Chapter Fourteen

"Don't go to sleep just yet." Aidan said.

I opened my eyes to look at him, the sweat glistening in the light as it rolled down his face and fell onto my body. I finally saw his body, covered in ornate, black tattoos. As I looked him over I saw it was all one tattoo that connected and intertwined. I lifted my arm up and traced some of his tattoo with my index finger from his chest to his chiseled arms.

"They cover my scars." He said with a frown.

"S-scars?" I ask, the fog in my brain finally starting to lift.

"The one that bastard King gave me."

"He's dead Aidan." I say and raise my hand to his face. I caress his cheek, he's surprised at first but leans into my touch. "He can't hurt you ever again."

He let out a sigh then turned his head to place kisses on my palm.

"Do you know how long I've waited for your touch Ari? To hear your voice say my name. Feel your skin on mine, your gasps, your moans. To taste you even just one more time?"

"I'm here now." I say.

"Wait here." He gave me a kiss on the lips then got up. He pulled his pants off the floor and onto his body in one fluid motion. He opened the door slightly and told the servants to bring something in. I rolled onto my side and cradled the pillow to place it under my head. He came back to the bed and sat beside me.

"You can't fall asleep just yet." He says in a low voice. He gingerly plants wet kisses up my arm, up my neck, and to my ear. His stubble tickles me and I move in response. "You're still ticklish?"

"Y-yes." I say and look up at him. His fingers begin to dance along my side. "B-but don't get any ideas."

"I wouldn't dream of it Your Majesty." He says in a sarcastic tone. Just then the servants came in to pour the bath. I let out a sigh of relief as if I was saved.

"It's time for your bath." He got up and helped them set up other equipment. I sat up to see what they were doing, bringing the blanket with me to cover my torso.

"What is that?" I ask.

He shoos the servants away – they trip over themselves to bow at both of us before scurrying out of the room.

"Don't worry about it." He says as he walks over to me.

"T-tell me please. N-no more secrets." I hold my breath as he looks down at me. He sighs and sits down next to me.

"It's…for tattooing." He says as he gently pulls at the covers. "In my culture the bride is covered in temporary tattoos to showcase her pending nuptials." He said as his fingers trace my sides.

"B-but I'm not a bride." I say.

His hand stops, he clinches his fist and looks away.

"I-I mean you never…" I was fumbling over my words.

"Never what?" He asked angrily as he looked back.

"Asked." I say in a meek, barely audible voice.

His facial expression softened and he dropped his hand.

"I guess I didn't think I'd like the answer." He said plainly.

"I-I care for you Aidan. I thought you abandoned me just like my brother, my parents, and everyone else in my life but…even after all these years and all the beautiful women throwing themselves at you…" I say my face starting to feel like the sun was nestled inside my face.

"It's always been you." He said.

I snuck a peek at his face which only made me more flustered.

"It will always be you. The only one I'll ever want." He says as he pulls the blanket down further.

"I don't think I'll…be enough." I say and cover my chest with my arms.

"Marry me." He says and uncrosses my arms from my chest. "And I'll show you that you are more than enough. Even if it takes my whole life."

"W-Will it hurt?"

"Will what hurt?"

"Th-the tattoo? Will it hurt? W-Will I like it?"

"It'll be beautiful, just like you. It might sting a little but it won't last."

I look past him at the equipment and bit my lip as I thought about it.

"I-if it worries you that much we can forgo th-the tattoo." He says in a nervous tone.

"N-no I was just wondering what it'd be like to have one an-and to have them all over me f-forever it's just…" I say as my attention snaps back to him.

He let out a laugh and I wasn't sure why.

"They're temporary, the bridal tattoos. They only last a few weeks." He said.

"O-oh." I say as I look down and let out a sigh of relief.

"Are you going to keep me waiting?" He asked.

"Hm?" I ask and look back up at him.

"You told me to ask you…so I did."

"O-oh." I said and my cheeks flamed up again. "Yes."

"Yes?" He asked excitedly and I nodded my head. "You'll marry me?" He asked again, as if he didn't believe me or didn't hear me.

"Yes." I say again and nod happily.

He kisses me over and over again, opening his mouth so his tongue could seek out mine. He pulled me up onto his lap, my legs on either side of him.

"Ai-Aidan." I say as he placed hot kisses all over my torso.

"If you knew the thoughts that went into my head when you say my name like that or make that face you probably wouldn't do them again." He said.

"O-our bath water is getting cold." I say in an embarrassed tone.

"I can always have the servants get us more hot water."

"Come on, be serious."

"I am serious Ari. I could spend all night in this bed with you and it'd be the happiest night of my life."

"S-save it for our wedding night."

"It seems a little late for that, doesn't it?" He said as he moved the hair behind my shoulder.

"I-I," I say in a flustered tone, "it's never too late."

"But you wanted it as much as me. I know you did."

"I-I did but I-we shouldn't have."

"We already did, it's done, today and six years ago remember?"

"I-I remember. But we should still wait until-"

"Well then we should get busy with the wedding planning because I don't know how long I can wait." He says. My whole body temperature starts to shoot up again.

"Ai-Aidan."

"And the tattoos only last a couple weeks. Plenty of time for a wedding before we meet the new King."

"T-that soon?"

"Not having second thoughts?"

"Wh-what no?"

"Tell me now if you are…I can't lose you again."

"Stop thinking like that. You're not losing me."

He smiles. "That is what I wanted to hear. Now lets get in the bath before the water goes cold."