Usual Disclaimer - I do not have any rights to Alice in Wonderland, or the characters contained within.
Author Note - This particular chapter contains explicit adult material. Please plan accordingly.
Chapter Nine
Above
Alice turned on only a glimmer of a light in the room, leaving most of it in shadows. Faint moonlight tried to peek through the drapes, but did little to brighten the bedroom. Alice turned from the light she'd switched on, to find Tarrant right behind her. His arms wrapped around her waist, his rough skin possible to be felt through the material. Caressing their path up her chest, his hands settled on the plunging neckline of the dress, pulling her close to him. Tarrant's hands stood still for only a moment, then turned back to their wanderings. He rested his chin on her shoulder, and gave a quick nip to her earlobe. Pushing back against his lean form, Alice sighed in anticipation.
Suddenly he stepped back a pace, and she nearly fell. His hands immediately were back on her waist, holding Alice still. Using his teeth, he grasped the edge of the zipper, and slowly unzipped the back of her crimson dress, sinking to one knee in the process. His hands brushed skin as he worked the dress down her stomach and over her shapely hips, to leave the fabric in a puddle at her feet. From his position, he had to fight back a giggle.
"What 'ave we here? No corset, no stockings, no underthings. Naughty little lass..." In one swift movement, Tarrant scooped her up and had Alice cradled in his arms, her head resting against his chest. Taking a moment to enjoy the sweet scent of her golden locks, he settled her on the edge of the bed, then turned his attention to her feet. Sliding one high heeled shoe off, then the other, he brushed ghost kisses up her legs, over one rounded hip, and to her chest. Gently taking one nipple into his mouth, he nipped and sucked at the rosy skin as his hand made it's slow and teasing way to the other mound. Paying special attention with his thumb to the tightening skin, he was caught unaware when Alice grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled his face up to hers.
Tarrant took the offered lips, tongue asking for access and receiving it. It was a taste better than tea, better than anything possible, this perfect Alice taste. When they parted for breath, Alice's lips were swollen and just as crimson as the dress discarded on the floor. Her hands went to work on Tarrant's jacket, pushing the material off his shoulders. The vest was soon on the floor as well, leaving only the deep blue button shirt on his chest. As she reached for the offending shirt, he hesitated. "It's not a pretty picture, what's been done to me my dearest..."
"You are my Hatter, my Tarrant. And I love every inch of you." Her hands counted the buttons, but didn't undo them. Instead, her hand went even lower, and rubbed against the obvious bulge in his slacks. His eyes rolled back, and he moaned. "Every last inch. Now, lose the shirt before those buttons make me mad, quite mad indeed..."
He didn't hesitate, but went to work on the bothersome buttons. Closing his eyes and taking a shaky breath, he slid the fabric loose, only the shirt tails remaining tucked into the now completely uncomfortable slacks. Alice could see in the faint light the lines crisscrossing his chest and arms, scars and stitch marks making their way in all directions. Resting her cheek on the exposed skin, she marveled that there was not a hint of hair on the powder white skin. Feeling a bit of muchness rise to the surface, she gently placed her lips on a nipple, her warm touch bringing another moan from him. Teasing and sucking, Alice felt the skin react to her touch. Finally taking a moment to glance up, she could see in the faint light that Tarrant's eyes were a deep royal purple, sparkling with pin pricks of silver.
Tarrant leaned her back, nibbling at her neck and shoulders, taking the time to taste each inch of the cream colored skin. She shuddered as a hand of his traced it's way down her side, over a hip, to that part of her that now was insistent for attention. Fingers touched and teased for a moment in the golden curls, then Tarrant slid one finger into the tight opening, bringing from her a startled gasp. Exploring the folds, the nimble fingers brought colors to the insides of her closed eyelids, colors she never even knew existed. There was no hesitation, none at all, as one finger tip found that little nub, and gently stroked at the core of her being. Alice had to catch her breath, but those fingers gave her no chance to breathe.
He returned his lips to hers, one hand braced against the bed to hold his weight off her. Tarrant claimed her lips, not bothering with asking permission this time. Alice moaned into his mouth, as tension built from her core, tracing electric lines throughout her body. It built to an edge, then overwhelmed her senses, her shuddering breath stolen before it made it to the room around them. Her back arched, her hips bucking for something that was missing.
The mouth over hers finally released her. Very slowly, she opened her eyes. Not bothering with any words, Alice tugged at a belt loop in his slacks, her desire and motion taking the place of words, since she was not sure that she would be able to form them properly. Tarrant quickly divested his legs of the offending slacks and underwear, slipping the footwear off and out of the way. Alice wriggled further onto the bed, pulling him to her with one delicate hand. Carefully, oh so carefully, he settled between her legs, supporting his weight mostly on his knees and elbows.
That was too far away from her skin, and Alice pulled him against her skin. She could feel his heartbeat against her chest, his breath brushing her hair. Reaching down between them, Alice wrapped her fingers around his manhood, reveling in the silky flesh. Tarrant took a shaky breath of his own, as she slid her hand back and forth, exploring to her heart's content.
Gently Tarrant moved her hand free, and ever so slowly slid into the tight opening of her core, giving her time to adjust and relax. Muscles Alice didn't even know she had tensed and relaxed, the stretching bringing waves of pleasure throughout her body. He moved so slow, so teasingly, and Alice groaned in frustration. "Tarrant... please..."
"Ah don' want ta hurt ye, lass..." He came to her maidenhood, and took a deep breath. She followed suit, and halfway through letting the air out of her lungs, he slid that further distance. She felt a sharp pain deep inside, but it faded as he held still and gave her time to adjust. Picking up the pace, he slid almost completely out of her core, then back in, the two beginning to move together. Her nails dug into his shoulders, leaving faint marks on the white skin. Faster the two lovers moved in the oldest rhythm known to man.
The moment of pain completely forgotten, Alice threw her head back, eyes tightly closed as the waves of pleasure washed over her once again. Her spasms pulled him to his own peak, and he cried out her name. His release brought her again to the edge of bliss.
They lay together, breathing and waiting for their respective hearts to return to a normal speed. Tarrant carefully moved from above her, changing position to lay by her side. As they lay by each other, he traced one hand up and down her side, relishing the perfect smooth skin under his fingertips. Without words, she curled up in his arms, her golden hair spread out behind her. Alice fell asleep, in the arms of the man she loved.
He too fell asleep finally, holding in his arms his Alice. His, and his alone.
Under
"Tomorrow is Distkin Day, and we can only hope they find their way back to Underland." Mirana offered a smile to poor Mallymkun, and continued. "I also believe that you've been watching that mirror quite closely in the last few days. What is it's condition?"
"There's not a crack or missing piece, your Majesty. It's all better again, like it never broke." She glanced around the throne room. "But what if they don't want to come back? What if they have the perfect life Above, and there's no big hurry to come back Under?"
"If what Absolem has told us of Above, I am completely convinced that Tarrant at least will jump at the chance to come back home." McTwisp checked his pocket watch, and wound it a few times for good measure. "He's not going to turn down a chance, and I'm quite sure that Alice will be thrilled as well. There's nothing to worry about, nothing at all."
Mally turned her eyes to McTwisp. "Oh, really? You've been running tighter than your precious watch. No worries, you say? I think you're just as worried as the rest of us. Don't tell me you're still sore over that teapot upside your head all those years ago. Hatter did apologize, once he calmed down. And you did manage to tip over an entire plate of scones."
"Why, I never held a grudge over that unfortunate moment. That was years ago, is it really proper to drag back up such ancient history?" McTwisp placed his pocket watch back into his vest. "Your Majesty, should we plan for a grand entrance, a party or some sort of celebration if, I mean when, they return?"
"I believe that would count as counting the cookies before they were mixed. Let us first see if our Hatter and Alice return, before making any plans beyond a heartfelt welcome back. They might not be in the mood for a celebration. Even with updates from Absolem and his kin, we've no idea how long it's been since Alice returned to Above, or what amount of time elapsed before our Hatter found his own way to that world."
"And they might not be together yet, has anyone thought of that?" Mally stomped a tiny foot. "Those two lumps might only be finding each other just as the mirror opens. They've most likely things to say to each other, and that chance might not happen. Or has happened. Or is about to happen... By the Gods, I'm starting to understand Hatter's frustration with Time."
"Yet another taking my name in vain?" The soft voice still managed to be heard by everyone in the throne room. As one, all in attendance looked to the opened double doors that led to Marmoreal's throne room. Standing in the door was a beautiful man, dressed head to toe in black velvet. He walked across the marble floor, not making a sound on the white stone under his feet. His hair was solid black, pulled back in a ribbon. There was no white to his eyes, only a deep blue that reminded one of the midnight sky on a moonless night. He came to a halt in front of the throne where the White Queen sat.
"It's one thing for Tarrant to try to kill me or offer bribes, but for the rabble to curse my very name... That simply will not do." He offered a sketchy bow to Mirana, who nodded in return.
"You must be Time himself. What brings you to Marmoreal?"
"I've come a day early, to prepare for the return of Tarrant and Alice to Underland. Why else would I bother to be here? It's not every day I can meet in the flesh someone who's managed to bamboozle me for such a long time. It was enough that he received enough time for Alice to return to Underland and still make it to the Frabjous Day. Then offering his time, for Alice to live a very long life. Now they're returning, and I plan to set things right. One way or another."
"You're going to kill them?" Mally fought back tears. If Time was going to set things right, according to him, didn't that mean that both Alice in the Hatter were going to... die?
"I'm not quite sure. But it's high time for me to claim back what is mine."
Above
Tarrant woke when the light from the windows finally managed to catch his sleeping attention. Blinking a few times, he quickly noticed that he was completely alone in the bed, only the faint outline of the bunched sheets testifying that the night before was really real. Rising from the bed, he reached for his slacks on the floor. Pulling on the fabric, he had to resist the urge to giggle. After last night, was there really a reason to be properly dressed when around Alice, his lovely beautiful Alice? But, there might be other persons in the house, and it would not do to embarrass Alice by wandering around in his birthday suit.
Buttoning the shirt enough to hide the scars in his chest, Tarrant walked over the plush carpet and opened the door to the hall. There were plenty of other doors to choose, from, but one in particular was what he was searching for. Finding a bathroom, he quickly shed the bothersome clothes and stepped into the shower. The hot water did not tease by taking too long to make it's way through the pipes, and soon he was scrubbing. There were so many scents to choose from, so he settled for a combination that sounded good, and went to work on the exposed skin.
Drying off with the oversized towel, he slipped back into the slacks and shirt, once again depressed about his too short hair. At lest it dried fast, he mused, then started wandering through the home. The sounds of a beautiful voice humming drew him to the kitchen. Peeking around a corner, he was rather pleased to see Alice, also scrubbed clean and dressed in a simple robe. Unfortunately, it kept most of her lovely skin out of sight, but he figured that would be best. Otherwise, breakfast might be interrupted, and that would not do.
Alice looked up from the counter where she had been debating over either eggs or pancakes for breakfast, when she heard footsteps behind her. Knowing there was only one other person in the house, she turned and smiled, holding out a hand to her beloved Tarrant. He quickly stepped from the door frame to her, running one hand through her still slightly damp hair. She settled against him, her chin just fitting on his shoulder.
"What would you like for breakfast, Tarrant?"
"Hmm... let me think..." A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.
And it was as though she could see that grin. "I mean, what would you like for breakfast, as in food and drink. I'm still recovering from last night."
Tarrant froze in place, the grin vanishing instantly. "Dear Alice, did I hurt you? Please forgive me! I never meant to hurt you! What can I do... to ease your discomfort?"
She snuggled closer, loving the scent of tea and irises on his skin. "You didn't hurt me, not like you think. Just hold me a bit longer, that would be a grand start to the morning."
Another voice was heard in the kitchen, startling both of them. "You'd better make it fast, since the mirror to Underland is not going to wait for love struck little girls and boys to get over themselves."
They parted suddenly, looking around the kitchen. "I know that voice... Absolem?"
"Yes, you silly girl. I don't have much time, head to the mirrors in the ballroom, and go through the looking glass. There's only a short time, it would be a shame if you two were trapped in this world forever..." The voice of the wise one faded, leaving the kitchen silent but for Tarrant's and Alice's breathing.
Not bothering with any more conversation, Alice went running out of the kitchen and through the halls, Tarrant following close behind her steps. Throwing open the door to the ballroom, there was a light that did not come from any of the burnt out candles from the evening before. Colors that didn't belong in this world were darting out of one of the mirrors, sending shards of liquid light dancing in the reflections.
Alice looked up to Tarrant, who stole a quick kiss. Holding hands, they ran to the sparkling mirror. Holding no fear in their hearts, they stepped through. Their reflections danced for a moment in each mirror, and then they were out of sight.
Glass exploded in the now empty room from every mirror fastened to the walls, leaving colorful shards glimmering on the wood floor. The light faded, and the room went dark.