Small victory

As soon as Benjamin opened the door, he pulled Iris after him, chaining her into his arms and searching her mouth with starved kisses. Their lips melted into each other, their tongues fought sweet and sticky. When he pulled away, they were both panting.

His hands unbuttoned her dress with incredible dexterity while his eyes were burning with desire. His lips conquered hers again, arms intertwined around them. They broke the kiss again to gaze at each other.

Iris' hands were slower and it took her longer to undress him, but that didn't bother her husband who was watching the movements and her body with thirst. When he was finally in the nude, he lifted her from the ground and pinned her against the closed door behind. Upon impact, Iris almost shrieked but his mouth muffled the noise.

While kissing her roughly, his hands made their ways to her bottom, kneading to his heart's desire. Tincles went up her back making her whole body arch like a bow. This gave Benjamin an opening to her neck and breast, an opportunity which he didn't miss and started to feast.

He lifted her higher, positioning her legs around his hips, his arousal dangerously close to her opening. But he didn't enter yet, instead he teased her by moving his manhood between them.

Iris left out a moan and then another, excited by the movement, anticipating and wanting the next step. She wanted him. Badly.

Without stopping kissing her breasts, he entered her up the hilt and stayed there for a moment before starting to move. Slowly at first, rhythmically before changing the movement. He thrusted into her like a madman, claiming her again after all this time as if the last time didn't suffice.

After a few more thrusts, he released himself and squeezed her against the door. They remain like that, in each other's arms until Benjamin recovered his breath and moved them both to the softness of the bed.

Iris was still out of breath, but she wanted more, always more, without knowing what more there was. Still content, she relaxed on Benjamin's chest and looked up at him with dreamy eyes.

Her husband was not as relaxed as her. There was a crease between his eyebrows and he seemed to look beyond the room they were in.

"Is there something the matter? Did I do something wrong?" Iris started to panic, her heart falling into her chest, worried she did something wrong and the experience was not as good as it was for her.

"No, absolutely not," he kissed her on the head, still deep in thought. "It's just that I am worried."

"About what?"

"About so many things," he smiled slightly, "About having to leave you again to inspect the land."

Her heart sank at the news. "For how long?"

"Only a few days, I'll be back before lady Larossi even leaves Buri so you won't even feel I'm gone."

Only a few days. She could manage that and her friend and she had much to catch up with. She smiled at her husband to show she'll be alright but he was still in thought.

"But mostly", he continued, "I'm worried about the news your friend brought."

"Elisabeth? Do you think there will be war as she said?"

"That's just the thing, I don't believe it. When I left the capital, the king's situation looked good even if Prince Julius continued his royal duties, so why would there be words of war when no prince would engage but wait for their father to make a statement."

She hesitated, not wanting to mention that the whereabouts or the intentions of the second prince are unknown. "Maybe they do it in secret and not many people know."

He looked amused at her, eyebrows raised. "If they were engaging in secret don't you think I'd know better than your friend? The first prince called me especially to assist him during the winter, but hide something that important?"

Iris ponded on his words. He was right. If any of the contenders for the crown would want his help, they'd approach him directly and first hand. Elisabeth could only hear this news second-hand from some acquaintance or her family. But what if something sudden happened? She thought about a coup d'état that the first prince might be planning, but yet again, Benjamin would know about it as he is needed on the front lines.

"Maybe you're right," Iris concluded. "But why would she come here only to deliver such unfounded concerns?"

"Maybe they aren't unfounded, but meant to distract our attention."

"You mean she's lying?" Iris's voice went up higher than she intended and sat up to look down at her husband. "Ellie would never lie to me about something like this." She might not have been able to communicate with her friend the past months, but she knew her well enough.

Benjamin looked side to side while sitting up as well. He took her hands and hesitated before he spoke.

"She might not be lying, Iris, but somebody might have diluted the truth. Do you know someone around her who would want to weaken us? To create a rupture between us?"

Weaken? Rupture between them? Her mind flew at a few people who didn't like them nor their reunion. For a second her father flashed in her head opposing her marriage, but she shook it away.

"No one especially."

He sighed before lying back on his back and continuing. "Anyway, it's strange that your letters weren't delivered to begin with. And that you never received any either. Neither from your friends nor your family."

"I thought about that many times, but I still don't believe they would shut me out like that."

"I hope you're right, dear….I just hope you're right."

He reached for her to take her in his arms again and kissed her on the head. They didn't say anything more on the matter, but Iris' brain could not leave it and her thoughts were still ruminating even when Benjamin's breath became steady.

The entire night, even after falling asleep, she contemplated what to do. Her husband was right on many things and she was sure Elisabeth would never lie to her, but if there was someone else…