119 iv. Tree House

“Auntie?” Jiro rubbed her eyes to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

She froze hearing the familiar voice of the child. She didn’t know what to say or do as the little boy started to come closer.

Her heart will tear into pieces if he finds out. Not yet, she longs to be with the child a little more.

“You came to daddy’s birthday party, aunt?” he looked up at her so the eyes he has taken after his father stared back at her.

“Ye-yes,” she blushed, how can she be lying to a child? She hoped he will not ask her more questions.

“Then why are you all alone in here, the adults have started dancing. Even mom and dad,” his words wounded her.

She didn’t expect them to dance. He had never danced with his wife before, even out of duty. So it came as a shock that now he will be taking her side as what was expected of them.

She patted the child’s hair as a forced smile appeared on her face, “I much prefer the silence. The noise becomes too loud for my ears and the people dancing made me dizzy.”

“I must have gotten that from you, aunt. Even I hate the crowd. They are a bunch of fakes anyway. I heard people disparaging my family when they didn’t know I was listening. Even our own servants do it,” he offered his little hand to her, which she took.

.....

“Do you mind if I show you my tree house? It will be quiet there, I promise,” seeing his eyes shine like that, she couldn’t help but smile a bit brighter.

“Of course, I would love to see it,” she felt pride that he offered for her to see something important to him.

“Yup, I built it myself. With a bit of help from the servants, of course,” what he said made her giggle.

“Well, it is true. I’ll rather not make you like me for something not real. You are my only friend after all, auntie,” he smiled at her.

Her heart melted from that cute smile, this little boy really has stolen her heart much like his father did before. They continued to walk a bit farther from the party.

They were already inside the deep woods when he looked up at a rather old and sturdy tree. It was pretty tall, maybe three stories.

She gulped looking at how high they were about to climb. She is a human with less-than-normal agility. No matter. She removed her shoes and prayed hard.

She looked at the child but his enthusiasm was something that made her determined not to fail. He went up ahead with no problem and once he reached the tree house he rolled down a ladder made of ropes.

She felt like she will faint just looking at it. She nervously gripped the rope and started to put in one foot at a time.

It was swaying so badly that she felt dizzy. Her skin has turned clammy from the nervousness she felt.

“Come on auntie, try to climb faster,” she forced her body to move.

But when she accidentally looked down, fear struck her, she has climbed at least two stories. She lost her footing and felt her feet slip.

She closed her eyes when her hands let go of the rope. She waited for the crash that followed but all she felt is strong hands that enveloped her.

Dominus. He growled loudly, his whole body trembling from anger as he held her. Even she got scared seeing him like that.

There was a murderous aura about him as his unforgiving eyes scanned the area, landing on the balcony of the tree house.

She remembered Jiro was there, he is probably terrified seeing her like this. The father and child already had a terrible relationship, she couldn’t let the bitterness become even deeper than it already is.

“Hi, Dom,” she smiled as if to convince him she was okay.

“What were you doing here? I have been searching all over for you,” his voice was angry, but his sharp eyes were directed at the child.

She pressed her hand on his cheek and rubbed it gently, “Your noona just came here for a walk.”

“Noona,” bitterness took over him, but before he can correct the matter, she added.

“Yes, noona. Your elder sister. I have met your son, Jiro,” her eyes were teary, hoping he understood what she couldn’t say.

“My son?” his voice suddenly filled with understanding, his eyes calmer as they focused on hers.

“I see. Should I be glad the two of you met?” his hold steadied on her but his voice was still serious and dark.

“Yes, of course. It has been my source of joy to have met your son,” she smiled, trying to be brave amidst his reaction.

“Then should I be glad that little thing nearly killed you today?” he whispered the words in her ear as he carried her away from the scene, neither acknowledging the presence of his child nor greeting him.

The people at the party were all looking at them now, an odd pair as everyone turned silent. Dominus ignored their stares.

Cinderella went in front of them and forced herself to smile, “Please don’t leave your own party like this, alpha. The members of the councils have not even arrived just yet. At least wait for them to greet you properly.”

“Get out of my way,” he said the words without raising his voice but the seriousness in his tone scared his wife, making her stop from blocking their way.

He was silent even when they were on their way home. She held his hand in an attempt at a conversation and that was when she noticed his hands were still trembling.

She looked at him closely, his eyes were shut closed, his breathing was tensed and so was the rest of his body. She took his hands to her lips and kissed them.

She gained no reaction from him, but when she tried to pull away he suddenly embraced her. His arms wrapped around her body as her cheek was pressed into his chest.

“Don’t ever do that again,” she can barely hear him, his words barely a whisper in her ears.

She has never seen him appear this weak, “Promise me,” he said, a little louder this time.

She couldn’t understand what he wanted her to promise but she didn’t have the heart to ask him, she just wanted him to feel better.

She wanted him to feel warm again, to stop his body from trembling, and for him to finally open his eyes. She is not used to seeing him like this. It scares her.

historical

“I promise,” she agreed. To whatever it was he didn’t want her to repeat. To whatever it was that made him so vulnerable, so broken.

She wouldn’t do it again. She wouldn’t risk seeing him again like this. Her heart broke every minute he looked so terrified.

He kissed her hair over and over, still closing his eyes until she hugged him. So tight that she can feel his own heartbeat as his chest pressed across hers.

“I promise, I’ll never do it again,” she said, as he wrapped his trembling arms around her.

“I can’t lose you again, no matter what. I can’t suffer the same pain again. It is too much, too hurtful. I can’t go through the same pain of losing you. Promise not to do that again to me. Don’t leave me alone,” he hugged her so tightly that it hurts her, she felt her bones almost about to be crushed by the force of being pressed against his body.

But she didn’t protest, and when he claimed her lips, she parted her lips for him. She welcomed his tongue as he explored her mouth.

He sat her on his lap and she understood what he wanted, what he needed. A fire to burn and warm his skin, pleasure that will numb him from that momentary pain.

From whatever it was that was so terrible he was reduced to almost nothing within a minute. He needed her. That or to lose his mind.

Because she understood it, she unbuckled his belt and removed her panty, not hesitating that they were still in the backseat and that there was a driver at the front.

She couldn’t care less if the whole world sees them. If the whole world judges them, she is fine with it all.

He needed her and she will let him take what he needed. She rubbed her entrance to the tip of his cock, making him grunt.

“Fuck,” he got hard and ready but she was still not wet, she still needs some time to warm up.

“It is fine, daddy,” she whispered in his ear.

“You will get hurt that way, you aren’t ready,” he reminded her and tried to play with her clit.

“But you need me now,” she looked straight into his eyes as she placed his hands on her waist, urging her to take her then and there.

“Are you sure about this?” he almost growled, the patience in his voice thinning out as she continued to rub her body against his.

“Yes, I promise. I need you now, daddy, if you continue to hesitate,” she lowered herself to him, wincing as she does.

“Don’t regret this later,” he warned her as seeing her try to move her body up and down his shaft became too much.

“Yes daddy, I won’t regret it. Please fuck me. Use me, love me, fill me up with your seeds so you know I am still alive. Bruise me, wound me, inflict pain so you know for sure that I live,” she looked into his eyes as she said the words.

He grunted and slammed his shaft deep inside of her. It was her turn to have her knees weakened from his actions.

She arched her back as he kept on thrusting deep inside of her. Her hair tumbled down as he removed her ponytail, he sniffed her scent and bit into her neck as warm blood trickled down.

He needs it, an assurance that she was alive. And so she gave it to him, she didn’t cut back on her moans and screams, didn’t try to hide behind anything as he took her relentlessly.

“Get out of the fucking car,” he directed the driver who hurriedly parked the car and left.

His hunger made him thrust deeper into her, he kept pushing and pulling out of her womb. Soon the car was rocking in a steady and fast rhythm as her moans and screams filled their ears.

When he was finally satiated, he claimed her lips and filled her womb with his seeds, kissing her bruised shoulders.

“I’m sorry, I’ve bruised you,” he muttered as she clung to him, trembling from the orgasms that continued to rack her body.

“It is fine,” she forced herself not to blank out so she can be here for him. She knew he was already suffering so much and he needed reassurance.

“I love you, my queen,” he said simply, embracing her and burying his face in her neck.

“I love you too, my knight,” it was his very title after all, he smiled hearing it.

“Promise to never leave me then, if you do. If you ever do leave me, I will chain you and tie you to my waist the next life. Even if you hate me for it, you will have to bear it. Because then I won’t be as tolerant as I am now. So better stick by my side and live a good life with me. Let’s grow old together, die together, and find each other again,” he said, kissing her hair.

“Rebirth?” she chuckled. “Does the alpha believe in all that?”

“Maybe,” he kept quiet and caressed her hair, knowing whatever he says will not be believed by her anyway.