Page 21 of Bloom

Dinner was fine, and Aleric retreated to his bedroom afterward. Jaime left for a bit to find new, better books to read that weren’t full of crap, and Aleric was bathing when he heard him return.

“It’s just me,” he called from the sitting room.

“All right.”

Aleric dunked his head under the water to rinse his hair. Jaime was being so nice, one might say he was the sort who had a lot of paternal instinct and grew particularly protective of their lover while pregnant. Some men were like that.

Men could also be fake.

What if Jaime wasn’t pretending, and he truly wanted to protect Aleric, take care of their child, and let feelings grow? Before, Aleric had always wanted to be the one who carried and birthed the baby, and he’d imagined having a husband and a few kids later in life. If he wasn’t a jerk to Jaime, and nothing went wrong, he could have his old dream.

He could also have sex again the way he wanted it. He wouldn’t have to ensure he didn’t think about the attractive man in the next room. He could have Jaime whenever he wanted, within reason.

If he suddenly came out of the privy room naked and got in Jaime’s lap…actually, Jaime would be shocked by the sudden change. Aleric could pretend otherwise. If he did, and other shit hadn’t happened, he was pretty sure he’d get exactly what he wanted. Kisses, touching, foreplay, and Jaime cumming deep in his ass. Jaime wouldn't hurt him.

Even though he’d fought to keep himself from thinking of Jaime in the past weeks while jerking off or using his toy, the horny part of his mind was quick to rear up. He wanted to be out there on the couch, on his stomach, and moaning into one of the decorative pillows while Jaime bred his slick hole.

He could think of a bunch of positions, no thanks to Gautier, that Jaime could do with him, and one involved Aleric’s wrists tied to his ankles so he couldn’t do anything except take every thrust of Jaime’s cock deep in his ass.

Perhaps he could have all of that, plus wake up next to someone in the morning instead of alone. It’d also be nice to have someone close that he could talk to. A romantic relationship would fulfill things that a friendship or a Father and son relationship couldn’t.

Years ahead with no spouse or real friends was a lonely and depressing prospect.

When he got out of the tub, his eye went right to his hip. He caught the faint white mark in the light of the crystal lantern sitting on the stool and remembered dropping bloody bandages down the privy so they’d land in the waste chamber under the Castle and never be seen by servants.

What if Jaime had true colors to show, and he did it in front of their child one day? He didn’t want to imagine a toddler with his features crying and wondering why one Daddy was hurting the other one. Even if Aleric showed Father the evidence and was believed, Jaime could do a lot of damage to start with. He’d heard of men beating their wives or husbands in front of the kids who couldn’t do anything about it. A couple of times, he’d even heard of the wife doing the violence.

What kind of harm would that do to a child's young mind?

Damn it. If Jaime knew what he was thinking, he’d promise and swear it would never happen. He’d probably be on his knees because a few times, it seemed like he’d been trying to make himself seem smaller and less threatening. He still wasn’t entirely sure of what to think about that. Jaime was right too when he mentioned he’d never reacted with violence. Aleric had been a total dickhead to him, and not once had he raised his hand.

Anyone would likely think him stupid for overthinking everything and constantly letting suspicion rule his mind. He dried his hair and struggled to focus on something else, not terrifying, potential disasters that may or may not happen.

He had to tell Father, and he dreaded it. He never thought he’d have to admit to an oopsie baby. He’d thought about telling him tomorrow, but the suspense was growing worse. He was pretty sure that when he decided to go to sleep, he’d end up staring at the dark. Before he knew it, it’d be the middle of the night.

He could do it now and get it over with. Besides, if he did, he could do something else, and maybe it would make him feel better.

Jaime was reading when he entered the sitting room with his cloak over his sleep clothes. “I want us to go see my Father so I can tell him.”

Jaime lowered his book. “I thought you’d want to wait until tomorrow.”

“However I say this…” Aleric shrugged. “Facts are facts. We might as well get it over with.”

“Am I going to be alive in an hour?”

“He’s not going to kill you. Even if he tried, you could outrun him. Go downstairs because he can’t run up or down steps. Come on.”

Lord Monet was in his sitting room with a glass of wine and a book. He had to know something was up. Aleric wouldn’t bring his aid just to sit with him.

“Why do you look like you swallowed a lemon?” he asked once Aleric and Jaime settled on the couch across from his armchair.

“I don’t look like I swallowed a lemon.”

“Did you do something? Is Zacharie going to come-”

“No,” snapped Aleric. “I’m just going to come out and say it because I don’t know how else to break this. I woke up with cramps last night, and I went to the wise woman outside the city this morning.”

He could already see it on Father’s face. He knew.

“That, and when I fainted on the stairs-I’m pregnant.”

Father’s eyes flicked to Jaime who suddenly looked like he wanted to melt into the couch.

“You’re pregnant?” Father asked.

“Yes.”

“Who’s the Father?”

Aleric pointed at Jaime. “Why do you think I brought him along?”

“I-” Jaime stared before Lord Monet interrupted him.

“Don’t the cramps happen at the one-month point?”

Aleric nodded. “Yeah. I’m four weeks along.”

Father narrowed his eyes at Jaime. “He brought you here barely a month ago. You fucked my son on the first night?”

Jaime flushed. “Er, no. That's not exactly-”

“Bullshit! No herbs? You didn’t even pull out? What were you two thinking?”

“They’re not foolproof,” said Aleric. “I have herbs, and I thought they’d be good. She said they’re too old.”

It hadn’t helped that he’d taken two. They’d made him hurry for the privy later, and the wise woman said that taking two would likely hurt a person’s stomach and cause them to pass it instead of properly absorbing. More isn’t always better for certain medicines. That, and they were too old.

“When I said they’d last for ages, I figured you’d use them within a year at most.”

Aleric had wanted to smack his head into a wall after hearing that. He’d stupidly thought they’d be good for years and years since they were dried. Plenty of medicines lasted. He might have gotten up to bang his head on the wall if Foofy hadn’t been clinging to his waist and rubbing his stomach.

According to Delphine, Foofy was usually able to sense when a person was pregnant, and he’d get affectionate. He also liked it anytime a woman brought a baby by so he could chirp and pet it. In the way people look at small animals and think they’re cute, he seemed to feel the same about baby fairies. She hadn’t said anything on his last visit since Aleric hadn’t mentioned being pregnant, and Foofy might have been wrong.

Father fidgeted with the corner of his book and seemed to be thinking. “Are you keeping it?”

“I’m keeping it.”

“All right. You both need to get married. Jaime, if you try to run away and abandon him, I’ll hunt you down. No one’s getting my son with child and leaving him alone to deal with it. You fucked him. You’ll take care of it.”

“I wasn’t planning on running,” said Jaime. “I’ll take care of them both.”

“Did you fuck him because you were hoping to stay here and keep a roof over your head?”

“No-”

“Aleric’s never been pregnant until you came along, and your situation was a bit special.”

“I wasn’t hoping for anything.”

“It was an accident.” Aleric didn’t want to tell him about the whole heat incident. “I didn’t know the herbs were useless, and…it was just to take care of needs. Er, we were both horny, and it had nothing to do with his situation. We’ll make it work.”

Father set his book on the side table and closed his eyes. “I guess I better hurry up and find a physician here to take care of you.”

“I have someone in mind,” Aleric said hurriedly.

“You do?”

“From C?te?”

“Yeah…Let me talk to them first.”

“Anybody that works here has to take the test,” said Father.

“Test?” asked Jaime.

“I have a couple of the written tests from the College in Finkin where physicians can go. It’s somewhere in my office. The Master Steward can find it later. When Olivier started here, I had him take the test, and I have a list of suitable answers. I like to see their knowledge firsthand. Anyone can say they’re learned, and I’d rather not take chances with the health of many on the line.”

“I’ll talk to them myself,” said Aleric. “And if they agree, since they’d be starting soon due to my condition, they can come by later and speak to you.”

“All right. Does everything feel alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Father looked at Jaime. “Do you know his wife remarried? I mean, ex-wife.”

“He told me.”

“Do you want me to announce these things separately?” Father asked, and Aleric nodded. “It hasn’t been a full four years, so a few might complain. Not everyone is going to think it’s right that he’s remarrying. You and him can discuss things, but if he doesn’t want you saying anything, don’t blurt out that he’s pregnant just because a cousin or whoever makes a snide comment.”

“I understand.”

“Can you give me a few minutes alone with my Father?”

Jaime hesitated. “Are you going to be all right returning by yourself?”

“I’m not helpless,” snapped Aleric.

Jaime leaned in and whispered so fast, Aleric barely caught his wording. “I don’t think he’s disappointed in you.”

Father’s expression, pinched with surprise at the whole thing, looked a bit disappointed. A baby before marriage wasn’t the end of the world, and it wasn’t like the Goddess would smite him. Still, he must have thought it wasn’t anything his child would have to worry about. Jaime gave Aleric a quick kiss on the cheek, which he hadn’t been expecting, and left the room.

“I need to ask you something.”

“What, son?”

“If anything happens later, and I need him gone and out of here, promise me you’ll do it.”

Father tilted his head. “What do you mean? Do you think he's unfit to marry?”

“No.” There was nothing Aleric could say against Jaime. His being on the pushy side didn’t count, but all Aleric could think of was Jaime changing later. He needed reassurance.

Face’s expression darkened. “Has he hit you or done anything you’re not telling me about?”

“No.”

“Did he force you into bed? Don’t lie to me. I’ll break his arms if he hurt you.”

“No,” said Aleric. It hurt that he cared so much right then. Why couldn’t he have been suspicious about Gautier before? Fucking Zacharie had run to blab. “He hasn’t hit me or anything. I swear. I’m afraid for later.”

Father sighed and picked up his wineglass. “Son, I know you’re nervous about getting married and having a baby. It’s sudden, but you’ll be fine, and-”

“I’m afraid because he didn’t have many choices besides coming here. I should have pushed him out onto the street. And if William complained about him potentially being guilty, I could have told him to kiss my ass. Instead, I made him come here. The sex was just a one-time thing. It was a separate thing, and we haven’t done it since.”

Father squinted. “Wait a second…are you asking me to kick him because he’s terrible in bed? Teach him.”

Aleric flushed. “No! I mean, it was just a bit of lust. What I’m trying to say is that he was supposed to stay a year or so in case he had committed a crime, and he’d be paid and all that because I wouldn’t want a real slave anyway. Now, I’ve basically put an iron ball and chain on his ankle that won’t come off for years. Even after the child is grown up, it doesn’t really go away. He has an obligation, and he might start to resent us soon.”

“He doesn’t seem upset.”

“Now. The baby isn’t here, and nothing’s truly changed for him yet. After a year or two, he might start thinking that he could have left and gone elsewhere. Marrying me and raising a kid wasn’t his life plan when he came to C?te. We fucked once, and he’ll feel trapped. I’m afraid it’s going to make him angry and he’ll take it out on me.”

Father peered at him for a long moment. “Has he done anything so far that you’re not telling me?”

“No! It doesn’t mean things won’t change later. When we fucked, we weren’t thinking about kids and marriage! I don’t want to be trapped with a man who hits me and is abusive because he sees me as a ball and chain too.”

Aleric hadn’t been thinking of anything else besides cumming on Jaime’s cock to get relief that afternoon.

“Son, if he hurts you, you know you can come to me. I wouldn’t let my grandchild live in those circumstances either, but I think that’s a bit extreme. Why are you worried he’ll beat you?”

“Plenty of men end up beating their spouse later.”

Father sighed. “If you come downstairs with a black eye, do you think I’ll ignore it?”

Elira, he was so gullible if he thought every single hurt left a visible mark.

“Why are you so worried about this?” demanded Father.

“Because people change. He’s trapped. Maybe he planned to go back to Moria and find another Morian to marry. Maybe he was going to stay single and sow his oats across the realm for another ten years.”

“Plenty of people decide to stay together for a baby, and they’re happy later on. He seems like a good guy so far. He’s helped you, and he’s been a bit protective of you at times. I don’t see him as the sort to hit you or the child.”

“Hm.”

Gautier had seemed to love him and look what happened there. Father didn’t see him as that type either. How could he be so blind? After Aleric’s earlier story and his fear now, why couldn’t he fucking link it together and realize his oldest hadn’t been lying and attempting to break up Zacharie and Gautier? Aleric wanted to shake him.

“He kept coming in to check on you the first night after we brought you back, and he got to you first after…you fell.” Father looked away like he didn’t want to remember that day. “His knees are fine, so he was faster than me. He held you while Olivier did his work. You didn’t bring him here under normal circumstances, but since he’s not a slave, I don’t think he hates you at all or is the kind of man to start beating on you. You might find that he’s an excellent Father and husband and fate brought you together. I think Elira brought me and your Mother together.”

If so, she should have kept them together instead of taking Mother and the twins.

“You’ll be fine. Make a real effort to spend time together and get to know each other better before the baby comes. It’ll be a lot easier. If you two decide you want to start humping like rabbits tonight-” Father waved a hand. “That’s your business, so do whatever, but don’t make lust the focal point. You’ve both had lives before this, so talk to each other. Don’t let every single thing be baby-related. In a couple of months, you’ll probably feel quite close.”

Easy to say. Aleric didn’t know how to tell him that he sometimes thought Gautier had broken something in him.

“Don’t expect the worst things, son.”

“Do you think we could send the court home too?”

Father blinked. “Well, I can, but why?”

Gautier wouldn’t be going anywhere, and neither would Zacharie. If Gautier had any secret allies, they could be separated, unless he went the stableboy route again. “I know you like having people around to talk to or ride with, but I think I’d rather have a quieter home while I’m pregnant. After the baby is born, I’d still prefer it. This is a big change, and some peace might be better.”

“All right. If it makes you feel better, I will. I might not mind the break either.”

“Thank you, Father.”