6. Patrick

Chapter 6

Patrick

T he system we set up—small sips of tea quickly followed by a bite of bread or something else that was dry or bland—worked. With Arthur's help and patience, I was able to start eating and drinking again. It took a few weeks, but after some time, I regained my strength and was able to get up and out of bed without becoming dizzy or feeling as if my stomach was going to revolt.

I rapidly found myself comfortable with life at the inn again, not realizing just how much I had missed it in the past ten years. As Arthur's One though, things were different for me now. It wasn't that the others had treated me poorly before, but there had certainly been some pity in their looks when they thought I couldn't quite see them. Now, I'd not seen anything of the sort. In fact, everyone had been most welcoming and were happy and eager to chat.

I found that life in Master Edison's coven was truly magical. He himself was kind, caring, and full of knowledge. I had always known that, but when I'd been here with my parents, I'd been kept mostly away from the others in the coven. But I knew I had a lot left to learn about being a warlock, and the coven as a whole was already trying to help me. Arthur had shared that they would have done so years ago, if my parents had allowed such a thing, but my parents were anything but reasonable.

I felt as if I was settling in nicely. When I wasn't learning about my magical abilities, I had convinced Arthur to let me help around the place. I had always enjoyed taking care of the chickens and collecting the eggs—and that was no different now—even if I couldn't eat the eggs while pregnant. I had always loved them before and had tried on many occasions since realizing I was with child, and it simply wasn't happening.

We had established a routine of sorts. Some days were better than others, but one constant remained. Arthur was always doting on me, always bringing me some small token: a flower that he said reminded him of my eyes, a heart-shaped rock he found, a warm blanket made from soft wool to keep me warm. Each and every gift meant something to me, as I knew they came from his heart, and each had been thought out before he presented them to me.

He had just brought me another bunch of lovely flowers. Where he was getting them this time of year, I wasn't certain. The flowers had only just started to bloom, but these were all beyond what we had around the area. But I enjoyed them all the same. "You have to stop spoiling me so. Eventually, we won't have any room in here," I told him as I took them over to the table to add them to the pitcher that had the flowers from a few days ago in it.

"I'll never stop showing you how much you mean to me. These things are small tokens only. I don't know if I'll ever be able to show how much you mean to me," Arthur said before he brought my hand up to his mouth, placing a kiss on the back of it.

"I already know how much I mean to you. I feel it every moment of the day. Even at night, when we're lying in bed and you're fretting about me. I love you too. There is no need to worry. I understand what I mean to you."

"This pregnancy has been difficult on you," Arthur said.

I snorted. "I have been told that this pregnancy has been a dream. I am no longer sick. I have my strength and health. I'm carrying the baby without pains or too many issues. Yes, eggs are still troublesome, but they often are for those who are pregnant. Our son will be here soon—we both know it."

Arthur nodded before he moved behind me and wrapped his arms low around my stomach. I couldn't help but grin. When his lips found their way to my neck, I moaned and tilted my head to the side to give him more room. When his lips continued downward at the same time his hands did, I knew what he was wanting. I was feeling well, and I wasn't going to deny either of us, so I turned in his embrace and looked at my forever love.

"Do you want to go to the bed?"

Arthur grinned. "Only if you are feeling up for it."

I smiled back. "I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't."

That was all it took for Arthur to sweep me up into his arms. I let out a very undignified yelp before I reached for his neck to hold on. "I'm too heavy," I said. "You'll hurt yourself."

"Nonsense. You will never be too heavy." Arthur carried me from the front room and into our bedchamber. It was a lovely space, and I'd never had anything so nice. Arthur placed me gently on the bed, and then for dramatics, he snapped his fingers, and suddenly, I was naked.

I looked up at my One and rolled my eyes. I was grinning though. "So dramatic," I said.

Arthur raised his eyebrows before he placed a hand on the bed beside my hip. When I looked down his body, he was naked now as well. The perks of being a warlock certainly were numerous. Especially for one such as Arthur. He was understandably more powerful than I ever hoped to be, but he never made me feel less than because of my lacking abilities.

Arthur climbed onto the bed, but instead of covering my body with his, he knelt between my legs. His lips touched the inside of my knee, causing me to squirm at the sensation. I wiggled a little as Arthur slowly moved his way up my inner thigh. We'd done this countless times, him to me and me to him although clumsily. I was nowhere nearly as practiced as Arthur, but he never complained once, and if his movements and moans when I sucked on his rod were anything to go by, he enjoyed my attentions immensely.

By the time I felt Arthur's breath on my sac, I was a needy mess. My own rod was dripping and in need of attention. I couldn't help but wiggle around with my need. Well, as much as Arthur would allow. It wasn't that he was holding me down, but his grip on my thighs to keep them where he wanted them limited my movements.

When Arthur's tongue swiped up my sac, I gripped the covers below me and moaned. I knew what was coming. We might not have been mated for long, but Arthur was most certainly a giving lover, and he always saw to my needs before he even considered his own.

Arthur licked up my sac but didn't stop there. He continued upward, and when he reached the tip of my rod, his hand moved from my hip to my rod. He gently pulled the skin back, exposing the pink, flared tip. Sudden hot warmth surrounded it, and I closed my eyes as Arthur took me into his mouth. I subtly raised my hips, trying to get some movement and friction, but Arthur's hands tightened on my hips, keeping me pinned to the bed. I didn't mind in the least; I knew what was to come.

Arthur was incredibly talented, and in too short of a time, I was close to release. "I'm close," I managed to whisper out.

Arthur pulled up and off my length, then kissed my lower stomach, which was right there. Any other time I might feel uncomfortable about it, but I knew that it was Arthur's love for me, and mine for him, that put me in the condition that I was in. Arthur loved that I was carrying our child, and the pregnancy certainly had perks.

"I want to make you feel so amazing," Arthur whispered. I almost didn't hear him, but thankfully, I had.

"You do. Always." It was the truth. Arthur hadn't ever done anything that had felt anything but amazing.

Arthur sucked on my rod again, this time taking it all the way in his mouth. I gasped when one of his hands rubbed my sac at the same time. He gently played with it while sucking up and down my rod, and like every time as before, that was all it took for me to find my release. I moaned loudly into the room as my body felt a zing go through it, and I released into Arthur's mouth. His own moan sent vibrations through my rod, and that intensified my pleasure.

Arthur continued to suck, taking everything my body gave him. When it became too much though, I started wiggling. Arthur slowly sucked up my length and then off, allowing my rod to fall onto my stomach. He gave it a quick kiss and then moved down to my now soft sac and did the same. I sighed at the sensations and knew that if he were to continue, it would only take moments for my body to be ready for another round. It was always like that with him.

"Feel better?"

"Mmm." I sighed again. "I didn't feel bad before."

Arthur moved up beside me. I turned to at least reach for him to give him pleasure, but when he moved closer, I felt how soft he was. Immediately, I was worried. Had my changing body finally caused him displeasure?

"Stop right there," Arthur said. "I am just as much attracted to you now as I was when I first saw you in the tavern. I found my release when you did. That is all." Arthur ran his fingers through my hair, and when I met his eyes, I saw nothing but love in his. "I love you. Now, forever. Always. I cannot imagine a life without you or the child you are carrying. It is such an exciting thing. In all ways," Arthur added before he leaned closer and kissed my nose. "I desire you more every day we are together. So much so that at times, I cannot keep from finding my own pleasure when you find yours."

"Really?" How had I not realized? I should have been able to feel him finding his release when I found mine. We'd both experienced that more times than I could remember.

"Yes. I have no reason to be untruthful." Arthur kissed my forehead before he pulled me closer. I sighed and closed my eyes as his fingers started trailing up and down my back. "I do think we should discuss something important."

I didn't even need Arthur to go further. I already knew what was coming. My pregnancy was progressing well. My stomach was rounded with our son, and my time being able to leave our little home was limited, and it was most likely only a matter of days before Arthur and the others deemed it unsafe for me to be seen outside. I understood. It was the same with Oliver every time he'd carried one of their sons. We were men, and what our bodies were capable of simply wasn't possible.

Soon, I could no longer go outside, as it was spring, and none of us wanted to take any chances of someone from one of the nearby towns spotting me. It was rare we had outsiders at the inn, and when they did show up, they were sent on their way because we never had room available for travelers.

"Has the time come?" I asked.

Arthur sighed. "There was a group of travelers at the inn earlier. They were looking for a place to stay for a time. Dad sent them on their way. He later discovered two of them out by the barn with the goats."

My time of confinement had come, then. I understood. I truly did. But that didn't mean I had to like it. "I'll be sure to stay safely inside." I tried to make the best of it already and moved enough so I could look at Arthur. "It's not as if I need to go outside anyway. You bring me things all the time. And the others can visit." It wouldn't be the same. I loved going to the kitchen and spending time with Oliver and his sons.

"I do, yes. But I will be spending a lot more time in here with you. I understand I can get a little overwhelming, and I don't mean to. I only worry about you and our baby's safety. If someone who knows nothing of us were to see you, it could cause panic if word were to get out."

I reached up and placed my hand on Arthur's cheek. "I understand. I don't want anything to happen to the baby either. Or you. I swear to you I will remain inside. I wouldn't take chances with our little one. Do you know something I don't? Beyond the travelers? William has taken to hovering. He has visited several times a day to check up on me. As has Father. Not that I would ever be upset with your carrier visiting me."

Arthur rolled his eyes at that, but he knew it was true. It wasn't uncommon for Edison to visit several times a day anymore, but it was William's presence with him that told us both that our little warlock would be making an appearance very soon.

"I know only that it will most likely be a few weeks still. We will have to continue to wait." Arthur looked upset. "I do feel terrible that you will have to remain inside though. If your pregnancy were due to end in the winter, you would have had the freedom to move about the grounds for longer."

I shook my head. "'Tis all right. I truly do not care. I spend most of my time here in the house anyway. There is much to do when it comes to working on my powers and how to properly utilize them. There is also the baby to get ready for. So many cloths will be needed."

"Yes, babies do go through many. But you have to remember that despite what others might do with their own children, I have every intention of fully utilizing the abilities in which we have been gifted. We will certainly be using our magic to aid us when it comes to taking care of things. Just as I did in order to expand our house and give us the bath chamber."

It was truly a dream place. Arthur was big on bathing, which wasn't an issue for me. I, too, loved to be clean and fresh. It was a treat before though, and at times, I couldn't help but feel a bit of unease when I sunk down into the tub of steamy water. Especially when Arthur slid in behind me. We often spent time just relaxing and talking about various things in the evenings while soaking in scented water in the tub. Our dreams of a large family had already been shared and agreed on. And while I wanted nothing more than to give Arthur anything he wanted, I knew that some of our dreams wouldn't ever come to be.

"Do you wish to soak in the tub? We could relax there, and then I could get you something to eat. There is ham today. Would that be agreeable with your stomach?"

I grinned. "Yes. If it's not too much of an issue, could we have bread with some honey? I know there was some honey yesterday, and I didn't eat it all."

Arthur chuckled. "Yes, my love. You may have honey on your bread. It is tasty on the ham as well. We should probably look into a way to encouraging more bees to hive up here. With the growing numbers in the coven, what once was years ago isn't quite sufficient any longer."

"Do I need to help in some way?" I asked. I leaned up on my elbow so I could look at Arthur.

"No. Your only task is to take care of yourself and our baby. Beyond that, I want you to worry about nothing. There is more than enough to go around. We have never had issue with providing for the coven. But we have to keep up appearances, and that means we will have to attract more bees. We also need to plant a larger plot of vegetables. The berry canes are looking well. They have started to fill out, and before long, there should be some flowers on them. It's all about making things appear as if they are enough for our group."

I understood that. Even in Zürich, there were times that my own father had used his magic for something when we simply didn't have what was needed. Mother always disapproved, but she seemed to get over the issue soon enough.

"What about a bath?" Arthur asked again.

"That would be nice." I yawned before I dropped back down onto my side fully and moved closer to Arthur. "But perhaps we could rest here for a bit first?" My energy was suddenly gone, and I didn't know if it was because I was pregnant and coming to the end of my term or if it was the amazing release that Arthur had given me not long ago. I always felt completely relaxed after Arthur pleasured me, and I had noticed that lately, it didn't take nearly as much to tire me.

"We can rest," Arthur said. I felt the blanket suddenly cover us, although I'd not been cold. Arthur always made sure we had a fire going to keep warm. He always made sure we had everything we needed, and that was something I would be eternally grateful for.