by Shuler, Tara
Aztos smiled slightly as he ate. When his father told him he was betrothed to a human wife, he’d never expected that she might actually come to care for him. He had expected she would despise him, and that a demon would never be anything to a human woman but a contemptible monster. But his wife seemed to be warming up to him. In a way, he felt sorry for her. He could never return those feelings. But it pleased him to know that she didn’t see him as an irredeemable monster, even if that was the way he saw himself.
He realized that he should show her some sort of affection, even if he didn’t feel it. She had been good to him. She accepted him as he was, without trying to change him. She had been kind and understanding. And he’d given her little in return.
Aztos wiped his barbecue-smeared face with a napkin, and spun the bar stool around to face her. He put his arms around her and returned her embrace. Then, slowly, he lifted her chin with his finger. Their faces were so close together, he could smell the sweetness of her breath, and feel the warmth on his face. Her lips parted, and her eyes closed. She was hopeful, and he felt it would be wrong to deny her. He hesitated, his breath ragged and anxious. They had not kissed since the obligatory time on their wedding day. He closed his eyes, and gently placed his lips against hers.
She responded by curling her fingers into the back of his hair and pressing her body against his. She was kissing him willingly – something he had never expected would occur. He’d told her she never needed to consummate the marriage, because he expected his human wife would detest him. He felt himself detestable in every way. However, this woman was kissing him… and passionately. It was almost as if she… he shook the thought from his head. She couldn’t possibly feel that way about him. This was a product of her loneliness, and nothing more. He was sure of it.
Beth had few thoughts during the kiss, other than how much she was enjoying the moment. The only thing that managed to capture her attention was her surprise at his instigation of the kiss. She tried not to think he meant anything by it, but she couldn’t help but be hopeful. She surrendered to the bliss of his lips against hers, and forgot everything else.
Her heart fluttered wildly. His kiss was more intense than she could have imagined, and his lips now pressed against hers so firmly it was almost painful. His breath grew hot like fire, and it was rapid and deep. She felt things happening inside her body that she had never experienced before, and she hopped into his lap and wrapped her legs around him.
Aztos was shocked by her actions, and he was equally surprised by his reaction to it. He actually wanted her, and he felt she wanted him, too. But he didn’t want to give her the wrong idea. He thought it was best to keep her at a distance, lest she be disappointed when he had to remind her that he couldn’t feel for her the way she wanted him to. He managed to convince himself this was a physical reaction, and nothing more.
He pushed her off him, and she stumbled back. He hopped off the stool and stood staring at her intensely, his chest and shoulders rising and falling with his intensely deep breaths. The haze in his amber eyes shifted restlessly, and the look on his face was primal – almost angry. He stood as if he were ready to attack, his hands balled into fists at his side.
“Aztos… what’s wrong?” Beth asked.
“I cannot do this,” he growled.
Aztos shook his head, trying to clear the foreign thoughts from it. He tried to control his breathing, to calm the raging fire inside him.
“I am sorry, Elizabeth,” he told her. “I will return, soon.”
And, as usual, he disappeared.
“Damn it!” Beth muttered under her breath. “Why does he always do that?”
Her mind reeled with confusion. He’d never kissed her – not since the tiny peck on their wedding day. Supposedly, he could never feel anything for her, yet she could have sworn she felt some emotion in his kiss. Perhaps she was mistaking passion for romance. Demons, after all, could procreate. Maybe it was only physical lust that she’d felt in his kiss. Still, it had given her hope. She tried not to allow herself to feel it, but she did. And she wanted to kiss him again.
“Aztos!” she called, hoping he could hear her. “Aztos! Please come back.”
Whether he heard her or not, Aztos did not return. Beth sighed, and as soon as she managed to calm her breathing, she began to clean up his plate. She could think of nothing but that kiss, and she decided it was best to busy herself and to try to forget it for the moment.
Chapter Nine
A couple of hours later, Beth was busy washing clothes, trying to keep her mind off Aztos’ hasty departure during their kiss. She removed some clothes from the drier and tossed them into the laundry basket, and then she picked up the basket and whirled around to take them into the bedroom to fold them. She gasped.
“I did not mean to startle you,” Aztos said.
“Why did you leave, earlier?” Beth demanded.
“I cannot explain it,” Aztos admitted. “I just felt the need to escape.”
“Was it because you didn’t like kissing me?” Beth wanted to know.
“No, not at all,” Aztos said. “I just felt somewhat… uncomfortable.”
“So… you did like the kiss?”
“It was… pleasant.”
“Okay, I can live with that.”
“May I take that for you?” Aztos asked, nodding toward the laundry basket she had hoisted uncomfortably onto her hip.
“Oh, thanks,” she said, handing it to him.
She followed him into the bedroom, and he placed the basket on the bed and began to fold some of the clothes. She joined him, and they put the clothes away together in silence.
“Aztos, can I ask you something?” Beth asked once the clothes were all put away.
“Of course.”
“Do you regret marrying me?”
“Absolutely not. Why would you ask such a thing?”
“I don’t know. Look, I know you say demons don’t feel emotions the same way as human, right?”
He nodded.
“But you do feel emotions, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
“And you said kissing me was… pleasant.”
“It was.”
“Well, then… do you think you might ever be able to… you know…”
“Love you?”
“Well, yeah.”
“I do not know, honestly. I would like to think that would be possible, but I have never known a demon who felt that way about their spouse – human or otherwise. I do not wish to get your hopes up, only to disappoint you later.”
“Never?”
“Never,” he confirmed. “Do not get me wrong. Demons develop attachments to their spouses, and they do feel loss if their spouse is taken from them. However, they do not bond the same way humans do in marriage. Kissing is used only to seal the bond of marriage and on certain social occasions, and sexual relations are used for procreation, not recreation.”
Beth’s face flushed.
“Have I upset you?” Aztos asked, noting her change of color.
“No,” she answered, laughing nervously. “It’s just strange hearing you refer to ‘procreation’ and ‘recreation’ in the same sentence.”
“May I ask you something, now?” Aztos added seriously.
“Yes, of course.”
“I know I have asked you this before, but you were not entirely clear with your answer. Before you met me, what did you think of demons?”
“I don’t know. The same thing any human does, I guess.”
“You thought we were all evil? Perhaps even ugly?”
“Yes, I suppose so. Like I said before, I never thought about it that much.”
“And now?”
“I don’t know about other demons,” she admitted. “But I’m growing rather fond of you.”
“Are you, really? Why?”
“I don’t know. Most of the time, I really like being around you. Although, I must admit… sometimes I am afraid of you.”
�
��I do not wish to scare you,” Aztos said. “I am sorry if I have.”
“It’s not that you’ve done anything to me, really. You’re just a little demanding, sometimes.”
“I do so for your protection,” he reminded her.
“What do I need to be protected from?”
“I am a demon,” he reminded her. “I know all manners of evil that lurk in the shadows. Things you could not possibly understand.”
“Why don’t you tell me about them?”
“I do not wish to frighten you, Elizabeth.”
“If there are things that could pose a danger to me, don’t you think I should know?”
“Let us just say that the sanctity of our home cannot be disturbed. This place is protected. When you leave it, you are not safe. There are forces out there you would not believe.”
“Stop being so cryptic, Aztos. Just tell me what you mean,” Beth insisted.
“I want you to promise me something.”
“Okay, what?”
“Never, never visit the western area of the forest. Promise me.”
Beth remembered her promise to Malachai to never go back there.
“I promise. But why?”
“There are evil beings lurking there – far more evil than any demon I have ever known. If you go there, I cannot protect you.”
“I won’t go there,” she promised.
“Please, Elizabeth. If you keep no other vow to me, keep this one.”
“I will, Aztos. I promise.”
“Would you like to do something fun?” Aztos asked, attempting to lighten the somber moment.
“What did you have in mind?”
“Anything you want. We could go out, or stay in. It is your decision.”
Beth hadn’t been out in a long time. She thought it might be fun to go out to dinner, or to see a movie in the theater. But more than anything, she just wanted to spend some quiet time with Aztos.
“Could you read to me?” she asked him.
He looked at her curiously.
“I am giving you the opportunity to go anywhere you wish, and you would rather stay home and listen to me read?”
“That’s honestly all I want to do right now.”
His face was stolid, but inside, he was delighted. He couldn’t understand why, but this made him happy.
“If that is what you wish, then choose a book and we shall do so.”
Beth looked through his bookshelf and choose a book she knew he enjoyed – Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. She had started to read it herself once, but she preferred to listen to him read.
She joined him on the sofa, and he began to read. She decided to lie down, and she rested her head in his lap, looking up at him as he read. He paused to watch her curiously for a moment, and then began to read again.
His voice was smooth and deep. It had a slight gravelly edge that made it terribly masculine and exciting. Every time he read to her, she became enchanted. She had come to love hearing him read to her more than watching movies. In fact, it was one of her favorite things to do.
As he read, she could feel his breath causing his abdomen to rise and fall. For a while, she resisted temptation. However, soon it became too great for her to resist. Slowly, carefully, she slipped her hand underneath his shirt and rested her hand on his flat stomach. His muscles tensed, and his voice faltered for a moment. Then he continued.
She didn’t want to risk pushing him away, so she let that be enough. Her hand rested there, feeling the smoothness of his skin, covered by light patches of hair, his muscles strong and tense. She wanted to move her hand up and touch his chest. She wanted to put her arms around him, and kiss him. But she could not risk ruining the moment.
She listened intently as his smooth voice told her the story of Ivanhoe, and although she found the story intriguing, it was his reading of it that captivated her. She was absolutely enchanted.
For hours, they never left their position on the sofa. Beth shifted occasionally, moving her body into a more comfortable spot. But she continued to look up at him with adoring eyes, and she left her hand on his stomach, enjoying the feeling of his breathing moving it up and down.
When the last page was read, Beth couldn’t hide her disappointment. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, and her mouth was parched. She was exhausted, but she did not want the moment to end.
“We should go to bed,” Aztos said.
“Alright.”
“Are you hungry?”
“No!” Beth replied vehemently, though her stomach pinched terribly.
She only wanted to lie beside him. She wanted to rest her head on his chest and listen to the beat of his heart, and feel his arms wrapped around her as they slept. Nothing else mattered.
Aztos got to his feet and took her hands, pulling her to her feet. She followed him willingly to the bedroom, and she watched him change into a pair of comfortable sweat pants. She started to pull a t-shirt from the drawer, but she grabbed his arm.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
He lifted one eyebrow curiously, but dropped the shirt back into the drawer. He climbed into bed and waited for her to disappear into the bathroom to change as she normally did. Instead, he was surprised that she took off her clothes in front of him and dropped them onto the floor, climbing into bed beside him wearing nothing but her panties. He had never seen her that way before.
She settled beside him, moving her body to close to him she was practically on top of him. She pressed her skin against his, and laid her head on his chest. Her hand rested softly against his chest. He put his arms around her, and they fell asleep with the pleasant warmth of their skin comforting both of them.
The next morning, Aztos was gone. This time, he’d left her a note:
Elizabeth,
Called away on an emergency. I should not be gone longer than a day. Please be home when I return.
Aztos
She had wanted so badly to wake up in his arms, and she felt as though she might cry. At least he wouldn’t be gone long this time.
Chapter Ten
Beth and Aztos were preparing dinner together one evening. Aztos was slicing onions, and Beth was seasoning steaks. They were having a friendly discussion – actually enjoying each other’s company.
“Aztos!” Beth heard the deep voice of Azmond boom behind them.
They both whirled around to see Azmond standing before them, his amber eyes shifting stormily. His bony hands were balled into fists, and his eyes were narrowed to slits. He looked as though he were ready to pounce.
“Yes, Father?” Aztos asked calmly.
“It is being said that your wife is fraternizing with angels,” Azmond growled menacingly. “Is this true?”
Aztos paused anxiously, stepping between Beth and his father and spreading his arms out protectively. Beth’s stomach churned, remembering the time she’d spent with Malachai.
Aztos answered confidently, “There must be some mistake, Father. Elizabeth is with me at every moment of the day. It would be impossible for such a thing to occur.”
Azmond looked largely unconvinced. He tilted his head to the side and clucked his tongue.
“What about when you are away?” Azmond challenged.
“She is being watched at all times, Father,” Aztos insisted. “I assure you, I would know if she were doing such a thing.”
“If we discover your wife is spending time with angels, you know what must be done,” Azmond warned. “I would advise that you speak with her about the potential consequences of such actions immediately.”
“Of course, Father,” Aztos conceded. “I will speak to her about it, but I promise you, no such event has transpired.”
“See that you do,” Azmond demanded. “Do not allow your wife to betray you the way your mother betrayed me.”
Azmond’s hair fluttered slightly, and he disappeared. Aztos slowly turned to face Beth, searching into her eyes.
“Is it true?” he asked solemnly.
Beth could not lie
to him, and her heart sank. She was fearful of what he might do if he learned the truth, but she couldn’t bring herself to lie.
“Yes,” she said meekly, hanging her head in shame.
“What is your explanation?” he demanded.
“I met him in the forest,” Beth explained. “He’s not an angel, though. He’s fallen.”
Aztos ground his teeth together until they squeaked.
“Have you... are you and he…” Aztos paused, unable say the rest.
“No!” Beth gasped quickly. “Never! We’re only friends.”
Aztos gulped, and breathed an audible sigh of relief.
“Elizabeth, you must listen to me carefully,” he said, holding her shoulders and looking deeply into her eyes. “You must never, ever speak to an angel again – not even a fallen one. Do you understand me?”
Beth stared at him as though she were dazed. Her mouth opened, but she could not speak. Aztos shook her gently.
“Do you understand me?” he repeated more forcefully.
“Yes,” she whispered, almost inaudibly, her eyes filling with tears.
“You must understand. I cannot protect you if you do,” Aztos told her. “Fraternizing with angels is unforgiveable, and I will be powerless to stop them if they catch you.”
Beth stepped back, breaking away from his grasp.
“How… how did they even know?” she croaked.
“Demons have eyes and ears everywhere,” he informed her.
“What will they do?”
“Do not find out,” Aztos commanded seriously. “You are not to leave this house under any circumstance. Do I make myself clear?”
“What? I can’t even go outside?” she gasped.
“I cannot allow you to risk another encounter with him,” Aztos told her. “The consequences would be… unbearable… for both of us.”
“So this is about my safety? Or is it something else?”
“What else would there be?” he asked as nonchalantly as he could manage.
“Are you sure it isn’t jealousy?”
“Do I have something to be jealous of?” he asked, his voice now sounding somewhat panicked, perhaps vengeful.
