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Midnight.
The house was quiet, all the animals had settled inside their cages, warm and safe.
She sat at the vanity, gently lathered her skin with the body cream he just bought her days prior.
All without noticing the hulking shadow lingered at the door.
They still slept separately, despite the desperate attempts to break the ice that arranged marriage brought upon. He’s a quiet, reserved man, but she knew he cared about her. The vanity he spent hours building, the trinkets he bought from the stores in town, and the body cream he traded for with his hard work.
Despite what the village whispered about him - a gruff, rough bastard who has never felt a woman’s touch - she found him tolerable.
And if she turned around, maybe she’ll find the burning fire in those amber eyes. The longing. The yearning of a man who thinks he’s too calloused for love.
“It’s late”.
He murmured, still hesitated at the door. His voice startled her a bit, and she slowly turned around to find the man. God, she’s still adjusting to how her husband just magically appeared out of nowhere.
“Just getting ready for bed”.
She said simply, then got up from the vanity to approach him. She saw the way his eyes widened at the proximity slowly being closed, but he made no attempt to move away.
He let out a small noise from the back of his throat, his eyes carefully took her in. A woman who is way out of his league, yet bounded to be his wife. A little angel who brought color into his dull life, who welcomed him home with soft words and decent food.
Yet he could never told her all the things he wants to say. Words have never been his strength.
So he settled for actions
“Thought I should.. you know, a good night”. His attempt at being soft
“Thank you, have a good sleep also”. She murmured with a slight smile
His throat tightened, his hands twitched for a moment - as if he wanted to reach out - before trying to relax once again. He shouldn’t have these thoughts. He’s too rough, too calloused for such fair skin.
“Food was.. good.” Second attempt.
She knew he wanted to prolong the conversation; they always tiptoed around small talk. The ice is still there, and she wanted to break it. She didn't know when she stopped feeling wary around him. Maybe it’s the way he cares in silence, the way he respects her boundary, the way he provides and makes sure she never starves.
“Glad you like it.”
Eyes met. Time seemed to stand still. The tension was so thick. Hearts thudding so fast, maybe they could hear each other’s.
Then the smaller presence carefully stood up to her tiptoe, soft lips met rugged cheek with a soft kiss. The softest, gentlest touch he has ever received in his life.
_______________
He was the second child of a wealthy couple. His brother - a prodigy - was the reason why his parents tried to have another.
Unfortunately, an accident happened, and he was born, which his father called, defective. A little bit slower when it comes to mental work, struggled with verbal communication, always too tall and big compared to kids at his age.
His parents hid him away from the public. They afraid he would be the stain to their polished façade. He grew up watching his brother receive all the hope and love from their parents. The quiet kid only became more isolated, and when he turned 18, they kicked him out to a secluded place in the suburb, a small house with a small barn, and he had never seen them again since then.
People whispered words about him. They called him all kinds of names and kept their children far from him. He lived through days without any friends, spent days alone with Bug - the dog he adopted, abandoned like him. Until she came.
And now he experienced love for the first time.
_______________
But maybe it was too much, too overwhelmed for the man, because he stood still, eyes wide stared back at her, cheek still tingled with the earlier contact.
“What..” He breathed out, almost like a panting dog. “What was that for?”
She looked at him, truly looked at him, and she stood up again to press another peck.
Then another.
Then another.
Until when his arms shot out to wrap around her body, clutched her tight, flushed face buried into her neck with ragged breaths did she stopped.
And when he didn’t return to his own bedroom that night?
Something are better left unexplained.