A Price Above Rubies

Chapter Thirty

He blames her. Hilal knows it. She feels it in the way he can't look at her as she helps him eat, helps him take a few steps around the cabin to get his strength back. She feels it in the way he doesn't touch her unless it's necessary to do all the things to help him in his recovery. Maybe he's right, Hilal thinks, tears streaming down her face as she looks out onto the grass and tall trees, heavy bushes that keep this place hidden. They can't venture out further than the bushes to keep from being spotted. 

Colonel Dario has done what he could to defend their actions but despite the fact that Colonel Stavros was a traitor, he was an officer and the justice department wants the people guilty of his death to be held accountable. Ali Kemal was dead. They need someone they can hold up at court to punish and put the whole embarrassment of the GJD and their underhanded activities away. The GSD can go on pretending they knew nothing and the whole thing will be tied up with a pretty bow. 

Colonel Dario helped Yakup and Yildiz escape to Paris and had to give it some more time or the government will suspect his involvement if Leon and Hilal disappear too quickly as well since Leon had been in Dario's regiment as Andreas Akis. 

Vecihi stayed behind as well and had been by once to check on them and bring food. He was in hiding too as he worked with Colonel Dario to prepare their escape. 

Until the plan is in place Hilal and Leon wait in their uneasy coexistence. 

Hilal jumps a little when a handkerchief appears in front of her, Leon standing behind her. 

Embarrassed, she quickly wipes her tears and thanks him. He looks so pale, still, but at least he can move around a bit. She lifts her hand to his face and his skin feels a little warm. She hopes his fever isn't coming back. 

"How do you feel?" 

"Tired. Hungry. Famished really," he corrects and she smiles a little but he doesn't see it because he's shifted his gaze away from her. 

He still can't bear to look at her. Before he can see the sheen of hot tears in her eyes she moves past him back inside the cabin. 

"I'll see what I can make for lunch." His appetite is coming back. That's a good thing. Hilal tries to focus on that. 

A flutter inside her stomach stops her. Her hand goes to her belly and joy wells up inside of her, pushing away her companions of grief and sadness for a moment. She recognizes this feeling, remembers it well from when she was pregnant with Acelya and Yorgo. 

"Are you alright?" Leon asks, a hand against her back and such concern in his voice Hilal wants to melt against him. 

"The baby. It just moved for the first time," Hilal says turning towards him with a smile. 

Light fills his eyes when he meets her gaze and he looks so joyful Hilal wants to weep with happiness. 

Leon places a hand on her belly, his face awestruck as they wait for the baby to make its presence know yet again. 

He jumps a little when Hilal feels the baby flutter beneath her skin again.

"Oh," Leon whispers and his eyes are damp when they meet hers. He's always amazed the first time their babies become real independent bodies to them. Hilal remembers him talking to each of their babies while they were still in her stomach. Many a time she would come awake to the sound of his voice to find him crouched down in their bed talking to their unborn daughter and then son. He leans down and presses a kiss to Hila's forehead. Hilal whimpers at the touch, tears springing to her eyes and she moves closer to him, craving his tenderness like a flower arching to find the sun after being too long in darkness. "Leon," she sighs, needing them to get back to what they were before. 

"Let's just eat, Hilal. Then we'll both rest because I don't have the energy for the things we need to say to each other and neither do you." His voice is stern and it's as if clouds moved across the sky blocking out the brief glimpse of the sun, leaving Hilal in darkness yet again. 

She awakens in the reddish tint of the setting sun. Hilal feels Leon against her, his body having turned to her in sleep. She doesn't dare move because she doesn't want to ruin the moment. 

He is the one that moves. Hilal holds her breath as his hand moves along her chest to cup her breast. She tries not to seize up in surprise so he won't think she's rejecting him. That's the last thing she wants. She's missed his touch so much. Is he dreaming? She remembers one time when after a party he had been still slightly drunk and had started to make love to her in his sleep. It wasn't until he had actually entered her that the real sensation of flesh meeting flesh caused him to wake up. He'd been horrified and apologized profusely but Hilal had found it hilariously funny. 

She wasn't laughing now. She was almost afraid to respond in case he stopped. 

His mouth is against the crown of her head, breathing warmly but in a way that let her know he was awake. There's still a bit of a raspy quality to his voice but he can breathe better now. 

His hand travels down her stomach, stopping briefly to splay his fingers over her belly as if to touch the baby within. He continues on downward and Hilal starts to tremble with anticipation. She shifts a little to allow him better access and her bottom comes up against the hard length of him. Her core instantly throbs and grows slick, aching to be filled. God, it's been so long. 

His fingers find her and Leon starts to stroke her, sliding easily because she's so ready for him. She turns to reach for him to return the favor but he guides her away with a gentle push.

"Stay. Don't move," he insists. 

He doesn't want to look at her. This isn't making love. This is need. Pure and simple. Hilal's eyes fill with tears as her heart breaks that little bit more but she can't deny him because her body is so hungry for him. If this is the only part of her he will accept right now, she will let him have it. Maybe then he will start to forgive her, if hr ever can. She feels him start to push into her from behind and she moans, unable to hold back the sound of pleasure. They move slowly, whether from Leon's weakness from his illness or they're wanting to draw out the moment but too soon, she feels his release inside of her as he groans against her hair and she follows with her own small explosion a second later. Physically they are satisfied, emotionally, they are still as far apart as ever.

Vecihi visits them the next morning. Their escape route is ready. They're leaving for Paris that night.