Chapter 199

Curiously, I have learnt from your comments, and from the account of Aura's personal complaints, of my readers' disappointment in Chapter 281. Allow me, my dears, to shed some light on the confusion. The reason the description was not elaborate, as to how and what they'd done to lead to their consummation, was because they'd done that a million times already in the run of over 280 chapters. When it came to their ritual night, there was no need to fumble and slow at foreplay. They just wanted to get straight to it. At least, that is what I understood Lord Arnav and Kushi needed under the circumstances. And as to whether they consummated, I thought it was obvious in the last phrase "empty and complete." Despite having no direct reference to what a real lovemaking is like, I presumed accurately that there would be a sensation of emptiness on the part of the virgin who was giving herself up to another, and that there would be a parallel completion, because of her being in one with that man. I had hence brought it upon myself to describe their actual moment of climatic consummation as "poetic" and yet "not unobvious" as worded. Try reading that sentence again, but this time, keep in mind that it is a real, true consummation happening in that statement.

Oh, and, I am posting tonight the pictures which I couldn't with the previous chapter owing to terrible network connections.

I should have, perhaps, added this chapter along with the previous so you could better find peace that they had done it. Nevertheless, it was evil of me to keep you waiting... but here goes.

Chapter 282: Bruised, Bound and Bewildered

Lightning sauntered across the darkening plain, her equestrian eyes searching the murky place for any signs of her Master.

Just then, the fog cleared and there was to be found a man cowered beside a tree, his form naked and his being raked in cold sweat with bruises on the back, as though he'd fallen from the sky, through the trees and landed hard on the forest floor.

Unsteady, he arose to his feet, his pale hands holding onto the tree for support.

Slowly, he turned and leaned his back to the bark, his morose gaze flitting this way and that as though vigilant of impending peril.

Incidentally, his eyes fell on his white mare, her silver mane tossing in the wind.

"Lightning," he wheezed, a hand on his chest, "You promised... you promised you would ride me to my cure..."

The mare helplessly watched him struggle to remain standing, his tired eyes drawn to the cold forest floor.

"But you didn't..." his words slurred incoherently, "I have lost her tonight, and eternity has lost me..."

And then he crumbled to the floor, crying, like an impaled mess of misery.

An hour later, when it was still pitch dark, Kushi awoke to the feel of wet, warm kisses along the back of shoulder.

Her eyes fell on the veil strewn astride on the grass, three faint spots of red on it.

Kushi sighed and closed her eyes, sensing for the first time the faint soreness between her legs that she was new to.

She shivered when the cold fingers of the night breeze touched the drops of sweat on her naked skin, which boasted of no cloth or accessory except the gold necklace that had belonged to her mother. The talisman felt assuringly warm around her neck, its heart pendant glinting in the moonlight.

"You're awake," he murmured close to her ear, and she looked up at him, his face handsome under the moonlight. The strands of hair that fell over his forehead seemed wet with perspiration as were the corners of some of his features.

Kushi smiled and then asked in a weary voice, "Why do I feel weak?"

"Perchance because it's your first time," her husband comforted her with a gentle kiss on her forehead, "For a moment, when you fainted, I feared I had supposed wrong that you were resilient enough. What a relief it is to grasp that you are perfectly immune!"

Kushi snuggled closer to him, closer to his warm chest to shield herself from the biting cold of the night.

She requested, "Pray, do let's return to our chamber."

"Indeed," Lord Arnav promised, "But only after I've had you once more."

He began plastering her face with a torrent of kisses, his masculine heart thrilling at her every response. She squirmed uncomfortably, as he let his fingers slowly travel up her slender leg, slide over the curve of her hip, take a dip in her navel and circle its way up to her breasts.

"Arnavji..." Kushi breathed out, feeling the woman in her tremble with desire.

"Kushi," he paused to look down at her, and her dazed gaze discerned the wild arousal in his dark eyes, as his voice rolled over her like a rough predator's, "I will not be as tender every night. The stronger you get by the day, the more demanding I will be."

Kushi blinked, her cheeks turning crimson.

Lord Arnav dipped his head and kissed her gently on her lips. Then he gazed at her with admiration, as his words possessively purred, "My beautiful wife..."

Kushi closed her eyes, enveloped in the pristine moment of his love. His forehead pressed upon hers and their noses touched. Her eyes opened against his cheek, "At last, my lord, I am yours..."

Lord Arnav smiled, overwhelmed by her surrender, "Kushi, you were always mine and always will be..."

He kissed her again and this time, when he made love to her, they were not driven senseless with desire. They belonged to each other for eternity and they had all the time in the world. His touch was gentle and his kisses measured and unhurried. Each moment was permitted its slow yield of Time, imprinting in it their immortal love.

In the midst of their affectionate embraces and advances, Kushi thought she saw something. She couldn't remember if it was a fleeting memory from a dream or a transitory instance of illusion. But as he kissed her, she found herself frowning suspiciously at the walls of the rosebush looming over them. She presumed she'd seen unreal roses among the dark leaves but they were not there any longer. Perhaps foggy desire was deceiving her senses but she could almost be sure she had seen something... Something that resembled roses which, like illusions in dreams, dripped red from their scarlet petals...

I couldn't really find a fitting picture of the apparel I was looking for, in honour of Kushi's night, but you have to club the features in the first two pictures to get an idea.