6. Chapter SixAaron
Chapter Six
Aaron
T wo weeks into our marriage, Melina was nothing if not persistent. It was both frustrating and exciting. While she pretended to be an annoying creature, she would counter it with acts of kindness, even if she didn’t realize it. Our first week together, she showed me around town and told me bits and pieces about herself when she grew tired of being a brat and playing tricks. She even watched hologram programming with me, although she sat as far away from me as she possibly could. In fact, ever since I’d gotten her to orgasm a few mornings ago, she avoided touching me at all beyond the required hug. Even the hugs were resistant. She wouldn’t wrap her arms around me and was always stiff, like a teenager annoyed with their parent’s doting.
This was a shame because I rather enjoyed our time that morning. The taste of her lips was just as sweet as I hoped. Remembering the smoothness of her nipples in my mouth and the look of pure rapture on her beautiful face when she came played in a loop in my mind. My showers had become much longer with those memories. I could feel myself harden at just the thought. I began to suspect she actually might not hate me and was keeping her distance to ensure she didn’t begin to like me. That gave me hope that I could break down her wall and get her to realize that what I was offering was not a bad life.
Of course, I had to be just as persistent as she was with me. I had to get her to realize that her pranks were never going to work on changing my mind about helping her end our marriage. She was stuck with me, and my only goal was to get her to understand that. It would be a bonus if she were actually pleasant about it all, but not a necessity. So, when she dyed my hair green with a potion that should have been my hair cleanser, I simply laughed. I would not let her win.
Which was why my vomit-colored hair was currently at her boutique shop. It was late and most businesses were closed on her street except for the restaurants and bars. Yet, my wife was still working.
I walked in, carrying dinner that I purchased at one of the restaurants. I had not been to her shop before, but it wasn’t exactly what I expected such a place to be. It looked posh, with dark red walls trimmed in gold, glass shelves of elixirs and potions against the wall on the right, along with other bottles, trinkets, and jewels on display tables in the center of the space and in the front display windows. A rectangular cashier’s stand with a display case stood in the back center with velvet curtains further behind it, most likely an office and bathroom area. Off to the left were two stylist booths with mirrors and chairs. Dim lights hung from above in intricate tubed shapes. Slow guitar and drum music played through unseen speakers, and the aroma of eucalyptus-scented the air, although I could still smell her sweet scent underneath.
Standing at one of the booths was Melina, with a female Fae sitting in front of her. She stood behind the Faerie with her hands on her shoulders. Through the reflection of the mirror, I saw that her eyes were closed. The Faerie sat with an expectant look as she stared into the mirror. She was older with long, curly white hair, lines etched around her forehead, and blue eyes marking her long life. Suddenly, the Faerie jerked in her seat, back straightening. And then it was as if her features were blurring, and I could see her wrinkles erasing, her skin tightened. Red sprouted from her roots and dripped down her white hair, covering it like paint. When it was all done, Fae looked several decades younger than before.
Our kind were no strangers to glamour, but it had its limits. The longer we lived, the less potent it would be by either not lasting as long or not being as strong. Since we aged slowly, it was a good guess that this Faerie was at least 200 years old. Melina had made her look younger than us. Just a fraction of that age. I couldn’t even see the tell-tale aura of magic around her.
The Faerie clapped in delight, running her fingers over her face as she leaned into the mirror. “Oh, this is extraordinary, Melina. My friends said you did amazing work, but I didn’t believe you could make me look so young.” The woman kept staring, and I could see tears in her eyes. “I know it’s vain at my late age to care so much, but even at nearly 300 years of age, I still want to feel as pretty as I can. You don’t know how much this means to me. It’s how I looked when I was young. I didn’t think that was possible, but I looked the exact same. How long will this last, again?”
Melina, who had since opened her eyes, gave her a modest smile. “It will last a year longer if you use my potions once a month. And, of course, you can come in for annual touch-ups. I have a package deal going right now.”
I smiled, impressed by her business sense and ability to have such a long-lasting glamour for an elder Faerie. She looked through the mirror, noticing me, and raised a curious brow but did not speak. I moved to the cashier counter and placed my bag of food down.
When the pair got to the counter to ring up the Faerie’s purchases, I bowed to the older Faerie and waved a hand at Melina.
“Are you one of her clients as well? You look so handsome. Absolutely perfect. Minus that hair,” the Fae asked, inspecting my face.
I leaned forward. “Thank you. She is amazing, isn’t she? Worth every bit of her price.”
The Faerie nodded in agreement as she paid Melina. When she turned to leave, she gave me another assessing gaze. “You should use him in your advertisements, Melina. But then again, you’d get so much business you’d have to raise your prices.”
I winked at her. “I was just going to say the same about you. You are far too kind.”
The Fae chuckled and waved a dismissive hand at me before leaving. When I turned back to the counter, Melina was now scowling at me with her arms crossed over her chest. I was used to that greeting. I knew it was fake, so it didn’t bother me.
“Why did you lie to her? You aren’t glamoured.”
I shrugged. “She didn’t know that, and if it aids your business, that’s a bonus.”
“Guessing you’re mad about the hair?” she asked dryly.
I flipped my hair back off my shoulders. “I actually like it. Think it suits my complexion.”
She twisted her lips in doubt. “It makes you look sick.”
“Lovesick for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “No, that’s something you can’t offer, remember?”
Touché. I winced internally, not having a retort to her truth.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
“I missed my wife.” I patted the tote of food. “Hungry?”
She eyed the bag suspiciously.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t poison the food or douse it in spices like a certain someone we both know.”
“I’m not hungry,” she replied, but her eyes weren’t leaving my tote of food that I sat down on the counter.
I shrugged. “Guess I’ll eat on my own here. I’ll stay until you finish up. Then I’m taking you home.”
I took a container out and opened the top, obnoxiously waving the scent of food over in her direction. She leaned back, pursing her lips together in annoyance, but still, those ruby eyes remained on my food. I took a bite and closed my eyes, savoring the flavors.
“Hmm, this is delicious. I must say, you Prinathians aren’t bad cooks. I don’t know how I’m going to eat all of this, but I’ll find a way.”
She sneered at me and went back to her inventory or whatever she was doing. She seemed to be documenting something on a tablet with a pen she was also holding.
I took another fork full of food and this time put it in front of her face. “Sure, you don’t want any of this?”
She glared up at me. “Could you please leave?”
“A husband tries to feed his wife, and this is how she reacts? So cold.”
“I said I wasn’t hungry.”
As if to prove her a liar, at that exact moment, her stomach emitted a loud growl.
I pointed at her with my free hand. “Then what was that?”
Melina’s eyes widened, and she placed a hand over her stomach. “You heard nothing.”
“So, is your plan to starve to make me look bad? That’s quite an aggressive plan, Rabbit.”
She twisted her lips and walked from behind the counter, locking the front door and putting up a closed sign. She then tilted her head for me to follow her behind the curtains. The space in the back was small, with just a round table with two chairs, a small couch, a closet, and another door that led to a bathroom.
“How is it this place is so neat, but you keep the house so messy?” I asked as I looked around.
I already knew the answer to that. She was being messier than usual to annoy me. On that, her plan was working. I deplored clutter and filth. There would have to be a reckoning on that matter at a later date.
We sat down at the table, and I pulled out the containers of food, opening them .
“I think the house looks fine,” she replied.
She was maddening. “Do you normally work this late?”
“Sometimes. Don’t you work late too? My family is very serious about the business.”
“Not when I have a beautiful wife at home.”
She rolled her eyes, unmoved by my words. Colder than ice, my wife. I would melt her eventually. I had no choice.
“You have to make a good impression at the firm, or they will fire you. So, don’t leave work too early. I have no interest in financially supporting you.”
I put a container of food in front of her. She was trying to insult me, but it was part of our banter. I could take it. “You will never have to worry about that. I will support you in every way. If I’m going to get you to stay with me, it’s the least I can do. And I’m doing well there. I think your parents like me.”
She silently snarled, knowing I was right. It was a blessing, considering I had to work with them. They were much more open to getting to like me and insisted that Melina, too, would change with time. They clearly loved her and spoke nothing but kind words about her and her life. It made me long to know the full Melina without her guard up. I couldn’t get her out of this marriage, but I would give her a good one to the best of my ability.
She picked up a fork and poked through her food as if looking for some hidden trick. “You’re not going to get me to stay with you.”
I stuck my fork into her container and scooped out some food, taking a bite to show her the food was fine. I raised an eyebrow at her, and she glanced down, taking her own bite. We ate in silence for a bit, just listening to the music playing.
“Thank you for the food,” Melina finally said in a quiet voice.
“I’m not a monster.”
“That’s not the problem.”
“Then why?”
“Did you like being a soldier?”
Changing the subject. She was good at that. Then again, so was I. While her resistance was confusing to me, she’d made her point clear on our wedding night. She did not want me. At least not what I could offer her. However, with time, I knew that would change. We had no choice in the matter. Her stubbornness would only wear her out, but I would be there for her when she realized it, when she gave in. For now, I would play along, but the more time passed, the easier it would get.
“No,” I answered. “I did not like being a soldier, especially in war. The endless fight can eat at you. The death can feel futile. The limited choices you are given can feel constraining.”
She tilted her head, studying me. What was she thinking? Did I detect a hint of sympathy in her eyes? I didn’t deserve it, but I yearned for it nonetheless. If she knew my past, she would comprehend why I felt unworthy of her love. However, revealing my past would not aid my cause, so I remained cowardly silent.
“Do you like architecture?” she asked, breaking my thoughts.
“Yes, very much.”
“So, this arrangement must be great for you.” She said that with harshness in her voice that saddened me.
It was the truth. This was an escape for me, a rebirth. One I didn’t earn. I had to remember that it wasn’t the same for her. I had intruded into her life. A seemingly good life that she didn’t want disturbed. I thought I could make this painless for her, but I was missing something.
I sat back, tapping a finger on the table as I thought about how to steer the conversation back to the positive. “What makes you happy?”
She relaxed her face, looking away from me in thought. “Creating beauty. Traveling. My family. Love. Genuine love. Doing what I want. This business makes me happy. It’s mine, and it came from hard work. Honing my magic. I’m happy when I see the faces of customers who are pleased with my work. Especially those who have struggled to find beauty and cure scarring. Fae can be superficial. We can be cruel to those we deem ugly. It might seem silly, but glamour can change a person’s life. I like helping people do that.”
She smiled when she spoke. I wondered if she knew that. I found my lips turning up as well as I listened to her. She seemed content with her work. It satisfied her. Helping others. I found that enchanting.
There could be worse things in our lives, and I was quietly pleased with having her as my wife. When she smiled, when she was happy, I began to wonder what it would be like to love-to truly be loved. I wondered what type of love she would give me. Curiosity ate at me, at my heart.
But then reality reminded me that I could not love or be loved. But I liked her. In such a short time, she was already impeding my thoughts throughout the day, even if only to guess what trick she would play on me next. I needed her to stay married to me. However, I could not have her heart.
Before we left the shop, Melina changed my hair back. I thought perhaps our conversation had led to a connection. However, as usual, I awoke in the middle of the night to find Melina’s side of the bed empty. This disappointed me as I had hoped our dinner together had softened her, at least for the night. However, Melina would consistently sneak away at some point in the night and sleep in the guest bedroom. I assumed it was because she no longer trusted herself to sleep beside me, especially since that morning together. While I enjoyed her body wrapped around me, I knew she struggled with what had happened. There were times I did not realize she was missing until the morning. However, when I did see her gone during the night, I returned her to me.
Tonight would be no different.
I got up and walked across the hall to collect her. She was sleeping so soundly in the room, her face soft, mouth partly opened with heavy breath. She had to know I would do this, and yet, she never put up any defenses to make it more challenging for me, such as warding or even locking the door. Perhaps she thought I would just grow tired of getting up from my sleep to get her at some point. I would not.
I carefully picked her up in my arms. She did not stir, her head lying on my shoulder. It felt so good to hold her. It always did. To inhale her strawberry and cream scent, touch her soft skin. It took so much willpower not to grip her tightly to me, to kiss her. Instead, I laid her down carefully on the bed back in our room, pulled the sheets up to cover her, and got in beside her. I shifted to my side and stared at her sleeping until I, too, fell asleep, content with her nearness to me.