The Count of Castle Rock

Chapter XLVIII- Marshal Law

Thaddeus Hunt and Nemu Taoka move as one, their bodies locked in a dance as old as mankind. She wraps her legs around him and hugs him tightly to her body as if she'll never let him go. Sensing his body careening towards completion, he attempts to pull out, fighting against the combined need and will of their bodies. Nemu whimpers and raises up to meet him, planting a kiss upon his lips full of passion and love. Unable to resist any longer he surrenders, falling deep and melting inside of her. Their bodies writhe, their hips fused together in a carnal crescendo.

She releases him and Thadeus rolls over to lay on his back. Breathing heavily, he stares at the ceiling and silently thanks the gods for sending love his way. He smiles and turns to Nemu, planting a kiss on her forehead. Her olive-toned skin grows dark under his gaze and she covers her exposed nakedness. Fear and insecurity cloud the almond-shaped eyes he adores so much. Gently he takes her arm and slides it aside so he can admire her simple beauty. Her blush darkens and she timidly climbs on top of him.

"I want you inside me."

"Again?" he giggles.

"Yes," she purrs as she leans in for a kiss.

The fire between them reignites and his manhood rises to the occasion. They make love again until their bodies are exhausted. Thaddeus and Nemu fall asleep in each other's arms. He awakens to the sound of an officer shouting orders to marching soldiers on the street. Solomon has been different since the arrival of The Lord Marshal and his army. With soldiers everywhere and strangers making normally cozy avenues feel cramped, it barely feels like home. The war is to the east, but it might as well be on their doorstep for all it has disrupted their town.

He quietly slips out of bed to relieve himself in the privy down the hall and returns with equal stealth. He doesn't want to wake her. She lives with seven siblings and her parents in a small farmhouse. Nemu has commented repeatedly that his bed is bigger than her entire room. Thaddeus is more than happy to let her lay claim to it for a while.

Standing over Nemu, he again thanks the gods for his luck. His father has dangled him in front of many a merchant as incentive in their business dealings. Even meeting his best friend, Leesa, was the result of his father trying to lure in Mr. Talbert. Nemu is the first woman he's ever gotten to know outside of his father's machinations. Nemu is the first woman he's ever loved. His mother withstanding.

As if conjured by thoughts of his parents, Thaddeus hears a commotion downstairs. Checking that Nemu is undisturbed, he hastily gets dressed and makes his way down. At the bottom of the steps, he pauses to look up at the large portrait above the front door. Taggard Hunt, Thaddeus's grandfather and the founder of Solomon's Open Market.

The young man feels shame under the gaze of that stern visage. He'd spent his entire life trying to live up to his father's expectations, trying to live up to the Hunt name, but there he stands, plotting to do something he knows would make the long dead progenitor sit up in his grave. Thaddeus looks down at his hands and wonders will he have what it takes to make it on his own when his father disowns him.

Soft sobs catch his attention and he follows them to his mother seated outside of the family sitting room. For an insane moment, Thaddeus fears she's gotten wind of his plans, but that doesn't make sense. He's only shared them with the sleeping woman upstairs.

He approaches and places his hand on his mother's shoulder. "Mother, is everything okay?"

She meets his gaze with strained bloodshot eyes.

"Oh, my boy-"

"This is unacceptable, Captain!" The boom of Thomas Hunt's voice makes both mother and son flinch. Thomas is known as a reserved man, but his temper can be fiery.