The Watchmaker

10 - Pain

"You have become soft Clocksworth." Anthony said disapprovingly as I reported the evening's events to him.

I stared at him with pure anger in my eyes, "If we don't have the guns on Monday, I'll kill the bastard, okay? Is that what you want to hear Anthony?"

"I wanted it done today!" He hissed between his teeth and raised from his chair, leaning forward with his hands resting on his desk, his eyes piercing straight through me.

"I'm no fucking magician, am I?" I roared and kicked the air in front of me. "We won't be delayed, I promise."

"We better not be." He muttered and sat back down to lit a cigar. "We've worked hard for this, you and me both."

His words calmed me somewhat and I went to pour us both a drink. "The idiot thought a couple of crates of gin would make up for it." I said and handed him a glass.

"Was it any good?" Anthony snickered from his chair.

I answered him with a shrug, unbothered by his mood swings. "Not my choice of drink."

"I hear the Americans love it, maybe we should start exporting?"

I turned around to greet my husband as he walked into the rustic room that was Anthony's workspace in the two story apartment we all shared.

"And do more legal work, you mean?" I teased him.

"Yes, my love. Like in the old days." He chuckled and kissed my cheek.

His presence calmed me further and he noticed, his hand finding mine as he peered over at his brother who's eyes were still on me. "Did something happen?" He asked innocently.

"Nothing your dear husband won't handle, Luis." Anthony smirked then raised to his feet and walked past us. "And brother, if you want to start an export service, go right ahead. We could use the cover for our other operations."

"Maybe I will." Luis said thoughtfully. "But the paperwork you leave me with is quite demanding brother, I'll need a second secretary if you keep expanding this quickly."

"You can have Lumiere." He said without a second thought. "People don't find him quite as intimidating as our beloved Watchmaker."

We both watched him leave, and as soon as the door was closed behind him I could finally relax, and I let out a deep sigh. "He's pissed." I muttered and emptied my drink in one go.

"I noticed." Luis said with a frown, but kept his tone lightly. "But deep inside he's happy that you're back."

"Really?" I sighed. "It's like he's been avoiding me ever since I got back here."

"Because your soul is tormented. We can both feel it."

I turned around and grabbed his waist to pull him closer to me. "That's what war does to you." I muttered. And flashing images of muddy trenches and dying humans entered my mind. "You'd think I'd be immune to pain. But I'm not."

"Of course you're not." He said with a gentle smile on his lips and caressed my cheek. "That's why I love you." He sighed deeply and the smile vanished from his face. "I can't believe he sent you off to fight a human war again. We needed you here."

"We are trying to blend in, remember? And he runs a company, and the government demanded soldiers. What else was he to do? Send you?" I smiled and pulled him even closer to rest my cheek against his.

"He could have sent more of our labourers."

"You needed them to keep production going, you know this Love, and besides, it's in the past now. I'm back now. Let's not hold grudges."

"Yes, but you've changed. And I despise him for it."

I nodded slowly. "Maybe that's why he's so angry. He hates it when you're upset with him."

Soft lips moved down my neck, spreading a light tingle through my pained body. And with every touch the pain left my muscles and I couldn't help myself from leaning in to him. "I've missed you so much." I whispered.

"How long before you have to leave?" He mumbled between kisses.

"Monday." I answered him.

"So, let's spend the weekend in bed?" He chuckled. And as tempting as it sounded we both knew it wouldn't happen.

Anthony had made sure that I was needed everywhere. He gave the orders and I was the one who made sure that everyone followed them.

He would show up to important meetings, he was the spider in the web. While I did all of his dirty work. I didn't really mind, I'd always been a man of action before thinking, and the killing wasn't too much of a bother.

"Come one then." Luis urged me towards the door with a playful smile on his lips and mischief in his eyes. "Let's go hide somewhere before he sends you off again."

"Whine cellar again?" I chuckled, but he shook his head.

"No, my love. It was just too dirty down there. I've found the perfect place." He grabbed my hand gently and led me out of the room. "And before we go there, you should know, I've been a very bad boy, so I need to be punished."

"How bad?" I asked, amused by his playful grin.

"Very, very bad." He teased and my body instantly responded to his suggestive looks and I pushed him up against the wall before we had even left the corridor.

"You want an audience?" He chuckled, but was soon quieted by my pressing lips and before I knew it my hands were under his shirt exploring the softness of his skin.

He let out a soft moan as I let my lips wander to the spots I knew would turn him into a shuddering mess. But instead of pulling me closer his hands pushed me away, and I instantly peered up at him to find out what was wrong.

"We're not alone." He whispered and nodded towards Lumiere who stood unimpressed in the end of the hallway.

"Anthony told me you needed me Luis." He said calmly after clearing his throat.

"I do." The prince grinned. "But not right now, as you can see I'm busy."

"Yes, I can tell. But apparently there was a fire in the ammunition factory. Anthony wants Clocksworth to find out what happened."

I sighed and leaned my forehead against Luis's shoulder, laughing low to myself. "Of course."

Taking a step back I looked into my husbands eyes, giving him a silent promise, kissing his lips and walked away to deal with some incompetent asshole who wasn't able to do their damn job.

"No one better stand in his way today." I heard Luis snicker behind me as I left them. "He won't be merciful with all that sexual frustration built up inside."