AUTHOR'S POV
Hours have past, Stellan and Helena spent the entire night tangled with each other. Stellan memorized all the sensitive parts of Helena, as he leave his marks in every inch of her. Obsessively, Helena let Stellan own her entire mind and body through his zeal touch and kisses. And finally, with each other's presence, the feeling of emptiness vanished as if it never existed at all.
Helena laid to her side on the carpeted floor as the scarlet lights from the hearth glisten on her naked skin. Stellan, who still haven't had enough, brushes his lips against her shoulder as he spoon with Helena under a thin sheet of black silk.
"I want a house by the river,", Helena blurted out as she rest her head on her arm watching the flames flicker.
"I'll build us a big one", Stellan continued to shower her with kisses with an urge for lust despite doing it five times in a row.
"And a glass room for pottery and…some plants", she stammered while Stellan's hands caress her legs. She giggled as he peppered her with more kisses. "Stop..", she imposed, feeling sore everywhere.
"A Greenhouse?", he started licking her neck with his warm tongue. He bit her skin gently that she left out a soft moan.
"Hmm Is that what it's called?", she thought. "'l'll have peonies of different colors", Helena wriggled as Stellan laid on top of her.
"I'd love that", Stellan said as he kiss her tiny nose, her blushed cheeks.. and her plump lips which have reddened for too much making out.
"And maybe, a passage for hummingbirds to come in", she continued to plan while Stellan gaze at her tenderly.
"That too, everything you want", he said as he attempt to kiss her again on her lips. Stellan couldn't stop himself. He didn't knew that Helena's scent would be so addicting like this. This is the consequence of being apart for a long time, his heart indeed did grew fonder.
Helena placed her hands on his mouth, halting his pursuit of neverending caresses. "Did you listen to everything I just said?".
"Of course… every word", Stellan held Helena's hands and placed then over her head, pecking her cheeks as she giggled.
"It's nice, you're planning a future with me. It's like… you're never going to come and go like you used to", Stellan smiled staring intently on her sparkling gray eyes… with those ever mesmerizing flecks of green. Then, he creased his brows, noticing Helena's mouth forming a pensive frown. "What's this look?", he asked.
"What look?", Helena tittered suppressedly as she rub off her uncertainties on ger face with her palms. However, Stellan didn't backed down as he sat by the fireplace, pulling her up in his arms. Helena sighed. This man will never stop until he squeezes out what's bothering her. "I just don't think I'm good enough for you".
"Don't ever say that", Stellan tucked Helena's hair behind her ear. He never saw her unbefitting to fill the spaces between his fingers, and become his lawfully wedded wife.
"Hey.. Look around you Stellan. You have everything you could ever wish for, while me? I have nothing", Helena lowered her gaze as she look down upon herself. With empty pockets, no homes and no titles, Helena thought she's nothing compared to what Stellan has and what he deserves.
"You have me", Stellan lifted her chin with his finger, and comforted her with a very reassuring gleam. "Helena, without you, none of these would make sense. You're all I want, Helena. May you be the girl by the river, the young lad of Brandenburg, the paladin palace or Celestial traveler of Caluso… you'll always be my Helena", Stellan held her hand and kissed it tenderly. "So please, free your mind from those absolute nonsense. They are too desparingly hurtful to hear", Helena cuddled Stellan like a large puppy, nestling him in her small arms.
"And what about Galen? We all know he won't stop until he finds me. Everyone near me will be in danger. I can't let that happen to you. So I really can't stay that long", she uttered, fondling with Stellan's hair.
Stellan felt a little prick in the chest. Helena doesn't see him trustworthy to protect her, much more to pursue a commitment with him. Her assumptions hurt his ego a little. "So what about our plans? What about us?", he asked uneasily, with parted lips as if it's difficult to breath. He certainly do not desire about living in a house by the river alone.
"I can always come back", Helena is convinced that she can do exactly what her mother did, being hidden in the shadows away from King Silvius. That might work for her too.
Stellan flinched upright, with strong disapproval and dismay. "What are you so afraid of…when you have me?", Stellan looked at her in the eye as she avert her gaze. She couldn't save a face for Stellan, whom she wouldn't want to be involved with the dangerous life she's living. "Tell me, what are your thoughts about being a queen?", he suddenly asked.
"It's not for me", she simply answered.
"Haven't you known? You're father is dead. King Silvius", he said.
"And so I've heard", Helena hugged her knees, uneasily watching the flames burn the firewoods completely. "I've never really got to know him as a father, so I wouldn't want to see him that way despite my mother always telling me that the dragon hilt which he actually owns is my destiny".
"So you do realize that you have the entire kingdom and the position of the queen to inherit", Stellan confirmed intently.
"Are you trying to say that I need to be queen to become worthy of you?", Helena asked, furrowing her brows as she meet his strong gaze.
"Of course not", he strongly said. "With or without a title, I'm yours. What I'm saying, Nether is also yours. You are destined to be the Queen of this land, whether you like it or not".