Kaillas felt his hard heart soften a little as she snuggled in close to him. He tried to tell himself that this was no different than all the other times she had fallen asleep against him. Only it wasn't. Because this time he was staying. There was no sneaking off after she had Falken asleep. Thus was his room and his bed and they were husband and wife. This was fine. This was okay to do. And yet it was still strange to him. It woukd take time to get used to.
After a time he relaxed more into tye hold and he seemed to curl around her further. Her head was tucked under his chin and he dropped his hand to the thighs that was over his hip. He released a sigh and pressed a soft kiss to her temple.
He seemed to melt into the bed as he grew more relaxed. He couldn't blame it on the wine, that had been hours ago. It was simply due to her calming nature. He felt like she soothed his woes and worries. He adored her.
Minutes passed by and his eyes finally closed shut as sleep took him. For once, he dreamt of nothing but happy memories. His usual nightmares were fought away because of Ophelia.
As the soft rays of sunlight filter through the curtains, Ophelia gradually stirs from her peaceful slumber. Her eyes flutter open, and she finds herself greeted by the sight of her husband lying next to her. A smile forms on her lips as she takes in the tranquil scene. This is the first time she’s ever woken up with him still next to her. It’s strange but wonderful.
She shifts slightly, careful not to disturb Kaillas, and props herself up on her elbow. With a tender gaze, she studies his features, his relaxes expression, and the way his chest rises and falls with each steady breath. It’s not often that she gets to see him looking so peaceful.
Reaching out, she gently brushes a strand of hair away from Kaillas' face, her touch feather-light. She uses the utmost care to not wake him up. With a soft sigh of contentment, she leans down and presses a gentle kiss to his forehead.
With that, she settles back into the bed and allows herself to enjoy a few more moments of tranquility before the world outside beckons them into a new day together.
Kaillas woke as Ophelia began to move. He was a very light sleeper and practically any movement had him waking. He kept his eyes closed and tried not to alert her that he was awake. He wanted to see what she was going to do. But the kiss on his head his his lips pulling in a smile and he couldn't hide jt any longer.
Without opening his eyes, he tightened his arms around her as she laid back down in his arms. He lightly ran his fingers up and down her back. For being such an early bird he admitted he wasn't quite ready to get up. He was quiet content.
However, there was an issue. There was one part of him that was already up. The blasted morning wood was up and ready to go. He wished she woukd feel it but he knew it was up against her stomach. He didn't want to pull away, worried she woukd comment on it. But he was also worried this would scare her some.
Ophelia notices the smile on his face, realizing that he's awake. Hopefully she isn't the reason he's up. She wants him to get as much rest as he can. She hums softly as she tucks her head against him once again. Not wanting to ruin the peaceful moment they're sharing, she stays quiet for now. She feels him tighten his arms around her as she settles back into his embrace, and she enjoys the sensation of his fingers lightly tracing patterns on her back.
As she lays there in his arms, she notices something pressing up against her stomach. It takes her a minute to realize what it is. A furious blush ignites across her cheeks as she hides her face against his chest. She has no idea what she's supposed to do. Mentioning it would be awkward and she doesn't want to end their snuggles just yet.
She remains quiet and still, her mind racing to figure out what the best way to go about this is. She's suddenly very glad to have had her talks with Catalina and Elora. She wouldn't know what was happening if she hadn't. However, hearing about this happening is one thing but now that it's actually happening, she's clueless.
Kaillas wasn't sure what to do. In the event that it was someone else, well, he woukd have known exactly what to do. But Ophelia was different. She was soft and sweet and his wife. He wanted to do right by her. Starting with ending all of his other affairs. She was young so he wanted to wait before starting any sexual relations. He wanted her to live first before he took over that part of her life.
So now the question was what to do? Should he pretend it wasn't there? He could laugh it off. Or he could explain what was happening and apologize for the issue. He eventually decided on a mix of things.
He let out an awkward laugh, losening his grip on her as he sat up in bed. "Sorry," he said, a cringed on his face. "It happens sometimes when I wake up. Just ignore it. It'll go away in a few minutes."
So much for a quiet morning.
Though she appreciates the efforts Kaillas is going through to ensure her comfort, she does wish that he wouldn’t treat her like a child. She may be younger than him but she doesn’t think the age gap is that large. Of course, she doesn’t want to just rush into things but she wants him to treat her like the adult she is.
Luckily, since she hasn’t the slightest clue what to do, Kaillas decides to end the awkward silence by sitting up. She’s a little sad their moment has Ro end but it’s probably for the best. Pulling away a bit, she sits up as well, figuring that’s the best thing to do.
“It’s alright,” She assures him with a weak smile, not wanting him to feel bad for something he can’t control.
The downside to them both sitting up is that she can now see the problem. Before it was just a weird feeling of something pressed into her stomach but now the lump in the covers makes his problem a little more obvious. She tries to keep her gaze averted but a look or two is stolen.
Kaillas felt a little awkward. He had never been in this situation before. He's always been with women who knew what they were doing and understood the way of things. Ophelia didn't. He would be lying if it didn't give him satisfaction that he would be the one to teach her. But not today.
He placed his hand on her lower back, a teasing smile on his face as he noticed she looked down not once, but twice. He raised his eyebrows at her when she finally looked into his eyes. "Do you like what you see?"
He couldn't help but tease her. It was so easy and he loved seeing her blush. It was adorable. He leaned forward to kiss her forehead before pulling back. "Since it's later in the day," it was barely afternoon, "Let's take today easy. I have a few things planned for us this week but we'll relax today. Let's get ready and go have some lunch. Then we can take a walk on the beach and explore a little if you'd like."
It had been a long time since he had walked down that beach. A couple of years now. It had been harder and harder to get away from court these past few years and he was thankful for the excuse to get away.
The blush on her face is furious when Kaillas calls her out in a teasing manner. She hadn’t meant to stare! This is just all new to her so she can’t help but be a little curious. Getting caught deeply embarrasses her. She had thought she was being subtly but that’s obviously not the case. “Leave me be,” She chides him lightly, though merely joking back in return.
She closes her eyes for a brief moment when he kisses her forehead, enjoying the affection. “A walk on the beach sounds nice,” She agrees, looking forward to it. Though she doesn’t want to admit it yet, she’s never actually been to the beach before. She’s seen it in painting and read about it in books but has never actually seen it. Her kingdom is landlocked.
Knowing that they need to get up, she offers a light smile to her husband before climbing out of bed and stretching. It takes her a moment to notice that her nightgown is a bit disheveled from sleeping so long. She runs her hands down the fabric to smooth it back out.
Kaillas laughed, squeezing her waist. He was perfectly fine with her looking. It did good on his ego for her to look with such interest. He wouldn't brag but he was larger than the average man. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you be for now." But he would certainly tease her for it later.
"You'll like it," he said, "White sand, small waves. There's plenty of seashells to find." When he was there with his sisters, they would always build sandcastles together and even make a competition out of it. Kaillas lost every time of course, because he couldn't dare to win against them.
"We can go swimming as well if you'd like to. If you know how to swim." He wouldn't dare to assume. Not everyone knew how to swim. Not everyone lived near a large water source. If she didn't, he would teach. Just not here. The ocean coukd be dangerous if you didn't already know how to swim.
Kaillas sat in bed as she got up, staring at her. He didn't think he had ever truly been around her in just her nightgown. She had always had a robe over it. Seeing her in the luscious solk was not helping his problem at all. He was going to take a long bath. The only way to get rid of this now was to deal with it.
Ophelia glances back at Kaillas, an amused smile on her lips as he squeezes her waist. She won’t deny that she enjoys the attention. Her husband has a certain charm about him and she likes that she’s the one who has his attention. It may seem silly but she loves how special he can make her feel.
"Sounds wonderful," She replies, admittedly excited to explore everything. The description of the beach and the prospect of finding seashells intrigues her. She greatly looks forward to finally seeing a beach in person. It’s always sounded so wonderful and now she can find out for herself.
"I do know how to swim," She assures him with a nod. "Though I’ve never swam in an ocean.” There are a few lakes around the castle she grew up in. She used to sneak out at night and go swimming in the moonlight. It’s one of the very few rebellious things she’s done before.
Glancing over to him, she notices the stares. “Do you like what you see?” She asks innocently, throwing his words right back at him. Normally she wouldn’t be so bold as to say something like that but she doesn’t know when else she’ll get a chance to tease him back so she’s taking this one.
Kaillas nodded his head with a small smile. "You'll like. Just stay close to the shore and you'll be fine." He liked swimming. It gave him a peace of mind. And while the salt water could be irritating to the eyes, he still like to splash around with his sisters and play with them.
His eyes slowly looked her up down, unashamed that his was noticeably looming at her. He had a sly smile on his lips. "I do."
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and approached her. She woukd find out just what happened when she teased him. Of course he couldn't do what he truly wanted to. Not yet at least. But that didn't mean he couldn't have a little fun.
He grabbed her hips and pulled her against him, flush up against his waist. She would certainly be able to feel his erection now. He kept his hands low on her waist, digging in his fingers. He dipped his head, brushing his lips over hers, a tease of a kiss. "You should be careful how much you teaee," he murmured, "I'll make it so much worse."
Then he pulled away, leaving her waiting for a kiss that wouldn't come. He patted her side, "go get ready. I'll meet you outside our rooms and then we can go to lunch."
Ophelia watches as Kaillas gets off of the bed and approaches her, completely unprepared for his retaliation. She, of course, knew that there would be a response to what she did but she wasn’t expecting this. Her eyes widen and she gasps at his actions.
Anticipation bubbles up in her chest as Kaillas's hands firmly grip her hips, pulling her close to him. The undeniable evidence of his desire presses against her and causes a surge of excitement course through her veins. His teasing lips brushing against hers leaves her longing for more, her own breath hitching at his whispered words.
With huge deer like eyes of shock, she stares at him as he pulls away, leaving her in a state of heightened anticipation. She watches him pat her side and give her instructions, her eyes tracing his every movement. The intense teasing nature of their interaction has her feeling heavily flustered.
"Oh,” She breathes out, unable to produce proper words right now. She give him the satisfaction of admitting that she almost wants to see him do worse.
With a lingering gaze, she turns and headed toward her room, in a dazed state as she tries to process what just happened. She grips tightly at the soft silks of her nightgown, needing to get out of the room before she makes an even bigger fool of herself.
Kaillas had a pure, male smirk on his lips as he watched her. She was at a loss of words. He can't say that's ever happened to him before. But it made him feel satisfied that he had stunned her past words. He raised his fingers to his lips, watching as she left. He almost wished that he had grabbed her and pulled her back to him. But not yet. Not yet.
He took a longer bath than necessary, a fantasy playing out in his head as he dealt with his erection. He had to bite his lip to keep quiet. The walls would only hold back so much.
Once he was finished and washed, he dressed in simple trousers and a shirt. He laced up his boots that he woukd most definitely be taking off before they reached the beach. The sand was horrendous to clean out of shoes.
Brushing back his hair, he opened the door and walked put into the hallway. He leaned back against the wall, waiting for Ophelia to finish dressing and join him. His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he had gone too long without food.
Ophelia takes a few minutes to compose herself. Once she’s finally pulled herself together, she works on getting ready, her mind still filled with the lingering sensation of Kaillas's touch and the tantalizing promise of what is to come. That man is going to unravel her one of these days, she’s certain of that.
She selects a comfortable dress, something light and simple, perfect for the beach. Luckily, the maids aren’t in the room so she’s able to get ready and deal with her thoughts on her own. Once dressed, she combs out her hair and then pulls it back into a long braid. That should keep her hair out of the way while she explores the beach.
As she completes her preparations, she tries to clear her head from everything that just happened. Though she knows that she has to wait, she still finds herself yearning for more intimate moments and shared experiences with Kaillas.
Finally ready, Ophelia steps out of her room and makes her way toward the hallway where he’s waiting. Her eyes met his and she offers a light smile, deciding to pretend that their interaction from a few minutes ago didn’t phase her. “Shall we go get lunch?”
Kaillas lifted his eyes as he heard the door open. He smiles as he looks at her dress. Soft and flowy, perfect for their vacation home. He pushed off the wall and walked the few short steps to greet her. "Not quite yet," he said.
He cupped her cheek and beant his head to kiss her. It was soft and light. Nothing like the atmosphere that it had been while they were in his room. He parted from her lips and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then he took her hand and said, "Alright, now I'm ready for lunch."
He had needed the kiss.he had left then both hanging when he had teased her earlier. He needed to make up for it especially now that his mind and body were cooperating. There was no risk of anything growing now.
Holding her hand, he walked her down the steps and through the hall to the dining room. It was much faster to find in this estate as opposed to the palace. Breakfast had already been laid out on the table for them. He pulled out a chair for Ophelia to sit then took the chair at the head of the table. It was sandwiches for lunch with a side of sliced fruit. Something light and easy kn the stomach before they went out in the sun. Their glasses were filled with water so that they could hydrate.
“What are you still needing to do?” Raising her brows, she tries to figure out what else he needs to do before they go eat. It seems like he’s all dressed and ready. The answer is incredibly sweet and has her feeling like she’s in a love story like the ones she used to read as a child.
Her heart flutters as Kaillas cups her cheek, his tender kiss leaving her feeling like the luckiest person in the world. She closes her eyes, savoring the softness of the moment, and smiles as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. His gestures are sincere and touches her deeply, reassuring her that they can have a good marriage.
Taking his hand in hers, Ophelia allows herself to be led by Kaillas toward the dining room. The layout of the house is much simpler than that of the palace, and she appreciates the ease with which they navigate their way.
Grateful for the chair pulled out for her, she carefully settles into it, glancing at the spread before them. The sandwiches and sliced fruit look appetizing and refreshing, perfect for the day ahead. She reaches for a glass of water, taking a sip to quench her thirst, and then focuses her attention on Kaillas.
Kaillas picked up two havles of a sandwich and placed it on her plate. He then added a variety of fruit for her as well. He always plated her food before his own. He remembered briefly of his father. He always did the same thing for his mother. He would plate her food and let her take the first bite before eating anything himself. The few things he remembered of his father he admired. He wanted to be like him. A good king and husband.
He placed four halves of sandwiches on his plate as well as some fruit. He was a hungry man and it took a lot of calories to sustain all of his muscles. He was constantly hungry, especially after training. He felt like he could eat a whole cow.
He turned to Ophelia, noticing that her gaze was stuck on him. He blinked, surprised. He wasn't used to someone watching him like she did. "Is everything alright?" He asked. He wasn't sure if the look was a good one or a bad one.
His gaze shifted briefly to the servant's behind them. There were only two attendants and a steward at the door. It was relatively low for a household staff. But he preferred as little as possible when staying her. This was his home away from home. He couldn't very well relax with over a hundred household staff.
Ophelia's gaze lingers on Kaillas as he plated the food, a sense of appreciation in her eyes. She admires the thoughtful gesture, the way he puts her first and ensures that she’s taken care of before attending to his own needs. It’s a small act, but it speaks volumes about his character and the kind of partner he could be.
As he turns his focus to her and asks if everything was alright, her attention snaps back to the present moment. She realizes that she has been lost in her thoughts, staring at him the whole time. She feels bad for worrying him. That hadn’t been her goal.
"Everything is fine," She assures him quickly, not wanting to cause him any concern. “I just got a little lost in my thoughts.”
Her gaze shifts briefly to the staff behind them, their discreet presence a stark contrast to the bustling palace. It’s nice to have so few people around. Now she can relax without having to worry about dozen of people studying her and judging every move she makes. This place is honestly a sanctuary.
Digging into her sandwich, she savors the flavors, letting the simple pleasure of the meal fill her senses. She is grateful for the chance to spend this time with Kaillas, relishing in the peacefulness of the moment before the beach adventure calls she.
She bites into a plump red strawberry, humming contently at the taste. Everything is fresh and delicious. Every meal she’s had since arriving in this kingdom has been wonderful. She licks the strawberry juice off of her lips, enjoying the meal.
Kaillas reached over to grip her hand. He gave her a small squeeze before returning his hand to his placemat. "Anything you would like to share?" He asked. When his sisters were lost in thought they liked it when he inquired. The only problem was that he couldn't get then to stop talking.
He takes a bite after she does. He finished it faster, taking larger bites and swallowing the whole thing in about three bites. He alternated between taking bites of the sandwich and bites of fruit. It wasn't his favorite thing, fruit. He proffered meat and mead. Unfortunately, the palace was filled mostly with wine.
As he sat back to take a sip of his water, he watched Ophelia as she ate with a gentle smile on his lips. He was looking forward to their walk on the beach. There were a few caves further down he was looking to see again. Not just for nostaglia.
A couple of guards would be following them. It was inevitable. They were the head of the monarchy. Their safety was important. But those shallow caves could offer then a little peace from the guards as they could things in the dark away from prying eyes. He almost wished they could be normal and he could kiss his wife without everyone turning their eyes to them.
Ophelia glances up from her plate, her eyes meeting Kaillas'. Taking a sip of water, she cleared her throat before responding. "I'm just lost in thoughts. It's nothing of importance," She assures him, seeing no reason to discuss the millions of little things running through her mind right now. None of which are worth discussing. Not now at least.
She smiles and squeezes his hand lightly in return, appreciating the gesture. It's nice to know that he's willing to listen if she wants to discuss what's on her mind.
Though she doesn't look at them directly, she knows that the guards are hovering in the background. She does, of course, appreciate that they're protected but sometimes she wishes that they would just go away. The feeling of being watched all of the time is unsettling. She wishes that they have more privacy. Everything they do is being closely monitored and it's frustrating.
She finishes eating a few minutes later, full and satisfied from the meal. "Shall we go?" She asks, eager to get outside and see the beach. Going to the beach is something that she's wanted to do for years so she's thrilled that she's finally able to have that opportunity. She just hopes that it will live up to her expectations.
Kaillas had eaten all four halves of sandwiches plus a couple of extra. He hadn't eaten much in the past day or so and he had been starving. He left about half of his fruit on the plate.
He looked to Ophelia as she finished and nodded his head. He pushed back from the table and help out his hand for her to take. "Yes, let's."
The beach was just a few yards away from the back door of the estate. He led her down the short hall to the back door. He opened it for her, letting her walk put first before following. Two guards took up positin behind them, following them as they traveled down the patches of grass. He paused just before they reached the beach to unlace his boots and tug them off. He pulled his socks off and stuffed them in the shoes.
"Take your shoes off, trust me." It was a pain to walk with sand in the shoes. He knew from experience. He held her hand to help steady her as she took off her shoes.
Ophelia happily takes his hand as she stands up. She follows after him, glad that they're finally going. Eating something was important but she's excited to see the beach. Waiting hasn't been easy. She intertwines their fingers as they make their way out of the house and towards the beach. The sound of crashing waves grows louder with each step, piquing her interest.
Following his lead, she pauses with him just before they reach the sandy shore. She watches as he unlaces his boots and removes his socks, admittedly confused by this. "Alright," She agrees with a nod, believing him when he tells her that this will be easier.
She places a hand on his arm for support as she bends down to pull off her shoes, taking them off one by one. She wiggles her toes in the soft grass, savoring the sensation before she steps onto the warm sand. With wide eyes, she looks around and tries to take everything in. The beach is exactly how all of those books described. The soft sand and the crystal clear water is stunning.
She takes a step forward, the sand sinking beneath her bare feet. It's a strange feeling and she's not quite sure how she feels about the texture. The breeze carries a salty tang, and the vast expanse of the ocean stretches out before them. She tugs gently on Kaillas' hand, wanting to walk along the shoreline and explore everything.
Kaillas held tight on her hand, watching as she took her first steps on the sand. He smiled, watching her for a moment before joining her. He dug his toes into the sand, grounding himself for a moment.
He watched as she lit up with joy. With a small laugh, he followed her down the beach. He stroked his thumb over the skin on her hand. He looked down at her, just watching. He had walked along these beaches dozens of times. He had been too young to remember what his first time was like seeing the ocean and the sand. He was glad he got to witness this moment with her.
He found a whole seashell on the beach, ribbed and with splashes of coral pink and beige. He bent at the waist, picking it up and handing it to her. "Here, something as pretty as you are."
He regretted the words as soon as he said it. It was cheesy and corny and what she found the shell ugly. Then he was practically calling her ugly. Courting was hard. He was better with men. They fought and grunted and slapped one another on the ass that was it.
He ran his free hand through his hair, ruining the styled hair. It stuck up in a few places and was a contrast to his usual swept over hair. It made him look younger almost. It was this place really, it shaved off a few years.
To say she’s delighted us an understatement. The beach is quickly becoming her favorite place. Everything is so wonderful here. The warm sand feels amazing on her feet and that gentle breeze keeps things from getting too hot. It’s perfect.
Looking at the seashell that’s being handed to her, a smile lights up her face. She admires the intricate patterns and the delicate colors, finding it beautiful in its own unique way. Kaillas' words may have come out a bit awkward, but she understands his intentions.
That corny little compliment may seem ridiculous to him but it has her absolutely charmed. She finds his efforts to be sweet and romantic. This she’ll has instantly become one of her most prized possessions due to his words and the genuine sweetness of the gesture.
"Thank you, Kaillas," She says sincerely, holding the shell carefully in her hand. She leans in and presses a kiss to his cheek, her eyes filled with affection.
She took a step forward, guiding him closer to the water's edge. As the waves gently laps at her feet, she shivers. The water is cooler than she anticipated but it still feels wonderful. She sighs softly in contently as she leans into him.
Kaillas felt his heart soothe as she gave him a bright smile. His eyes shuddered close for a moment as he felt her lips on his skin. He was glad she liked it. His eyes glanced back at their tail. The two guards behind them were following a few feet away. Enough to give them space but close enough to step in if a supposed assassin stepped out and attacked then.
He followed her to egde of the water, feeling as the cool waves brushed over his feet. The first thing he was doing when they returned was washing his feet. The sticky salt water and sand was not a fun combo.
He put an arm around Ophelia's should as she leaned back against him. He placed a delicate kiss on the top of her head. "Come on, there's still more to see. Let's walk a little bit further."
Just a little further and past the bend and they would be able to see the small series of caves. He was itching to pull her into a little privacy. Even if the beach was private and no one walked along it other than them. The guards would station out front, backs turned to them and it would be a moment of privacy. No eyes on them less there be any critters in the cave with them.
