“I know, I’m sorry.” Wesley did not want to explain why.
“I’m glad you came.”
Jodie held Wesley’s hand, caressing his fingers between her own.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been blessed with your presence, my lady. Each day I have longed for your touch, yours lips. I thank the Moon Mother all the time for blessing me with your existence.”
Jodie blushed nervously, stroking his hand. Her very presence was almost angelic. The entire world was blurry around her.
Her jet-black hair was tied perfectly, flowed down past her shoulders. She smelled sweet, like summer fruits and exerted a sort of prowess that Wesley had always been obsessed with.
Wesley felt his heart racing and his blood pumping, just like when he was young, when he and Jodie had first made love.
But in the back of his mind came a scream. He knew not if it was his father, his new wife…or his own intuition.
The screams begged him, no. Don’t do it. You risk too much, it is over. She is married, and you are married. You have responsibilities now.
His hand in hers, Wesley leant in to kiss Jodie’s neck. He could not stop himself. Her perfume was sweet, her hair was recently washed and tickled against his short beard.
“I…I…” Wesley was speechless as he put his hand through her soft hair and kissed her gently on the lips.
He felt Jodie’s small body melt in his arms, before tensing up and stopping him.
“I… I actually asked you down here so that we could talk.”
Wesley ignored her, leaning in again for another kiss. His body felt out of his control.
Jodie pushed him back. “I mean it, Wesley.”
“Alright.” Wesley took a step back with crossed arms, awkwardly trying to hide his arousal. “What did you want to talk about?”
Jodie took a moment to compile herself and organise her thoughts. Wesley took in every ounce of her beauty. She was like a living statue, carved from the finest stone and chiselled into a timeless masterpiece.
She was blunt. “I don’t think we should be doing this anymore, Wes. This is not right.” Jodie looked down in despair.
“Then why does it feel so right?” Wesley asked. He took her again. The pair kissed, more passionately this time. He stroked her figure.
Jodie’s back arched as Wesley felt the inclines of her petite body. Her lips tasted of strawberries.
“All my life, I have loved no other,” Wesley spoke into her ear. “I have wanted no other, I have been with no other. When I am with you, everything in the world disappears around me.”
Jodie bit her lip. “I have never wanted anything more, Wes. You know that. But we risk so much. If Petir found out-”
“He will not find out, no one knows about us.”
“And if he does find out?”
“He won’t.”
“But what if he does?” Jodie stepped back from Wesley as she spoke. “I am to be next queen of Ashen. You will be the king of Caldaea, after your father. We are both married, and now we are siblings-by-law. We have a duty to our families and our kingdoms now. We are not young anymore, Wes.”
The words hit hard, nearly taking his breath away. Wesley heard the screaming voices from within once again. He could see in her eyes that she meant what she said. Maybe she is right.
“Even if duty means being unhappy and unable to ever have what I truly want?” Wesley asked. He stared straight into her gorgeous eyes.
“Duty is not without sacrifices. It is the steps we take and the decisions we make in the name of our Houses which echo through the ages, which consolidate our power.”
“What book did you read that from?” Wesley said with a smirk.
“Wes, I’m serious. This is serious.”
“We have nothing to fear, Jodie. We can keep this secret, like we always have.”
Jodie shook her head. “House Blacktree and House Seynard have only just reached a peaceful resolution to the border conflict. Is it not foolish of us to continue an affair and risk a chance at reconciliation?”
Wesley thought about her argument. He knew she was right on some level, but he continued trying to counter every reasonable argument in his head.
He’d say anything to avoid ending what they had.
Wesley attempted another smile to make Jodie feel at ease. “You overthink, my lady.”
“And you underthink, my lord,” Jodie rebutted. “I fear our luck will run out. We risk so much- if our families found out it would ruin us. There would be war! We must think of our people now.”
“Fuck the people, I want you,” Wesley said, pulling her in closer by the hips.
Jodie could not resist a smirk. “You have a quick tongue, Wesley Seynard.”
“Let me show you what I can do with this tongue,” he replied, kissing her ear.
Jodie let out a chuckle as she felt his warm mouth kissing her face but soon pushed him back once again. “I’m sure you will make your new wife very happy.”
Wesley stopped, and stared into Jodie’s eyes. “Please, Jodie. I cannot live without you. I will not live without you.”
“Give it time, and you will find a way. We have made it this long without each other.”
“Yes, but only because I knew I would eventually see you again.”
Jodie shook her head. Their emotions were beginning to rise. Wesley felt tears well up in his eyes.
“Why did you even ask me to come down here?”
“To tell you… that it’s over, Wesley. We cannot… I will not do this any longer. If Petir, or Creator-forbid, if King Emery found out about us…” Jodie shook her head. “Imagine the damage that would cause. We would smear our family names for decades to come.”
Wesley felt himself choke up. It was as though he could
