"There is something else we have to address," Aurelia said, her head tucked against Jon's chest.
"Hmmm?" Jon absentmindedly ran his fingers along her arm.
She shifted to look at him. "I'm not sure if I should speak of it while entangled in your arms. You may end up wanting to throw something and I'd prefer it not be me."
His brow furrowed. "What is it?"
"I am to marry Ramsay."
"I understand that. Must we belabour-"
"And be his wife for two nights."
"Yes, of course. Treachery will be anticipated the night of it. We've gone through it. Not until the second night. I'll find you and-" Jon rose suddenly, grasping Aurelia by the shoulders and taking her up to sitting with him. "No."
"Jon-"
"You can't mean to."
"I must."
"Aurelia, if half the rumours about him are true, you cannot think to - to put yourself - he must not touch you."
"He will. He has to."
"No."
"Jon," she pleaded. "Listen, please." She waited a moment for his grip to ease on her shoulders.
"There can be no suspicion about my intentions with him. Not following through with a proper wedding night - I might as well walk up to the gates of Winterfell and announce our plans. And there are several points I need you to understand about this happening, because it is happening."
"Such as?" He growled.
"Killing him while he is in bed with me is the easiest way. He will be vulnerable, distracted. You must take him quickly, but not before he's fully - before we - until his attention is on me and nothing else."
Jon's lips quivered, and his grip tightened again, but he remained silent.
"Secondly, getting through the first night - I won't think of you."
"What do you mean?"
"It might help prepare me for the act required of me, but I will not do that to our bond. May the old gods and any gods that exist strike me down if I connect thoughts of being with that bastard to thoughts of you."
Jon softened a bit at this, his grip easing again. "What else?"
"Only this: you're not the one who has to fuck him. So before you go on a tear about the indignity you must suffer, or the disgust you'll feel, remember that. It's not you having to pretend to enjoy that murderous wretches advances, or caresses, or cock inside you. Nor you who will suffer whatever marks get embedded in flesh, or the memory of his looks as he takes you. It's not you sacrificing your honor for the chance to take revenge on those who have tried to destroy everything you hold dear. And it's not you who will have to see the look of disdain on the face of your lover, your true beloved and intended, when he remembers what you've done. I will understand if you do not wish to touch me, or be touched by me, for some time, but the shame of this act..."
Tears flowed from Aurelia's eyes, and Jon felt his insides twist. He pulled her into his arms, caressing her neck and rubbing her back. "I will never shame you for this," he said, his voice trembling. "I cannot proclaim that the whole idea doesn't disgust me, but it must be a shadow to what you feel. Just… fend him off as long as you can, will you?"
"With everything I have," she replied, again nestling her head near his neck, kissing his collarbone. "I swear the thought of his touch stirs a desire to retch, but this has to be. And yet the thought of you pushing me away for some perceived slight or jealousy after the fact-"
"We are one, love. In body and spirit," he assured her.
"Then you aren't angry?"
"Oh, I am, but not with you." He kissed her hair, the side of her head, her jawline, tilting her chin to meet her lips. "Not with you," he whispered.
"We should try it now," she sighed after a few minutes of caressing one another.
Jon nodded. He shifted to lay down on the bed, taking a few deep breaths as he settled onto his back.
Aurelia ran her fingers along his jawline. "Ready?"
"As ever I will be," he smiled at her before closing his eyes.
Aurelia watched as a few seconds later his eyelids fluttered, then shot open. His eyes had turned milk in color and Aurelia's gaze darted to Ghost. His hackles raised briefly, and he huffed, then stood. He turned his head to look at her, a curious expression in his red eyes. He moved to the bed, tentative. Aurelia patted the space beside her and he leapt up. He plopped down alongside her, and began to sniff. His nose snuffled around her chest to her neck, where his flat tongue darted along the side before nuzzling his head beneath her chin. She scratched behind his ears and one of his paws moved to rest over her legs. He then shifted his head forward, gazing at Jon's form. He sniffed, then huffed, then nudged Jon's ribs with his nose.
Aurelia held her breath, seeing if this contact would break their connection. Ghost paused as well, then slunk back and leapt off the bed. He paced around the room a few times, then settled beside the bed again. Aurelia watched him intently until she felt Jon's hand clasp hers. She looked back to him.
A small upturn of his full lips greeted her as his eyes regained their natural color. "That was easier than I thought," he murmured.
"How do you feel?"
"Strange. I can't describe… like being two places at once and yet immersed only in one realm. I thought he would fight more, or press back."
"Both of you are calm now. Nothing life threatening about. I should imagine the difficulty will come when your instincts are battling one another."
"Then I'll have to ensure they align on one constant goal," he replied.
"And what is that?"
Jon brought her hand to his lips, and she blushed.
"You want to let him out and try again," he said softly.
She nodded. Jon rose, pulled on his trousers, and went to the door. Ghost tracked him with his gaze. Jon opened the door and cast a glance to the direwolf. "Go on, boy. Go find something to eat."
The direwolf huffed, then rose and stretched. He looked back at Aurelia, then to Jon, then trotted out the door. Once in the yard, he took off at a full sprint for the gate and the wilds beyond. Jon watched until he was out of sight, then closed the door. Leaning against it, his gaze again landed on Aurelia.
"At least give him some time to track something. He needs to eat, too," she smiled.
"Whatever will we do in the meantime?" He combed over her with his eyes, pressing away from the door and slinking back toward the bed. He climbed on the end and crawled toward her. Inches from her face, she reached out a placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Jon-"
"You wanted us to have opposing focus. He's hungry, and so am I." He pressed forward as her hand shifted up and slid over his back as he closed the distance between them.
"Insatiable," she murmured before his lips met hers.
His kisses were light, tender, yet the restraint did not hinder their passion. She eased down the bed as he positioned himself on top of her. His lips worked their way over her neck and shoulders, down to her chest, over her hip, and lower still. Words of longing intermingled with whispers of their plans, until his lips met her swollen bud and his fingers delved between her slick folds. Her fingers entwined in his unruly hair as he worked her toward the edge, then pushed her over so hard his free hand had to steady her hips from bucking up against his forehead. One of her legs trembled as her release subsided. She tugged gently on his hair and he shifted back up. She tasted herself on his lips and tongue before nudging his hip with her knee.
"Now," she murmured in his ear. "Go now."
Jon growled, but rolled onto his back and closed his eyes. His body went rigid, and then his eyes shot open, once again milk white. She tucked her legs into her chest as she sat up and watched him.