Jade

Chapter 78

Dessert was mouth watering good.  “Excellent job on these,” I praised, stuffing my face with all three desserts, “I know Ripley made the cheesecake, but who made the pies?”  “I made apple,” Lia offered, “Max made the pumpkin pie.”  “Max, there is definitely more to you than meets the eye,” I said, “I thought you don't cook.”  “Lia helped with it,” he said.  “Well, anyway,” I said, “They are so good.  I will go to sleep with a smile on my face tonight.”

We finished eating the dessert, then we went out for a smoke.  Ripley went with us.  Lia and Max stayed behind to clean up.  Aris lit me a cigarette, then one for himself.  Ripley lit one out of his own pack.

“Tomorrow, when Ripley and I return, you will be spending a few days with Ripley,” Aris told me.  Honestly, I knew this was coming.  Especially after overhearing the conversation between Aris and Nathan.  “Okay,” I said.  “Nathan is expected to arrive for lunch,” he went on, “We should arrive a couple of hours later.  Just eat lunch with him and entertain for a little while until we arrive.  Then I will take over and you and Rip can go out to the cabin.”  “Okay,” I acknowledged.  “Do you have any questions?”  “I don't know,” I answered.  “Okay,” he said, “Well if any come up, just ask.”  I nodded my head in acknowledgment.

We finished our cigarettes and went in.  Ripley headed for his room and Aris led me to ours.  We shed our robes upon entering.  “Go ahead and get in bed,” Aris said walking to the bathroom, “I will be out in a minute.”  He shut the door.  I peeled back the covers and climbed into bed.  I was so tired that I started to doze off.  I felt the bed shift behind me and I rolled over to snuggle up to Aris.  Aris felt different.  His skin was cool to the touch and smooth.  I opened my eyes, still groggy.  Laying beside me was Nathan.  I hopped up to get out of bed.  He grabbed my arm keeping me in place.  I used my other arm to hug the blanket close to me.

“I see that you are dressed now,” he teased, “almost.”  “What are you doing here?” I frowned, “I was told that you won't be here until lunch time tomorrow.”  “That is true,” he answered with a slight accent, almost melodic, “This is just a dream.  We can do anything we want and not get into any trouble.”  “What do you mean?” I asked.  “I mean that I could make love to you all night and we would still be within our bounds,” he answered.  I felt a shiver go up my back.  I know my face turned bright red.  I struggled, but he held firm.
He grabbed my leg, slid me too where I was lying down and rolled over on top of me.  “What are you doing?” I struggled harder.  “I am going to give you a little preview,” he answered, kissing me down my neck.  I whimpered, “I don't know you.”  He captured my mouth in a show stopping, searing kiss.  Then he let go and rolled off of me.  “I was not going to force you,” he took a softer tone, “I do not have to.  You will want it.”  I scooted to the far side of the bed, with the blanket bunched up in front of me for protection.  “Calm yourself,” he soothed, “I have stopped.”  I felt my cheeks.  They were wet with tears.

“Has someone forced you before?” he asked.  I didn't answer, I just stared at him.  “Did Yaris?  I will get him, if he did,” he started to get angry.  “It wasn't Aris.  He saved me,” I whispered, “before it happened.”  “Who?” he asked, “I will take care of it.”  “He is already dead,” I answered, “His name was Tobias Drake.  He tried to get me in my dreams too.”  I saw acknowledgment in his expression, “Well, as I said, I will never force you, in dreams, or out.  Sometimes I come on a little strong, I am told.  You just have to tell me to stop, when I do.”

I relaxed a little and looked around.  This isn't Aris' room.  The only light in the room came from a large fireplace in the wall opposite the bed.  Walls, and floor, made of smooth stone bricks.  A high ceiling, also made of stone bricks.  The only wood in the room was furniture.  The bed that we were on, a little smaller in width than Aris' bed.  A desk and chair in the corner opposite the door. A large armoire on the wall by the door.  A large white fur rug covered the floor under the bed.

“Where are we?” I asked.  “My bedroom,” he answered, “you are in my dream.”  “Oh.”  “I leave the invite open to you,” he went on, “You answered my prayers tonight.”  He stretched out on the side of the bed that he was on, “Lets just talk.”  I don't know what to do.  How do I leave the dream?  “Could you share the blanket?” he asked, “I am a little cold.” I let go of the blanket.  He pulled on it until he was covered, which left me uncovered.  “You will have to come closer if you want to share,” he told me.  I scooted closer and got back under the blanket.

“Can we just hold hands?” he asked.  He took my hand under the blanket.  I got a really funny feeling and went to let go.  My body convulsed, forcing me to hold on.  My eyes fluttered then started  twitching, then rolled up into my head, then closed, then sweet nothing.

“Jade,” Aris was saying my name softly.  I jolted awake, then relaxed back down when I saw his face.  “Jade, what is wrong?” he asked.  “I don't feel so good,” I whispered, “I’m exhausted.”  “I can tell.  I have said your name several times,” he told me, “would a shower help you wake up?”  “I’ll try it,” I answered.  “I will start the water for you,” he said, getting up.  I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

Then I moved to the edge of the bed, feeling a little noxious.  I got up and ran for the toilet.  I made it just in time to throw up.  When finished, I blew my nose and wiped my mouth with some toilet paper.  “Are you okay?” Aris asked quietly.  He must know that I have a migraine.  I flushed the toilet and put the lid down.  I sat on it, needing to get my bearings before I get in the shower.  “Just a migraine.  I just need to sit for a minute,” I answered.  “Would you like a bath instead?” he offered.  “No, the shower is fine,” I answered, waiting to see if I would throw up again.

After a few minutes, I figured I was safe.  I got in the shower and stood in front of the jets until I was completely soaked.  Aris got in, “Let me wash your hair.”  I slowly turned my back to him.  He began working the shampoo into my hair, massaging  my scalp.  He turned me and had me lean against him as he ran his fingers through my hair in the shower spray.  He repeated the process with conditioner.  Then he put body wash on a sponge and ran it all over my body.  He rinsed out the sponge and put it on a shelf.  He ran his hands over me to make sure I was rinsed.

He turned off the shower.  “Wait here,” he left me leaning against the wall in the shower.  A minute later he came back with a robe.  He helped me put it on.  He carried me to the bedroom and sat me on the bed.  He started drying my hair with a towel, then brushed it.  He helped me lay back down and covered me up, “Rest here while I take a shower.”  I closed my eyes and dozed off.

“Jade,” Aris was saying my name softly.  I opened my eyes.   He was hovering over me.  “How do you feel?”  I moved to sit up, to see if the nausea would come back.  It didn't, “I think that I’m better.”  “Good,” he smiled, “Just in time for breakfast.”  I actually felt a little hungry.  “Do I need to dress up?” I asked.  “Not until lunch,” he answered.  I changed to a sweat suit and slippers.  He helped me stand.  I held on to his arm, just in case the dizziness came back, as he led me to the dining room.

We took our seats at the table.  Everyone was waiting on us.  I ate biscuits and gravy first hoping that I would be able to keep it down.  So far, so good, so I ate two pancakes.  I felt better, so I stopped.

“How do you feel now?” Aris asked me.  “I feel better now, but I think that I will go lay back down just in case,” I answered.  “Fair enough,” he responded.  I waited for him to finish eating.

“Ripley, with me,” Aris ordered, standing up.  Ripley and I stood up too.  “Can you still walk?” Aris asked me.  “Yes,” I answered.  We went back to the bedroom.  I sat down on the bed, “do you know what's wrong with me?”  “Yes,” Aris answered, “did you have a dream last night?”  “Yes, Nathan said that I entered his dream,” I went on to describe the dream to them.  When I finished describing it, Aris said, “I think that you have gone into heat.”  “What?” I asked, “You mean like a dog?”  “No, like a dragon,” he answered.  “He just could not wait, could he?” Ripley grumbled.

“What does that even mean?” I asked.  “It means that you are going to feel sick off and on today,” he told me, “I am going to push you to sleep until lunch.  If you feel like greeting Nathan, I would really appreciate it, if not, I will push you to sleep again.”  “Should I stay with her?” Ripley asked, “We both know what comes after…”  “She will be fine for today,” Aris cut him off, “We will just make our trip as short as possible.”  I could tell that Ripley didn't like it, but he held his tongue.

“Lay down Jade,” he told me, “Get comfortable, but wear more than usual.  Max will be waking you up for lunch.”  I laid down and changed to a t-shirt and shorts set.  He covered me up and I felt the push to sleep hit me like a brick wall.

“This bothers me Yaris,” I heard Ripley say.  “He still has to honor the code,” Aris replied, “He will not risk tribunal.”  “What about her?” Ripley worried, “She does not even know what the consequences are.”  “She does not need to know,” Aris said, “She will be fine.”  “I fear that she would feel guilt over it,” Ripley said, “I do not want her exposed to that.”  “She will not be,” Aris had finality in his answer, “We will make sure of it.”  I felt Aris kiss my forehead, then Ripley kiss my cheek, then they were gone.

“Jade,” someone familiar said softly, smoothing my hair away from my forehead, “How do you feel?  Do you feel like getting up?”  I opened my sleepy eyes.  It was Lia.  Max was standing behind her.  “Is it lunch time already?” I asked groggily.  “No,” Max told me, irritated, “Nathan arrived early and is asking to see you.”  “Did you tell him that I’m sick?” I asked.  “Yes, but he insists on coming in,” Lia answered, a hint of irritation in her voice too.  “I guess it's okay, if Max will stay,” I answered.  “Nothing would please me more,” Max agreed.  “I will bring him,” Lia got up and left the room.

A few minutes later she returned, followed by Nathan.  Lia went back out the door.  Nathan rushed to my side.  “Hold up there,” Max told him, “We said you could see her.  Stay back.”  “I need to examine her so that I can help her,” Nathan told him.  Max looked at me.  I nodded my agreement.  Nathan got down on his knees beside me.  He felt of my forehead, “We need to get her into a cool bath.  Right away.”  “We can not put her in the bathtub by herself like this,” Max protested.  “I will get in with her,” Nathan said, taking his shirt off, “Go start the water.”  I nodded my agreement to Max and he went in the bathroom.  He, smelling of the woods and honeysuckle,  undressed down to his boxer shorts and uncovered me.  He picked me up and carried me into the bathroom.