped what lay limp upon his thigh and began to gently stroke. With his eyes still closed, Solus took in a steady breath. She was not urgent with her touch, but patient. Very slowly, his hand began kneading the plump flesh around her hip as his pulse quickened.
Her breasts, once plump and round with youth, now sat upon her frame, relaxed and at ease. Still however, they billowed out upon him as she leaned onto his side while her other hand traced lines across his stomach and down into his hips.
His dark lips parted as he released a sighing groan, and in her hand, she felt him twitch as a pulse of blood pumped into it.
With just slightly more eagerness, she worked him, and his grip on her backside tightened. Flexing his arm, he urged her on top of him, and she was careful not to lean too much weight onto his lap. Lowering his chin, his languid stare fell to catch onto hers before dropping to take in her pale mouth.
“Come here.” He huskily whispered. And when her kiss melded into his, he placed his hands on her hips and began to guide her movements. Steady and leisurely, she grinded against him, all while their quickened breaths poured into each other with each kiss.
Long had they known each other. Long had they loved each other. And though the insistence of youth had long passed, the dedication learned from a life lived took its place.
Without breaking from their embrace, reaching toward the end table near the bed, Solus uncapped a small bottle he kept there. Deftly turning it over in his hand, he dispensed some of its contents into his hand and sat it carefully back down. Smearing the slick substance from his palm onto his fingers, he tucked his hand between her legs and slid in his stretched fingers.
Breaking from his kiss, she released a pretty little moan, and in response to his touch, with a sharp inhale, her back arched, causing her bosom to swell up toward his face. Tenderly he clasped her breast in his mouth, his tongue encircling the hardened tit when he began pumping his fingers inside her, curving them so that he hit her sensitive flesh with the kind of precision that can only be learned from a lifetime of experience.
Closing his eyes, he focused on his own arousal even as he continued to please his lover. He was halfway there. Trailing his touch with his free hand over the curves of her body, he cupped his hand against her lower back, then with one final caress he pulled his mouth free, muttering her name into her cleavage.
She was close, so close to finding her release, and so he was surprised when she gripped his wrist and pulled him out from her. However, his confusion was short lived. For when she pulled him onto his side, lowering herself to suck his cock into her mouth, without hesitation, he gripped onto her thighs and brought her cunt into his mouth.
Deftly she tended to him, and when a strong surge of pleasure cause the delicate skin of his shaft to stretch, he moaned into her velvet folds as his mouth latched onto them, feasting on her taste. Faster his tongue moved against the bundle of nerves that lie at the apex of her femininity, and tighter her thighs gripped the sides of his head, grinding his nose near her entrance.
“Solus…” She gasped, her voice dripping with an aching need.
“Now.” He urged, gripping onto her arms and pulling her up to him until she straddled him once more. Then with a push of his hips, he slid into her body, feeling her warmth cradle him.
Wrapping his arms around her back, he pulled her into his chest, thrusting up into her body with an unrushed but determined drive. It didn’t take long for Aelia’s climax to hit, and hearing her whimpering moans while her body jolted and writhed atop him as he held her firmly was just what he needed to get himself there, too.
Through clenched teeth, he groaned, the sound something between pain and pleasure, and the darkness of oblivion speckled into his eyesight when he pumped all he had to give inside her. For a few moments, their bodies both fought to escape and prolong the overwhelming elation of their joining until finally they were left panting and dizzy, lying in a heap atop the bed.
Bringing his palm to his face, Solus rubbed his eye as a headache settled in. Then plopping arm down in exhaustion, with the last bit of energy he had left, he tugged Aelia into his side where she rested her head on his shoulder.
With a body limp and heavy, Solus glanced around the well-lit room. Sighing in agitation, he raised his hand, and despite knowing better, he snapped. The room went dark and he jerked as a sharp pain stabbed into his still-racing heart. Squeezing his eyes shut, with bated breath, he waited for the feeling to pass, then slowly he exhaled.
“Are you okay?” She asked, sleepily but with concern.
“I’ll be fine.” He answered. Already feeling the effects of sleep claiming him.