Eternal Kingdom

"James. Look over here! What does Ly have?"

James giggled, provoking his sister to giggle as well, as he crawled over towards his god with one sole purpose in mind.

To take back the pacifier that had been stolen from him.

Lysander dangled it in front of him, a playful grin lighting up his face.

I never got used to seeing him this way. He sat cross-legged on the brightly colored alphabet rug, wearing jeans and a blue t-shirt to match his eyes. He kept his hair tied back, as he had wisely learned was necessary when dealing with my twins. He was still remarkably beautiful to me, especially now, his bright blue eyes squinted in jubilee and his perfectly white smile sending my heart fluttering.

Once James got to Ly, he pushed off the ground, wobbling a little as he attempted to stand to his feet to retrieve his prize.

Lilly was clapping joyfully, cheering for her brother. He had well surpassed her development wise. She could sit up and was learning to crawl, but she was nowhere near standing, yet, whereas James was on the verge of walking, having been crawling for two months already.

"You're a strong little guy." Lysander teased, wincing as my son latched onto his hand, trying to pull it and the binky into his waiting mouth.

Of course, Lysander knew better than to let the little spawn get hold of his fingers. Though vampires his age couldn't fully extract their fangs, their jaw strength was still incredibly strong. I had no doubt he could take off an appendage with that gummy grip of his.

As soon as Lysander released his binky, James popped it into his mouth, clapping in victory as his rear hit the rug. He really was the exact copy of his father.

It was almost painful to look at him sometimes.

Admittedly, there were still some nights where I would cry looking at the empty side of our bed where he belonged, even though Bas had removed his pillow quite some time ago. It was an unspoken understanding that we wouldn't sleep in Rory's spot, regardless.

It felt wrong to do so, even though I knew he wasn't coming back like he said he would.

It had been six months, six agonizing, miserable months since I had even heard from him. The first month in, Bastion confessed to having blocked his number in my phone. I, being the idiot I was, removed the block in hopes that maybe he would call me.

But he never did.

Around month three I started getting desperate.

I called him.

But he didn't answer. I was sent to voicemail and I knew it was still his phone number because of the personalized message. He was actively ignoring me. Why?

Why ignore me when he was begging me to come with him the last time he was here? It baffled me, almost as much as the fact that he didn't seem the slightest bit interested in what his children, child, was up to.

Not that James ever felt excluded without Rory.

Bastion did an amazing job treating both of them as equal members of our family. He never once referred to him as Rory's child. James was Bastion's, just as much as Lilly was.

After the fifth month of Rory's leave, I decided I would stop thinking about it. I wanted to be strong for my mate and my children.

If Rory didn't want us, I wouldn't waste my time fussing about it. He had moved on, serving a Kingdom that was destined to fall in a year's time, and there was nothing I could do to change it. He made his decision.

"Go to mommy." Lysander spoke in his all-too-hilarious baby voice, lifting my son onto his feet once again.

James giggled louder, trying to pull his little legs to his chest while Lysander supported him.

I held out my arms anyway, giving him my largest smile and gesturing for him to walk to me.

"Come on, my sweet boy." I encouraged.

"Are you talking to me or the kid?" Lysander teased, raising a brow to match his smirk. I snorted, shaking my head in faux judgement of his terrible joke.

"My baby." I said slowly, and his eyes twinkled with mischief.

"I'm still confused." He winked. I bit my cheek.

"You sure are flirty today."

"You just aren't being clear." He challenged with a smug shrug.

Our back and forth was suddenly interrupted by a loud and exaggerated yawn from

baby girl, making both of us chuckle. I glanced down at my phone to check the time.

"Ope, nap time. Come on, cuties." I said cheerfully, shooting Lysander a look before adding, "No, I wasn't referring to you."

He gasped, acting wounded as he scooped James into his arms to carry him down the hall to his crib.

.

.

"Hm... How about... Pancakes?" I blurted, pulling my mug to my lips and allowing the scolding coffee to burn my throat on the way down. It was hot as hell outside, but I really needed the energy, so I didn't care. "With or without syrup?" He asked, kicking his long legs in front of him, making the rocking chair creak. He had finally let his hair down and the soft breeze was making it flutter.

"With syrup, of course." I scoffed at his egregious question.

"Not a fan." He scrunched his nose, pulling his glass of lemonade to his mouth.

"What? How could you not like pancakes and syrup?"

"It's too sweet. Especially for breakfast. Maybe it would be better classified as a dessert."

"You're a monster." He chuckled at my offense, his soft and tender smile warming me more than the coffee and humidity combined.

"So you don't like sweet things. How about fruit?" I asked sincerely, pulling one of my legs under the other while trying to keep my shorts from riding up too much. He took notice, his eyes flitting down to my exposed thigh. "You mean like peaches?"

My eyes flew wide before narrowing into a glare.

"Ha ha." My sarcasm didn't seem to phase him, though, and he planted his feet back on the ground, standing with grace and poise and stepping towards me.

"I'm not a fan of peaches." He answered his own question with a grin, and I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt my feelings a little bit. To my knowledge he had never tasted my blood, but he did taste... other parts of me. Did he not like it? He crossed to me, kneeling before me and running his pointer finger down the crease in my brow.

"But you don't taste like peaches to me."

What?

"Really?" He just smiled, that adoring yet charming smile that always had my common sense running for the hills. Then, he licked his lips, his gaze following his finger down my face, over my neck, and across to my collarbone. I shivered, the sensual way he was touching me melting me into a useless puddle on the deck.

"Yes, really. You taste far more delicious than a piece of fruit."

"You shouldn't be allowed to be this alluring." I admitted, squeezing my thighs together. His glowing eyes flashed back to mine, locking me in place.

"I should be saying that to you. You know, you kill me when you dress this way." I gulped, ignoring the tightening in my stomach.

"What're you talking about?" My voice sounded weak and hoarse, a byproduct of his temptations.

He ran his finger further south, tracing the top of my pastel yellow tank top to the dip of my cleavage. I sucked in a harsh and unstable breath, my eyes locking onto his glistening lips. He was so close that I could smell the lemonade on his breath, just the right amount of sweet and tangy, just like the man himself.

"I really want to kiss you." I confessed, shamelessly.

His cheeks flushed light pink, his lips parting slightly.

"You aren't supposed to talk like that."

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"Why not?" I whispered breathlessly, even though I already knew the answer.

"Because I might do something you'll regret. Your body wants it, not you."

"Aria, no." Sella's voice rang out like a harpy in my mind, but I suppressed her, focusing entirely on the man in front of me. She had no right to tell me what to do. Besides, where was she on the beach? If she cared so much, she would have prevented this in the first place.

I was tired of constantly fighting how I felt for Lysander. My royal left and my mate was at work most of the day. I spent most of my time with him and it only grew my affections. "You're wrong. I do want it." The determined look in my eyes made his eyes widen a fraction, and he shifted in a way I knew was to relieve pressure on his erection.

"We've been doing so well at preventing this." He was right. He hadn't kissed or touched me sexually since that one time, but it still served as a constant reminder of what he could offer me. I dreamt about it sometimes, and I thanked the non- existent heavens that Bastion was such a heavy sleeper because I could very well be moaning Lysander's name in the wee hours of the night.

"We've been ignoring it." I challenged his claim with another fact. His fingers, which still hadn't left the indention between my breasts, traveled southeast. His teasingly light pressure against the cotton had my nipples perked and eager for his attention. He was gracious to grant it, circling one before pinching it between his forefingers. I moaned, my legs unwinding from the bench to wrap around him, pulling him closer to me.

"Fuck, don't do that." He groaned, moving his hands to grip my thighs and push away from me, but I kept him locked in place.

"Why? We both want it."

"Because you don't. Not really."

"You don't get to tell me what I want." He squinted his eyes at me, searching for the truth with the utmost scrutiny, but I wasn't going to take back what I said.

"Fine!" In a flash I was lifted, then thrown to the stained planks of the deck. Lysander spread my legs, crawling between them with flushed cheeks. "Do you want me to fuck you?" He growled a mere inch away from my face, his eyes boring into mine. Between my hazy mind and heavy breathing, I found no words.

I did. I wanted it so badly, but I knew that he was trying to prove a point. He knew I would never say yes, knowing what it would do to Bastion. Right as I was about to concede, he smirked in victory, moving his lips just shy of my ear. "Kiss me, Aria. If you want it so bad, then do it."

His cockiness did something to me, igniting the months of sexual frustration until I exploded along with all rational thought I once possessed. In that very instant, I gripped his hair, pulling him to me with as much strength as I could manage until his lips crashed against mine.

Shit, I had missed this. I had craved this.

He gasped his surprise at my audacity, giving me the perfect chance to dart my tongue between his teeth. I expected my body to immediately react to his venom, filling me with uncontrolled lust and passion, but it didn't happen. Still, Lysander broke my hold, lifting himself to hover above me with his chest heaving and eyes wide, watching me with deepest concern.

When I didn't immediately start clawing at his clothes, he furrowed his brow, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth.

"It- It didn't..." I started, but my own disbelief kept me from finishing it. He glanced down at my lips, then back at my eyes, the cogs of his thoughts working at double speed.

Without a word, he inched towards me again, slowly as if he were afraid to kiss me.

Hell, maybe he was. This was completely unexpected.

When I felt the warmth of his plump lips connect with mine again, I could've sworn I was in absolute bliss. His mouth gently coaxed mine open, so he could complete his experiment as planned.

His tongue started out slow, brushing against mine timidly, waiting for me to react, but no reaction came. Well, not caused by the venom, at least.

I could feel the come pooling between my legs and I fought with all I had to hold back my moan, knowing he would stop kissing me if I let it out.

After a few seconds, his kiss built to something much more dangerous. I felt his knees tighten against my hips where they were straddling me and his hand dive into my loose hair. He pressed his body against mine, his tongue now exploring every part of my mouth in lustful curiosity.

I didn't want him to stop, but I needed to breathe, and so did he. He was damn near hyperventilating. I removed my hands from where they were fisting his shirt and pushed on his chest, signaling to break the kiss.

He reluctantly obeyed, and I was amazed to see his eyes blazing red beneath his half-drawn lids.

"Aria." He groaned, leaning his forehead against mine. "You really don't feel my venom?"

I smiled back at him, my fingers pressing lightly into the hard muscles beneath his t-shirt.

"I don't. I'm still horny as hell thanks to you, but it's not the venom this time." He let out a short and breathy laugh, rolling over onto the deck in a sprawled out manner.

"I need a cold shower now." He muttered beneath his heavy breaths. After giving him some time to regulate his breathing, I sat up.

"Why didn't your venom work?" He shrugged.

"No idea. It's always worked in the past. I don't know what changed. I'd say it was the power exchange, but it was still affecting you six months ago. It was incredible, though. That was honestly the first time I've kissed someone without any planted desire." He rolled onto his side, his eyes back to their striking blue. "Why did you kiss me?" "You told me to, remember?" I smirked, still tasting him on my tongue.

"Since when do you listen to me, though?" He retorted, playfully pulling me into his embrace. I wrestled with him, giggling as his fingers sought out the ticklish spot just below my ribs.

"Lysander, stop!" I squealed, swatting at his hands and squirming uncontrollably, but he held me against him, his smooth and hypnotic laugh filling my ears and heart simultaneously. "Not until you tell me the real reason." He pestered, unrelenting in his torture.

"Okay, okay!" I spat out, worried I would turn violent if he didn't stop soon. As agreed, he eased up, pulling me to straddle his torso while I spoke, as if having just made out with the guy wasn't tempting me enough. His hands rested lightly on my thighs and he eyed me reverently as he waited for me to speak.

"I told you that I wanted to kiss you." My mouse-like voice probably would have gone unheard if he weren't a vampire god.

"Why?"

What kind of question was that? There were a lot of reasons why, but most of them I would never say out loud, especially to him. Seeing my blush had him grinning from ear to ear.

"Don't tease me or I won't tell you anything." I threatened, and he bit his cheek, clearly trying to hold back. Once he seemed thoroughly contained, I continued. "I really like you, Lysander. That sounds like such a juvenile thing to say, but you make me feel that way, like a teenager. I can't be rational around you.

I know that it was wrong to kiss you. Hell, even thinking about how Bas would react to it makes me sick, but I can't help it.

Maybe I'm spoiled. Maybe I had grown too accustomed to having multiple men, I don't know. It's not like I don't think Bastion is enough for me, because he is.

I just can't shake how I feel about you. You bring me so much comfort and joy. You make me forget about all of the shitty stuff going on around me.

And when I'm with you, I want nothing more than to touch you. Not even just sexually. I want to feel your head on my shoulder or your hands in mine. I want to hold you, and damn it, I want to know what it's like to sleep beside you. I know that this is a pathetic excuse of an explanation, since I'm essentially saying that I want you yet don't want anything to change, but I don't know what to do. I have no other options, nothing to give you.

And I feel like shit because I feel like I'm just toying with your heart. I know you'll say its fine and that you don't mind, but I don't believe you. You are too nice to me and it drives me crazy.

Damn it, I'm rambling. This is what you do to me, you sexy little jerk."

I looked up from where my eyes were fixated in the center of his chest to finally meet his gaze. His grin was gone, but I couldn't quite discern his expression. I had never seen it before.

After a minute of staring at one another, the corner of his mouth raised.

"Sexy little jerk?"

I groaned, collapsing onto his chest with a huff.

"Is that all you got from that?" I mumbled, muffled in his shirt. He shook his head, wrapping his arms around me until I was surrounded by his warmth.

"No. But I get it. You make me feel the same way. I said it before, but I'll say it again. I won't ever ask you to choose me over Bastion. Now, I can't promise that I won't get a little handsy sometimes, especially now that I know I can kiss you without you turning crazed, but if you ever want me to stop, I will. In a heartbeat. And I won't mention it again. I will never do anything you don't want me to do. But keep in mind, it's hard as fuck not to act when you give me a green light. So please, for the love of all that is good, think about what you truly want before you open your mouth."

I pushed off of him, placing my hands on his chest for support as I met his eyes.

"Are you volunteering to be my friend with benefits?" I asked in disbelief. He chuckled, his eyes lighting up in amusement.

"I'll be your friend, your friend with benefits, your lover, or anything you damn well want, Aria."

"Why? I mean, why would you be willing to be kept a secret?"

He lifted his right hand, cupping my face in an affectionate gesture.

"Because I'm desperate to have you, sweetheart. I'll take whatever you give me."