His soft footfalls were the only thing he heard as he walked through the forest, so long ago it seemed that he was hunting a desperate human, and now, he couldn't live without her. What joy she brought him in life, how she smelled, the way she smiled that sideways smile, how she always had to be so outspoken with her opinions. Nothing completed his life more. But now there was this child that had so abruptly come into the picture, not that he didn't like her but he could see it becoming a future problem if he were to be forced to make a choice. And he wouldn't, he couldn't, choose anyone over Orella. But why was he thinking like this? Nothing would ever make it come to that and he would make sure of it, he would do everything in his power to protect them and care for them during these dangerous times. And when it all ended, maybe they could even have a life together as a family.
The thought brought a smile to the Slenderman's face and he almost let his meal slip past him, a large looking buck caught his eye and he immediately shifted into hunting mode, his movements made no noise and quick as a shadow he advanced on the unsuspecting animal. He had never really felt remorse when he killed animals such as this, though he did hold a fondness for Bongo, they just didn't hold enough intelligence for him to care.
As he took down the animal and fed he couldn't help but think about his choices in life so far, some he was ashamed of and others he wouldn't change for the world. But in the end, were they the best choices for those around him?
She couldn't help but wonder why he was taking so long today, unless he had decided to stop by a store and grab some more supplies. They were actually doing quite well and made sure to preserve what meat they didn't eat from their game animals, she felt lucky that Slender was around to help out. Orella had never really thought about it but without him she would probably be dead. Charlie would have probably been killed with her brother by that man, the baby that she hadn't named would have been...her mother would have...no. She wouldn't dwell on what she regretted anymore.
A chill went down her spine as she felt a bit of cold air hit her back and she pulled the blanket more tightly around herself, she always seemed to toss and turn too much. Checking the clock she groaned as it read about 1 a.m., her eyes felt heavy and she still could remember the chilling claws of the demon as it held her in a constant comma like state. Slender had stayed by her side until she fell asleep yesterday at about 5 p.m., talking about what he had felt when he first met her and how she changed him and how she had changed herself.
As these thoughts wandered around her mind she let her eyes drift closed, a state of forced bliss taking over her as she tried to fall asleep once more. But just as she thought sleep was only a breath away she felt something smooth and warm creep its way under her shirt and up her back.
"Mmmm, you're late."
It wasn't a question but more so a statement, he knew she didn't like it when he stayed out for long periods of time without a heads up. And like any man in the dog house he was trying to sweet talk his way back in.
"I apologize love, I was just gathering some supplies. That's all."
"Oh? What did you get?"
He kept the one tentacle on her back, rubbing it in a circular pattern, whilst reaching behind his self with another to grab a rectangular box. It was on the larger side and it had silver flower patterns painted on as the logo, he held his breath as she turned over and took it into her hands.
"What's this? Looks fancy..."
"Well I thought that maybe you would enjoy something other than the essentials for once...just being thoughtful."
She pursed her lips and gave him a sideways glance before lifting off the lid and sifting through the tissue paper that spilled over the top, gasping as she found what had been underneath. She pulled out a beautiful deep red dress that had an embroidered sweetheart neckline and golden lotus flower patterns down the side.
"Oh wow...Slender where did you-"
"Somewhere not near here. Keep going."
Orella furrowed her brow and turned back to the box, setting the dress aside with ease and taking out more tissue paper to reveal another small box. This one and red and gold swirls painted on the lid and she could see the logo of Kay's Jewelers on the side, so he got her jewelry as well, how sweet. Her hands began to shake out of sheer excitement and she had to take a deep breath before even moving towards the lid, anxious to know what it was.
Slender couldn't tell what she was feeling as she opened the last box and saw the bracelet he had gotten for her, her eyes didn't move and she brushed her fingertips over the five charms that hung there.
"Slender..."
She was at a loss for words, this was good he thought. This meant that she was overcome with emotion and hopefully that emotion was love.
"I wanted to get you something that you could always wear, something that would remind you of me if something were to ever happen. Would you like me to explain the charms?"
She merely nodded and held her arm up so he could clasp the bracelet around her wrist.
"This first one, the moon, I chose it because like the moon does to the night, you brought light into my life. This second one here is my favorite, it is a fierce tiger who will not bow to anyone. It has great determination and is a skilled hunter."
Her heart melted at the endearing way he spoke while he showed off his gift, nothing had touched her heart more.
"Of course I had to get a heart for love, it is made of pure amber with onyx stones embroidering it. Then for the fourth one I picked out a cradle for the baby, so even if things...don't work out-"
"they will! I'm not giving her up."
The way she spoke was not angry nor was it offended, merely protective and stern to prove a point. Slender chuckled and cupped the side of her face with one hand, rubbing his thumb against her cheek softly to calm her down.
"I never said you were, and I too wouldn't let anything nor anybody take her away. The charm is too remind you of what is important to you should you ever have a slip of faith, not that I think you would but sometimes revenge can cloud even the purist of thoughts."
She leaned into his touch and sighed, her breath ghosting across his skin and making him shiver from the feeling. In turn Orella leaned her head against his shoulder and got comfortable, the heat from his body soothing and familiar.
"I like it, what about the last one here, the group of pine trees?"
"Well, I picked that one to symbolize where we first met. It may not be the fondest of our memories but to me, it's one of, no...the most important thing that's ever happened to me. And I never want you to forget it."
Tears began to prick at the corner of her eyes as she was overwhelmed with feelings of love and compassion, before now she hadn't felt to the full extent how much he had affected her life. And for him to go and find all these things...words couldn't describe the feeling. A smile appeared on her face and she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer, wanting to give him a gift of her own.
"You know, all these gifts and you talking about how much you love me is really putting me in a mood."
"Oh? And what mood would that be my dear?"
His tone was suggestive and she swore that if he had facial features one eyebrow would be raised to go along with the smirk on his face, but even without them he never had a problem relaying his emotions.
"Well, it has something to do with this."
As she leaned up to kiss him he quickly pulled her the rest of the way towards him and captured her mouth softly with his, taking his time to explore her mouth as much as possible before letting her come up for air. Oh how beautiful she looked to him when her cheeks were flushed and her lips parted, her eyes were slightly glazed over from their kiss making them shine in the dim light. He took his hand and ran his fingers through her hair slowly, loving the way the silken strands felt and how the tresses flowed over his fingers like water. As he did this she went in for another kiss, this time much more heated, and began to shed her top. They had to part as she lifted it up over her head and tossed it to the side, as she went back to kiss him he wasted no time in letting his hands roam over her back and down her sides. The few scars that lined her stomach made her all the more beautiful to him, they showed her determination and fierce nature.
As he made his way to her chest he nearly growled in frustration as he encountered the cotton fabric she called a bra, how he hated those things. How dare they hinder his efforts in exploring her temple of a body, but just as he moved to rip it from her body there was a knock at the door. It was slight but with his keen sense of hearing he picked it up immediately
"It seems we have a visitor...how irritating."
"Oh stop, what if it's important?"
Ignoring her now brooding lover Orella found her shirt on the floor and pulled it back over her head before moving towards the door, making sure her hair was a little less disheveled before opening it. The sight that met her made a smirk appear on her face. There stood Charlie with a sleeping yet very restless looking baby in her arms, she really needed a name.
"Problem?"
"She's been moving around a lot and isn't really sleeping that well, could you guys let her sleep with you tonight? Seems that she always sleeps better near you two."
I knew that she wouldn't beg me but I could practically see the pleading look in her eyes, dark circles under them from lack of sleep herself. Charlie was if anything a very caring babysitter, and I must admit lately I have been asking her to watch over the baby more often than not. But Slender had been exceptionally protective and needy as of late so every time I had the baby he would tell me to give her to Charlie and then whisk me away to some new place...or the bedroom.
"It's alright Charlie just hand her here, sorry I've dumped her on you so much as of late. Just go get some sleep ok?"
After I took the baby from her arms she merely nodded and then shuffled back to her room, letting the door click shut quietly. After I was sure that I wasn't going to jostle the bundle in my arms I shut my door once more and made my way back over towards the bed, not taking my worried eyes off the wrest less form in my arms. Slender peeled back the covers and let me slide into bed before carefully placing them back over me, tucking in the sides and pulling me flush against his chest. Before settling back against him I took a few pillows and created a small barrier on either side of the baby so that she wouldn't roll off the bed, then I covered her with her blanket and tucked it into her sides just as my loved one did for me.
"You make a fantastic mother. Have you finally decided on her name?"
His breath tickled my ear as he whispered to me and I giggled before turning my body into his, snuggling into his cool chest and sighing contentedly.
"Yeah...I think I have. What do you think of Lily?"
"Hmmmm...soft, delicate, beautiful. I like it...Lily."
As he spoke he ran his fingertips up my arm and across my jawline, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and my lips tremble. He must've noticed my reactions to what he was doing and he continued as if nothing was happening, this time ghosting his fingers over my lips and lingering momentarily before moving upwards. He traced the outline of my eyes and eyelids then moved onto the shell of my ear, shivers of pleasure traveled up my spine every time he came in contact with my skin and I could barely contain the giggles that escaped my mouth every now and then.
"Is this tickling you?"
"No not really, it's actually very pleasant...please continue."
He said nothing in response and instead continued the ministrations quietly. I let my eyelids drift downwards until they were closed as my body let go of all the stress in my life, every worry and every fear disappearing from my mind as if they were no more than bad memories. I wanted to stay up and just relish in the feeling of cuddling but he was making that task increasingly difficult. I took firm hold of his hand before he could move to my waist and then wrapped both my arms around his own, rubbing my head against it like a cat and sighing in content.
"Oh now i'm jealous, my arm is getting more attention than I am."
As he said this I felt one of his slithering appendages snake its way up the side of my night shirt and stroke my midriff with a feather light touch before slowly moving up, unclasping my bra in the process, and brushing the side of my breast. The movement caused me to gasp into his sleeve and tighten my grip as a shock wave of pleasure went through my body, he knew that he was in control now. The tentacle brushed the side once more before actually caressing both of them and brushing over my already hardening peaks.
"Slender..."
My moan was muffled by his shirt but he gave a chuckle that shook his chest as he removed his appendage and tilted my head upwards so that he could see my now half lidded gaze, my glossy eyes that probably had a hint of want in them now that he had engaged my full attention.
"So beautiful and pure. No one else will ever see you like this, you are mine."
"I will always be yours, forever."
He growled in appreciation and tilted my head to the side, brushing my hair out of the way so that the junction where my neck and shoulders met was visible. My breathing quickened as I waited for his touch, I knew when it came to his ministrations that I was completely helpless and couldn't turn him away. His cool breath fanned lightly across my neck and pressed his lips directly onto my pulse, the shivers that went through my body made him smile against my skin and run his tongue over the spot slowly, agonizingly tempting me with his lips by kissing softly and sucking. I continued to enjoy the sweet torture and craned my neck further to give him better access as he licked and sucked on the one spot that drove me crazy.
"Oh sweet temptress, your skins fragrance is utterly enticing."
"Mmm, and what you're doing had better not stop my dark prince."
Again I felt a grin against my neck, his teeth scraping lightly over the skin before biting down softly. I moaned in pleasure and squirmed to try and turn towards his mouth but he held me in place and licked the spot before biting down once more, this time hard enough to draw blood.
"Ooo that was a bit hard, careful love."
"Do not fret, I was simply marking you as my own. Now it is permanent."
"I believe it already was even without your mark, but none the less I love you."
As he tended to the area, lapping at the small amount of blood and kissing it several times, I felt my eyelids grow heavy with sleep. As I let them close I felt Slender turn me to where my back was firmly against his chest, his arm wound completely around my form protectively. Just as I began to slip into my land of dreams I heard a whisper in my ear that set a small smile onto my face and made my heart swell with love.
"Always."
