Chapter 51
Chapter Fifty-One
It was more dinner than lunch by the time Light and Autumn announced that the food was ready, but it smelled wonderful and when they brought the steaming baking dish to the table, it was all Boreus could do to not immediately stick his face in it.
Light looked slightly bemused, shooting looks between Autumn, her loves, and the dish.
“Is that—?” Love came forward, taking the lid off the dish and grinning. “Some things really do transcend time.”
“It’s very hot, Highest,” Autumn said softly.
“Put it down,” Love plopped the lid back on and moved out of the way. “Where did you come by the recipe?”
“Beans are cheap,” Autumn said, setting the dish on the table. “The Sanctuary we lived in was one of the largest in the nation; there were a lot of mouths to feed.”
“I got mine from my Mama Jenny,” Light said. “A lifetime and three iterations ago.”
Autumn nodded, smiling over at Boreus. “I think we might want to feed them, Highest.”
“I’ll get the other dish.” Light went back into the kitchen and came back with a scarlet pot holding more of the same delicious smell.
It was truly good, hearty and homey, and yummy, which was the best word that Boreus could find to fit it. It wasn’t high cuisine; it would never be served on the tables of the Bastion, but it was hot and filling and good.
They all sat around for a while after supper was over.
Talking about their plan and making certain that there was a time for Autumn to rest in between checking the residents of the Mountain.
Plans laid, the Highest excused themselves, thanking Autumn for supper and filed out of the room.
Boreus saw them carve the air in front of their door and return to the Summit.
He closed the door, turning to face his loves, both of them looked tired and worn and Boreus had a moment of worry. He shook it off, going to pull them into his arms and kiss their foreheads.
“What would you like to do now?” He asked. “Should we rest since we have to be at the summit tomorrow morning?”
Autumn nodded, but it was hesitant and Boreus smiled at her. “Something else you need, love?”
“Need is a strong word,” she turned in his arm and kissed him. “It’s not a need.”
“But you want?” Auster asked.
She nodded, but it was still hesitant. “If you’re tired, we can rest, but it’s been?—”
Boreus pulled her in, kissing her to silence. “Too long, love,” he murmured against her lips. “Come and let us love you.”
Auster moved, letting Boreus wrap Autumn in both arms while he went to her back and started touching her softly.
She whimpered, arching into Auster’s touch, eyes fluttering shut as she relaxed in their arms. Boreus turned her, watching Auster catch her lips and kiss her soundly.
Boreus kissed her neck, lips wandering as he undid the brooches on her gown and dropped it to the floor, leaving her bare between them.
He wondered at her; she was so soft, so gentle, but it was her strength that brought him to his knees. She’d been through things, done things, that they would not have survived. Through it all, she’d maintained how kind she was, always the first to offer help, or to give something to another.
“Autumn, we love you,” he whispered the words into her ear. “There will never be another day where you are lonely, never another day you fear.”
She turned back to him, smiling at him with watery, grateful eyes and reached up to brush his hair back. “I know,” she whispered. “I believe that. It’s what saved me from the miasma.”
He kissed her, moving his hands to smooth them down to her hips. “You’re so soft, our love.”
She sighed, still smiling up at him, reaching to undo the fastenings on his tunic and push it off his shoulders. He had to help her when he nearly got tangled in his cuffs, but they figured that out and he went back to touching her as slowly as possible.
Auster joined in, and they both teased their love until she was only barely standing, soft kisses, even softer touches, until she was panting and pleading with them.
Her legs were shaking, so Boreus lifted her, taking her to the soft rug in front of their fireplace. “I don’t want to wait any longer.” He purred in her ear. “Autumn, don’t make me wait.”
She nodded, eyes full of need, reaching down to part herself in invitation. Boreus groaned, burying himself in her heat and softness, to rock against her, hilting himself and listening to her gasp and moan and plead with him.
He was in no hurry to reach the destination, so he rocked slowly, reaching between them to swirl a soft touch over that little bundle of nerves at her apex.
She arched beneath him, panting his name as she got close to her edge. Crying out as she flew for him, for them, and it took him over the edge too.
They held each other for a few moments, breathing and letting reality come back into focus until Boreus could stand to move away and let Auster come forward.
He teased her slowly, sinking into her, all the way to the hilt. “Void you feel so good, love.” He gasped the words at her.
“Yes,” Autumn panted as he started moving. “Please Auster, more.”
Boreus watched as they moved together, as they brought each other higher and higher, until their passion reached its height and they cried out into the still air of the room.
He let them come down, moving to hold them until they stopped trembling and then he got them all up and into the bath where they could wash their passion away.
“Time to rest,” Boreus said quietly, herding his loves through to their bed, tucking them both in before he came to hold them. They faded out almost immediately, but Boreus forced himself to stay awake for just another moment, to thank the void for his loves.
He blinked and the sun was rising.