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“I have been ill, for a few months now. Your mother might have had her suspicions, but I was intent on hiding it because I did not want to appear weak before anyone. However,… it has caused me to reflect on my life and the choices I made that led me down various paths. I am truly disappointed in my actions. I should have been a better father, a more reliable protector for you – my beloved girls. You have both grown up stronger than I ever imagined and I could not be prouder. But where my pride dwells, shame also resides there as well. I am saddened that I cannot say that I contributed positively to your growth – only to the scars you now feel as though you must protect your own family from. I do not know what my illness is for certain, or how fatal it is. But it has only served as a sign that this is not what I want – to be estranged from my children. I know we have much to atone for, but we would like a chance to at least do that much.”

Anna gave her parents a long look, feeling her heart quake in the face of their weaknesses. She appreciated that she had gotten to speak her mind and that for the first time in a long time, they had listened to her.

She did not want to lose them completely, because truly, what mattered above all else was family.

Her gaze rested firmly on her mother and she exhaled deeply, then spoke.

“I will choose to forgive you, mother, for now. But my trust still remains gone, until you have worked to earn it back. And it is that trust that will determine whether or not you will see your grandchildren.”

To her father, she said,

“I am sorry to hear that you have been ill father. But it should have not taken an illness to highlight what truly mattered in your life. Nonetheless, the same conditions I provided to mother apply to you. I urge you to respect my wishes or else, do not harbor any hope of being allowed anywhere near me or my children.”

With an air of finality, she rose to her feet, the icy expression on her face only thawing when Leah stood after her, prompting her to step closer to embrace her sister.

“Thank you,” she whispered into Leah’s ear.

Gently, Leah shook her head, murmuring back,

“No, my dear sister. Thank you for being brave for the both of us.”

When they pulled away, Anna gave her parents one last glance and told them softly, “Take care,” before Julian took her hand and led her out of the room.

“How are you feeling?” was the first thing he asked when they were outside.

“Tired,” Anna admitted, a little in disbelief that she had truly spoken to her parents the way that she had. “But relieved. I am glad I said all that I did, and even more so that they listened. If they keep their word, all will be well.”

Julian nodded, helping her into the carriage carefully. Once he had settled down by her side, he pressed a kiss to her forehead and told her,

“I am very proud of you. That could have not been an easy task to fulfil, and yet, you stood your ground and your revealed what was in your heart. Whether or not they choose the to do the right thing, know that you will always have me.”

Anna smiled at him, cupping his cheeks and pulling him in for a kiss – just a simple press of their lips to remind herself that the last few weeks had not been a dream.

This was her husband. Her supporter, her lover, her happiness and her future. And he had no intention of leaving.

“I know,” she replied quietly. “And I am glad for it.”

Anna had fallen asleep on the way back to their estate, and upon their arrival, Julian made no effort to rouse her, instead opting to carry her into the house.

Julian understood how tasking the earlier meeting must have been on her nerves, pride shooting through his veins as he recalled how spectacular she had been.

It was quite a sight to witness how upfront she had been about her feelings, unwilling to allow her parents guilt her into believing that all she had endured was not avoidable.

When he arrived at their room, he gently moved to set her on their bed, surprised when she clung to his coat, stopping him from moving away.

“Darling?” he mumbled, stroking her hair gently.

“Where are you going?” she asked, just as quiet.

“Nowhere. I simply wanted to take of your shoes and get you comfortable enough to sleep well.” He replied.

Anna shook her head, her eyes barely open as she tightened her grip on the fabric of his coat.

“No… I don’t want that.”

Unable to keep himself from smiling at her behavior, Julian moved closer, his fingers still combing through her dark hair.

“How odd,” he mused playfully. “You can barely keep your eyes open, love. But I will indulge you. What is it you want, my dear?”

Anna opened her eyes a little more, and the glint in them sent heat spreading through Julian’s veins. Before she uttered a word, he already knew what she would ask for.

“You,” she whispered, letting go of his coat to point at him. “I want you. Will you deny me this request?”

Julian laughed, pulling off his coat and kicking off his shoes before he joined her in bed, lifting her up into his arms.

“As if I’ve ever denied you anything before,” he muttered before their lips met.

Anna clung to him desperately as they kiss, their tongues mingling passionately as his hand maneuvered her onto his lap so he could take off her shoes. Soon, his hands were undoing the clasps of her dress, just as hers were opening the buttons of his shirt.

The air around them grew heavy with arousal, with the day’s earlier activity falling aside as nothing more than a past occurrence in the face of their desire. Anna shivered as one of Julian’s hands went up her skirt, his fingers sliding into her ready, wet heat.

She left a trail of fleeting kisses over his cheeks and jaw, slipping lower and lower until she was leaving marks on his collar bone, sinking her nails into back with a cry as he thrust his fingers deeply into her.

“How do you want me, darling? What do you need?” he muttered against her temple, holding her close as she shuddered and shook in his arms.

“W-Whatever you give me… I’ll take it.” She gasped as his fingers moved faster, bringing her to the cusp of her release.

But just as she was within reach, Julian took away his hand.

“Why would you –” Anna gasped with a whine, making the same high-pitched noise at the back of her throat when he stripped her of her dress and dropped her unceremoniously on the bed.

Her face as pressed against a pillow as she lay on her stomach and she allowed Julian to adjust her posture as he desired, feeling exposed when he moved her knees up to her hips were in the air.

Still, the arousal in her veins was heavier than anything else, especially when he squeezed her breasts and asked her,

“Are you certain you wish to go along with my whims?”

Anna’s position wouldn’t let her nod, so she was forced to vocalize her consent.

“Absolutely,” she stated quietly.

“Hm.” Was all her husband said.

And then he thrusted into her without warning, fully sheathing himself in her. Anna let out a half-scream of surprise, the sound tapering off into a moan as Julian pulled out a little and slowly slipped back into her.

“I can never get used to how perfect you feel around me,” Julian said, sounding a little awestruck and winded. “Every day, I find even more proof of the fact that you were made just for me – utterly perfect in every way.”

He moved his hips quickly, sliding in and out of her rapidly while her walls tried to cling to him, her thoughts melting at the sensation.

Anna tried to gain some leverage by raising herself onto her hands, but Julian pushed her back down with a hand pressed to her back, sliding the hand up until his fingers were intertwined with her hair.

“You said you would be fine with what I wanted. I want you like this – so pretty and pliant for me. Can you do that, darling?”

Anna gasped as a particular thrust went in deep, stuttering helplessly as Julian’s pace increased,

“Y-Yes… I-I can!”

“Good. Do not disappoint me, my love.”

Without another word, Julian set a brutal pace, practically pounding into her.

Anna’s moans and gasps were infused with occasional cries, as she tried to arch her back to meet his thrusts head on, fisting the pillows for leverage.

Her husband continued on, the sounds of flesh hitting flesh filling the air, along with her pleas.

“J-Julian – please. Please, I can’t –”

Julian let go of her hair and pulled her up by her arm, her back flush against his chest and he held her in place with an arm around her torso, the other hand sneaking between her leg to tease her swollen nub.

That was what pushed her over the edge and she fell with a scream, her walls tightening and pulling him along with her as he emptied his seed into her.

Their harsh breathing filled the room as Julian lowered Anna gently onto the sheets, pulling out of her as he settled down next to her, moving closer so he could embrace her.

“My perfect princess,” Julian whispered, kissing her deeply. “I do not know how I lived before I met you, but I would very much like to never do such again.”

Anna laughed weakly, nuzzling along his jaw.

“You say the silliest things. But I love it. I love you.”

Julian smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears, unable to keep himself from gently stroking her cheeks, running his thumb over the bridge of her nose, following the path of her freckles.

His heart felt he might burst if he didn’t speak out what lay within and he said,

“I love you too. So much.”

Anna hummed, tucking herself closer to him as she asked.

“Will you say more sweet and silly things to me during our honeymoon?”

With the future looming ahead of them, Julian felt eager for what lay ahead, knowing that he could overcome what may, along as he had his beautiful wife, whom he adored.

“I suppose we will have to find out.”

The End?