Soothing the Nightmares

In the meantime, Tyr sensed when her nightmare started. She was suddenly tense where she'd been pliant against him. He rubbed her back, crooning nonsense in her ear until she calmed. By this method, he was able to keep her asleep for the full three hours he'd decreed that she sleep. He was far from bored, though. He spent the time memorizing her facial features and expressions. She had quite an array of both and soon he was consumed by the need for all things Abhaya. He touched her gently and she sighed in pleasure.

"Oh, Tyr," she murmured in her sleep, making his ego grow, even as he settled her more firmly in his embrace. He was nodding off when Esperanza came down to wake them.

"It's been three hours," she told her employer regretfully, noting how cozy the two looked. She'd heard the little one's logic though, she'd yelled it loud enough to be heard clearly in the kitchen, and it made sense. "Come on, ninos. It's time to wake up."

"I'm up, abuela," Tyr yawned, sitting up in bed. Abbie was still sprawled out, the arm that had been wrapped loosely around his chest, now questing for it.

"Come on, Bliss. It's time to wake up." The girl whined in the back of her throat and flopped over the other way. The two chuckled at her, then Tyr laid a hand on her cheek. The girl responded immediately, leaning into his hand. Her eyes fluttered open and she sighed happily before remembering that she was sleeping under protest. She pulled away and her stomach growled.

"Hungry?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. Abbie blushed and moved past him off the bed.

"I'm-"

"I don't tolerate lying about food, angelote," abuela said firmly.

"May I have something to eat?" the girl asked politely in Spanish.

"Of course you can," Esperanza replied happily in her native tongue. She walked away, planning a meal for her newest guest.

"You're shutting me out again," Tyr chided.

"I shouldn't be here," Abbie growled, obviously working herself up into a rage. "I don't belong here with you! I'm not supposed to-" He covered her mouth with his and her brain shut down. He didn't hesitate in his exploration of her mouth, sweeping his talented tongue against hers until the stubborn muscle started to move as well. He didn't even stop when her knees gave out, just pulled her closer to him and possessed her mouth in a way that left her shaking. When he finally let her up for air, she was panting as if she'd run a marathon.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she asked softly, tears rolling down her plump cheeks. "I was happy before I met you. I was finally free and I was happy! Being around you is just going to start the drama, the suffering all over again! You have to let me go."

"Never," he whispered against her ear, thrilling at her shiver. "We can be happy together; I know you feel for me too. There doesn't have to be any drama, any suffering anymore. Let me love you, Abhaya. Let me in."

"I can't," the girl said, already shaking her head. "I am not who you think I am. It's just too complicated to-"

"Then tell me who you are, Abhaya," he commanded gently. "I know that 'Abhaya' isn't your birth name. I want to know you," he said sweetly, smiling into her shocked orbs. "I want to know everything about you. I want to share your burdens, your secrets. Let me in, Bliss. Let me take care of you."

"I wish I could tell you," she said, fully crying now. "I wish I could tell you everything, but I'll have to disappear if I do. I'll have to start all over, change my identity, my life, my face if I let you in. I can't be what you want me to be. I can't be what you need for-" The sharp squeak of a floorboard made both young people look to the source. Jubilee was backing up the stairs, looking guilty.

"Um… The food is ready," she said at last, turning tail and running up the stairs. Abbie took the out, backing away from the man to get her tears under control. She went to the bathroom to wash her face and hands for dinner.

"How many languages do you know, Bliss?"

"What does it matter?" the girl said in annoyance. "I speak English."

"I told you, I want to know all about you."

Abbie looked around desperately, finally settling on burying her face in the hand towel she was using. "What does it matter? I don't want to-"

"I will have you," he said firmly to her bowed head. "I will have you and I will keep you." The girl looked up, shocked at the statement.

"You… You can't just-"

"You'll find that I can, Bliss," he smiled darkly, gently removing the towel from her nerveless fingers. "There's a strong connection between us. It's strong enough to reform a lifelong playa like me. It's strong enough to force you to stay when all you want to do is run. I will have you, Bliss. I'm resolved to having to chase you down to have you, so feel free to continue to run from me. Just know that when you turn that final corner, I'll be there waiting for you." The two stared at each other and Tyr watched her pale at the implications of his speech. True to form, she backed away from him. He took a step to fill the void and she ran past him and up the stairs.

"The hunt begins," he grinned, looking forward to the chase.

::shivers:: Whoa... that last part is intense. Um... anyway, apologies for the brevity of this chapter. I'll try nad make it up to you next week. :D