Chapter 3
Relax, Take it Easy
It would be the cruelest lie to say that Xibalba was not absolutely excited. On his arm was the most beautiful woman he could ever have the luxury of enjoying in his presence and right now, they were heading to a much-anticipated destination. His castle in the Land of the Forgotten always beheld an air of gloomy, haunting dread but with La Muerte there, there almost appeared to be a new sense of life imbued within the crumbling stone. The lord of the dreary kingdom was practically bursting with impatience. It had been centuries since he last enjoyed feeling his delicious sugar lover melt in his intimate embrace and he was not going to waste one precious moment of it. Unlike him, his beloved had many duties in her realm and often, they would be a wrench in their romantic mechanism. However, there was no way he would let them intrude upon their alone time.
He allowed her to lead the way out of traditional gentlemanly inclination. Well that, and also because he adored watching her hips swaying as she ascended the spiral staircase that led to his bedchamber. Her voluminous wavy ponytail swung like a hypnotic pendulum to his mesmerized skulls and his ardour intensified. They had finally buried the hatchet after their latest wager and Xibalba was more than ready to consummate it. He had grown restless with her flirtatious touches and pecks. They only served to fuel a deeper, more primal need for her saccharine flesh. Why, if he could, he would have ravaged her right there on the church roof. Of course, La Muerte was of a more restrained, proper bent and she promptly slapped his roving hands away, lecturing him on the impropriety of desecrating a sacred mortal landmark. He had sulked like a spoiled brat but was easily placated by her soothing promise that "she would make it up to him."
Tonight would be that night when he would finally come to collect on what she had promised him. Once in the sanctuary of his bedchamber, a spacious room that beheld only a few pieces of practical furniture-one of which was a four poster canopy bed, very fitting for two to "reconcile" in-, Xibalba lunged for her. She let out a squeak as his skeletal arms trapped her in a passionate embrace, his ravenous lips attacking her slender neck.
"Xibalba…Xibalba…" Her hands came up to rest upon his armored shoulders, pushing on him lightly. The action was fruitless against her lustful lover who was freely consumed by his desires. "Xibalba…" She attempted again, this time in a louder and firmer voice, her hands applying harder pressure upon his seething flesh. He only responded by dragging his tongue lower to her neckline, purring at being able to traverse certain boundaries.
"Xibalba!" She snapped, shoving him off with the power of her marigold aura, sending him crashing into his full-length mirror, knocking it to the ground and causing it to shatter into pieces. Xibalba, completely caught off guard, laid on the floor in a mass of tar and disappointment before glancing at the broken glass.
"Well, mi amor, we now have seven years bad luck," He stated in a deadpanned tone, receiving an eye roll from his beloved before he scrambled to his feet and took her back up in his arms. "Of course, I wouldn't care...not when my good luck charm resides right here." He purred, attempting to recapture the heated moment that she had literally quite shattered. La Muerte narrowed her eyes. She folded her arms, giving off a quite obvious aura that she was not in the same amorous straits as he was.
"Xibalba, I don't think you understand what I am trying my best to get through to your thick skull," She sighed in exasperation as he plucked one of her arms to leave devouring kisses upon the sweet skin.
"Mmm, mi amor, it is all well and good if you wish to play hard to get," He darted his red skulls, darkened with simmering desire and naughty intentions, up to her with a mischievous smirk. "It rather makes the whole process even more exciting."
Her only response was to flick him hard on the forehead, causing him to yelp and for her to finally escape his gangly arms. She straightened her massive sombrero as it had tilted terribly during his assault and dusted off her dress. The ruler of the Land of the Forgotten was unquestionably confused. He had waited painful centuries for this very moment and here she was, the very center of his erotic fantasy, denying him the chance for it to be fulfilled. He folded his arms and sneered.
"I must say, I thought foreplay was going to be far more enjoyable than this," La Muerte snapped her head back to him with fire in her eyes. Unfortunately for Xibalba, they were not fires of passion. She jabbed a finger into his face.
"Why must men make everything about sex?!" She should have known when she suggested to Xibalba that she come visit him down at his castle that he would have tried to make untoward advances. Honestly, she did not mind his friskiness. However, she could not help but feel like he was not taking their reconciling seriously. Certainly yes, she missed how his spindly fingers would rake along her spine when she was on the verge of the blissful abyss but surely that could wait. Though she had forgiven him, they still had plenty of bridges to rebuild before they could throw caution to the wind-along with their clothes.
"What?!" He replied, going on the defensive. "You're the one who wanted to come to my castle! I thought we were going to catch up on some fond, fond memories…" He purred, taking her hand again, about ready to pepper it with butterfly kisses again. A spray of marigolds in his face thwarted his attempt.
"I'm being serious here, you old letch! I came down here because I thought you would need my company," At the gleam in his eyes, she wagged her finger in his face. "And not of that variety. I was considering more of a romantic candlelight dinner. Perhaps, chess and wine would follow after that." He blinked as he realized she was being totally serious about not consummating their reconciliation.
"So….we are not going to dance the horizontal tango?" She threw her hands up in the air and let out a scream of utter frustration. "Alright, clearly wrong answer." He went to her and pulled her into his arms. She was about ready to kick up another fight when the hands caressed her shoulders affectionately, a chaste kiss pressed upon her temple.
"Mi amor, do forgive my incorrigible actions tonight. I was just for too excited at the prospect of having you alone in my arms again," This seemed to pacify her as she started to relax in his arms. "I've missed you so terribly, La Muerte. Every night I would lay in that bed, rolling over in grave want for you." She turned to him with disbelieving eyes at this admission. Taking his gloved hand in his, she kissed the fingers one by one, causing him to practically go limp against her.
"Ay, Balby, I never knew you were in such agony without me. I know I was as well." It was Xibalba's turn now to react greatly to her admission. He had always thought that he was forever the one pining in their push and pull relationship. Never would he fathom his presence meant as much to her as hers did to him. He pressed his lips against her cheek, whispering.
"I was helpless, mi amor. I suppose I came on too strongly tonight but can you honestly fault me for my eagerness?" La Muerte pretended to think about it for a long time. "Hmm, maybe. After all, we just earned seven years bad luck." She gestured at the mess of broken glass on the floor.
"Hey! You were the one who pushed me into it, remember?"
"Well, you wouldn't stop slobbering all over me like an old blood hound. And really, Xibalba? A full-length mirror?" She raised an eye ridge, causing him to stiffen in defense. "What?! I rather like it. Allows me to see just how dashing I still am despite the gloom and doom of this land." He puffed out his chest in pride.
La Muerte snorted and lifted her head to peck him on his chin, causing him to dissolve into shuddering mush against her. She gently stroked his cranium, lulling him into a mesmerizing calmness.
"Ay, Balby, I do wish to go back to our nights of carnality too. But…I did just forgave you and we did just agree to reconcile. Can't we just take our time readjusting? Please, Balby?" Her lower red lip stuck out in a pout and her countenance took over an innocent aura, reminiscent to a groveling kitten. Xibalba gazed upon it, sighing. For such a sweet, compassionate soul, she could play very, very dirty. He took her hand in his, covering it possessively.
"Of course, my love. Anything for you," They stayed like that for approximately two minutes before he quipped. "So…how about now?"
SLAP!
"What?!"
A/N: Thank you all for the sweet, sweet reviews. I am so inspired by this pairing and I absolutely enjoy writing this collection. Hope you all enjoy me churning out all these chapters.
