Love of a Stranger

Ob1MegOb1

Chapter 34

(Jasmine)

Another peaceful week passed us by, or it so it seemed during the daytime. At night William still had dreadful fits from his sickness, and Erik still continued to have nightmares at night. But I guess I had to count my blessings while I had them, as Erik would say. At least nobody had been nearly killed, poisoned, or strangled as of late. That was some sense of comfort at least.

But there was the little conspiracy going around that William was planning something. At first I had completely fought Erik on the idea, but recently Will had acted curt with me as well. Almost like he was afraid he was going to give away something.

That night after dinner I let out a sigh as me and Erik entered our room. "I don't know whether to be worried or not about what he is planning."

I heard him over by the cradle as he gently put our sleeping son to bed. "Yes well when it comes to your brother I tend to not know or understand what he is thinking." He said that with a lot of hesitation though.

I turned in his direction, "You sure you have no idea what he's planning?"

He laughed coming up to me and wrapping his arms around my waist, "If I had any idea I would have let you know. Let's not worry about it though," he said sighing, "its not like he's going to plan anything dangerous."

"You say that now," I muttered to myself jokingly. But his hands had moved up my shoulders now and were at the laces of my dress. "I see," I said softly, "you have other things on your mind."

His adept hands made short use of my laces and he was already loosening the back and gently pushing down my sleeves. He gently kissed my neck, which made my whole body quiver with anticipation. "I have waited very patiently," he said in my ear. "I understand how important the conceiving of our child was but I hate that it makes you wait so damn long."

I laughed knowing that he wasn't talking about the actual birth itself. "And yet you somehow managed to wait a whole month longer," I said teasingly back, "how patient of you."

And with one swift movement the dress fell from my body. I had made quick use of his shirt while he was distracted. He laughed in my ear, "Patient is not necessarily how I felt the entire time. But it sounds better then the other words I am thinking of."

We slowly backed towards the bed and he gently lowered me down. I could feel him hovering above me his body emanating warm energy. I could feel him slowly litter my chest and neck with small kisses, finally making it to my mouth where our kisses eventually became deeper. And slowly our bodies began to move as one and my body filled with an electricity I had forgotten these last few months. My back arched as that feeling of passion shocked every part of my body. And then slowly my body felt numb in a good way as we slowly came back down to Earth.

Our heavy breathing was even synchronized as one as he slowly laid down his head falling into the crook of my neck. I wrapped my arms around him and we just laid there at peace and content.

(Erik)

Good God I felt so crass thinking it but I couldn't help it…that had been worth the wait. She laughed as she gently stroked my face, "Well…not bad for an old man."

I immediately sat up at that, "Old man? We're starting that again? Or are you just doing that to get me riled up?"

She only smiled mischievously at me. And right then and there I wanted to take her again. But this family…just had the worst timing in the world. Softly I could hear the disgruntled sounds of Alex waking up. "Dammit maybe he'll go back to sleep." But almost as if he wished to dash my hopes I heard his high-pitched cry fill the air.

I sighed, "I'll get him."

"Fine then," she said playfully, "I think it's your turn anyway."

Impatiently I got up and headed over to the baby's room in the back. I sighed as Alex greeted me with his usually screaming. "Yes I hear you Alex," I said softly. As soon as I took him in my arms he immediately began to calm down. He just wanted to be walked around for a little while like usual.

(Jasmine)

I pulled the covers around me and laid back smiling to myself. I was content….for the first time in a long time. I turned on my side only meaning to doze for a second. Before I knew it his body was up against mine. His arm wrapped around me and I could hear his breathing in the steady rhythm of sleep. I wrapped my hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I love you," I said softly. And then I slowly closed my eyes and let the peacefulness of sleep take me.

And then what felt like moments later I was awoken by my body being shoved pretty hard. I heard distressed talking next to me and I immediately sat up. I grabbed the nearest garment next to me and put it on so I wasn't completely indecent. It took me a moment but I recognized it as Erik going through another nightmare. It had been a long time though since he had reacted so physically one though. I reached my hand out, "Erik," I said calmly. But my hand got slapped away pretty hard as a result of that effort.

But that didn't stop me. I turned my whole body and reached out again. "Erik," I said again. This time though a cry filled the air and two strong hands grabbed me and proceeded to throw me back. My body hit hard against the end table by our bed. My back spasmed as I fell hard to the floor along with other breakable objects. My breathing was labored as my body gave off a few cries of pain. I took a few deep breaths and steadily pulled myself up to a sitting position my body crying out in pain. Erik was still tossing around on the bed in the meantime. I took another deep breath preparing to push myself up to a standing position. But as I put my hands down and pushed I gave out a great cry as something cut my hand. Something that had fallen to the floor probably. My hand was shaking the cut was deep but nothing had impaled it.

Finally Erik bolted up from the sound of it his breathing labored but awake.

(Erik)

My whole body was shaking horribly as I awoke from another stupid nightmare…dammit this was starting to get ridiculous. My hand fell to my side and it was then I noticed that I was the only one in bed. Alex wasn't crying but maybe she had gotten up then?

"Erik," I heard a voice say next to the bed. I looked over and the side of the bed looked like a disaster zone. Quickly I turned up the lamp on my side of the room. The end table had been toppled, and there were broken bits of glass everywhere. And there sat Jasmine her face pale with pain and hear hand covered in blood from a deep gash on her palm.

"Jasmine," I said rushing over taking care of the bits of glass still on the floor. Her hand was shaking terribly as I tried to look at it. I quickly grabbed the sheets and just tore them taking that piece and applying pressure to her cut as I did. She flinched as I saw the pain spread through her face.

I quickly rushed to the next room to get some water my mind racing. What the hell had happened?

As I came back I gently took her hand taking off the rag and gently putting her hand in the water. Another hiss of pain as the water began to wash the blood away. The blood billowing like red ribbons in the bowl of water.

"What happened?" I asked trying to keep my voice from breaking as I applied pressure once again to stop the bleeding.

"I fell off the bed," she said simply, "seems we both had nightmares tonight despite everything." She was lying though…I could see it all over her face.

"Why are you lying to me?" I said softly.

She looked down as if she didn't want to say it but that was all I needed to see. "Did I do this?" I said through clenched teeth.

"No I cut my hand it was my fault," she said quickly.

"I'm just the one who threw you off the bed in the first place," I muttered. Finally I tied off the rag sighing, "It won't stop bleeding. Keep applying pressure I need to get Nadir to help me."

"Help you?" she asked.

"Yes you're going to need stitches," I said disgruntled, "I can do it but I need him to prepare some things. Don't move there is still glass on the floor I'll be back."

"Erik," she tried to say but I stopped her.

"We'll talk about this later," I said quickly. "Right now I need to concentrate on your hand." And then I headed over to the next room.

(Jasmine)

I sat back hitting my head against the wall. This was stupid on so many levels. He hadn't been responsible for my hand and that was what he had asked about. Now when he asked about why my back was in pain in a little bit that would be a different story. Of course he thought I was being coy about it but that wasn't my intention. I didn't need him feeling sorry about something he had accidentally done again.

I heard his footsteps return and I sat up carefully. But I only heard his footsteps though. "I thought you were getting Nadir?" I asked confused.

"I was," he said evenly, "but he needs to get things ready for me. I am trying to work as fast as possible because the last thing we need is for you to get a fever from this."

I nodded agreeing with that. He kneeled down beside me grabbing my other arm that wasn't hurt. He gently draped it around his neck. He made sure I was stable before finally lifting me up and carrying me to the bed. I still let out a his of pain as he did despite his best preparation.

"What else is wrong," he said his irritation starting to edge in his voice.

"My back hit the end table when I fell," I said softly, "it keeps spasming."

He sighed, "Lie on your side." I complied and he gently lifted my garment which I realized now was his shirt. I smiled a little at that but as he touched my back that smile quickly disappered. "You have a deep bruise love," he said softly. Nice to hear some tenderness in his tone at least. "Stay on your side but keep your hurt hand out. You don't need to be sitting up for the stitches anyways." He headed outside from the sound of it for a moment before coming back in.

He gently pulled a chair over and sat in front of me from the sound of it. He tenderly undid my bandage to take a look at it.

(Erik)

I was trying to stay neutral and calm during this whole thing but the fact that I had caused this to happen was once again infuriating to me. She however had a small smile on her face as I undid her bandage. "This feels very familiar," she said softly.

"What do you mean?" I answered.

She looked at me surprised, "Remember the first night we met?"

I smiled suddenly realizing what she was hinting at, "Except our places were switched…and you haven't been shot tonight thank goodness."

She smiled a soft smile, "I never would have imagined back then that your hands would have ever been tender. Its nice to be proven wrong." I sighed to myself, she was trying to make me feel better about what happened. And yes maybe it had been an accident. But nonetheless…I was still going to feel guilty about it.

I turned as Nadir came in holding miraculously everything I had asked him to get ready. "Here you go Erik," he said, "everything prepared exactly as you asked."

"Thank you my friend," I said simply, "I'll let you know if I need anything else."

"Take care," he said exiting the room.

Jasmine on the other hand was laying there her eyes looking nervous. "What I am going to do," I said casually, "is put a numbing agent on your hand so that hopefully you won't feel it too much. And then I'll start." She only nodded her head in reply.

I carefully began to do so being as gentle as possible.

As I got the needle ready I could see her beginning to tense up next to me. "I know its hard but I need you to relax."

Finally she took a deep breath and nodded her head. "It can't be that bad," she muttered. "It can't be anything compared to childbirth."

I laughed softly at that, "That's one way to think of it." And then taking a deep breath of my own I began. Her face cringed a little as I did, "Does it hurt?"

"No," she said uncomfortably, "but it feels so weird. I can feel you pulling the skin but that's about it. It makes me very glad I can't see right now." I smiled finding it odd to see this weird little bout of vulnerability right now. But after a while she got used to it and it became very quiet in the room.

"I'm sorry," she finally muttered softly to herself, "I'm sorry I lied."

I shook my head, "I wasn't mad necessarily just confused. You're the one always getting after me about that."

"Yes well," she said sighing, "I just…I didn't want you to feel guilty about this. It was an accident."

I paused as I thought back on the dreams I has as of late…they had been violent dreams. "And what if one day I really do hurt you because of these violent nightmares. I just," he said sighing, "I can't let anything happen to you. Especially at my hands."

She looked at me a slight defiance in her eyes, "How many times do I have to tell you nothing is going to happen? Not at your hands at least. It might be the ignorant hands of others. But I know it is never going to be you." I wished I could be that confident in my own words. Finally she shook her head, "What is going on…the dreams, the behavior, where is this all coming from?"

I paused looking at her again unsure if I truly wanted to tell her. But I had partly told her some of it already. Might as well tell her all of why this upcoming week was going to be hard.

"Next week," I said softly, "one of those days is technically supposed to be the date of my birth." And just by the look in her eyes I knew this was going to be a long conversation.

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