A/N: I feel obligated to mention that I actually really like Francis, as I do all the characters in Reign (they're all so well-written! Everyone is flawed yet great). I choose to omit him from my fics and most other characters because whenever there's a Bash/Mary scene in the show it's literally presented as if the world around them fades away and it's just the two of them. They're always shown as being so involved with each other in their moments that they're basically only interrupted by something dire haha. As I try to make all my fanfic as true to the original as I could, and my stories are all character-driven a lot of the cast won't be making an appearance. Well, at least until I think of a storyline with an actual plot that isn't just 'get Bash and Mary in another moment' haha. Thank you so kindly for the reviews, favorites and follows! To those of you with accounts, I have already responded to you, and those who are anon you can find my responses at the end of this chapter.
Chapter 2: A Day with a Queen
Mary woke the next day warm, safe, and wholly content. She could feel the soft rise and fall of Bash's chest beneath her, soothingly lulling her to sleep once again.
"Your Grace," Bash's voice came, deep with disuse and full with sleep. It was altogether an alluring sound, one she looked forward to hearing every morning for as long as fate would allow.
"Mm..?" Mary mumbled, burying her face deeper into his side as if somehow that would stop all that bright light from coming through the curtains while hinting to him she was not yet ready to wake up. He chuckled, the vibrations of his body humming through her.
"Mary," he began anew, "It's half past noon. People will begin to wonder if their queen yet lives."
"Have someone write a note that says 'Yes' and nail it to the door then." Mary murmured.
Bash laughed harder, and that made Mary look up, squint at him in disapproval through her lashes. "Are you always this saucy in the morning?" He was practically glowing as he swept stray locks away from her face, his gaze moving all about, soaking in her beauty, her presence. "I could get used to it." His laugh faded from his lips as his hand moved to caress her temple thoughtfully. Mary leaned into his touch, supple to his affection. If asked, she wouldn't be able to pinpoint when her fondness began for Bash, just that it didn't feel new. She was sure, somewhere deep in her heart he must have always lived there. These thoughts must have reflected onto her face because Bash shook his head, overcome. "I am still uncertain if yesterday was a dream, or if I am still dreaming."
"Dreams," Mary whispered, rolling over so she was atop him, forearms braced onto his shoulders, legs straddling his hips, "are never this good." She leaned down, caught his lower lip in her teeth, sucked his mouth to hers. She could feel the sharp intake of his breath, and she smiled against his mouth. It took a mere moment for Bash to adjust to the headiness of her proximity, and then he was kissing her, deeply. His hand went to the nape of her neck, pressing her close, savoring her taste, her assault to his senses. His other hand ran down the length of her spine and she shivered at his slow, extraordinary torture through the thinness of her shift. Mary sighed into the kiss, melting into his embrace. The hand tracing down her spine suddenly latched around her waist, and without breaking their kiss, he flipped them over one armed so she was beneath him. Mary gasped in delight, and she found herself wrapping her arms around his neck, bringing his body even closer. Their kiss was becoming increasingly insistent, and it wasn't until Bash rolled his hips onto hers and Mary let out a soft whimper at the contact did Bash pull away, looking shaken. His hair was mussed, Mary's fingers tangled in it, and she couldn't remember putting them there. He looked lost, breathless.
"Mary," he said, swallowing visibly as he cleared his throat, "We— we shouldn't."
Mary's brow furrowed, not understanding. He stared at her, entranced. He licked his lips, eyes flicking away, trying to collect his thoughts.
"That is, we probably shouldn't..." he seemed faraway, more talking to himself than Mary.
"Shouldn't what?" Mary asked, trying hard to keep her features neutral, and failing. Her shift had slipped off her shoulder, revealing one soft, creamy shoulder. He gently pulled the sleeve back up, covering her, before he rolled off her and sat at the edge of bed. Concerned, Mary sat up behind him, ignoring the way his shoulder went rigid when she placed her hand there. "Bash? What's wrong? Tell me."
He rubbed his face, slowly, as if pushing the sleep away. "Mary," his voice was slightly muffled by his hands, "Last night, you were so nervous—"
"Not because of you." she implored, her other hand reaching for his other shoulder as she scooted in close behind him, "Half the court was in the room last night, bent on ensuring I provide an heir. It wasn't exactly intimate."
"That is exactly why we shouldn't." He seemed pensive, steely. As if some resolve just came to him.
"Bash you're making no sense. It is my duty and among yours to produce an heir—"
"God, the politics, Mary." he said in exasperation. "Produce an heir. You are more than some barren vessel waiting to be filled."
Had it not been for the way he spat the words, she might have been a little touched.
"I'm beginning to feel you married a man but expected a king. I married a woman who happens to be a queen. Do you see where the differences lay?" he looked over his shoulder, but not at her, instead choosing some place to his left to focus on as he continued. "I want to be with you. God knows I want you more than life itself, but last night you were with me for Scotland. When we are together, I want you to be with me, like before, before the politics, with no pretenses, no conditions. I don't want you to be with me because you have to be."
Mary felt her heart lurch with a feeling between apology, sympathy and affection. "Bash." she said. He didn't look at her but she knew he was listening. "I... I am... unaccustomed to putting myself first. All... all my life, I have been raised for Scotland. My nation and I are one and the same." This made Bash turn to look at her, but Mary was so engrossed in her thoughts she didn't notice, her gaze locked somewhere beyond the curtains in front of them. "But when we met, spoke for the first time— When you caught me rushing after Sterling at the edge of the wood... you ignited something within me. A spark. A spark kindled into a flame and I didn't stop it. I didn't want to." She looked back at him then, eyes focusing and as if some epiphany just came to her, her voice hushed, "Being with you is the most selfish thing I've allowed myself."
Bash looked awestruck, his mouth parting speechlessly under the gravity of her words. Her hands moved from his shoulders to his face, cupping it. He turned his body a little more, to better face her, his hands covering hers, pulling them down. She lifted herself into a kneel behind him to get more leverage and then leaned in to kiss him over his shoulder, as if to seal her words into promise. Their kiss deepened, and Mary moved to his side, pressing him back down into the bed, his legs still dangling off it's edge. His hands cupped her face, ran through her hair, gathering some locks to the back of her head and gripped them sharper than usual to angle her head and realign their lips. The movement was unlike any Bash had done before, and it was exquisite. Mary heard herself whimper in approval. As if the sound of Mary's pleasure clicked something into place, Bash flipped them over again, his mouth moving from her lips now to kiss her jawline, the curve of her neck, her collarbone. She gasped, her mouth exhaling her need, "Bash, make love to me."
He paused in his actions, mouth hovering above the hollow of her throat. He closed his eyes. "Mary, you do not understand what you are asking."
"Bash," she said, almost impatiently, but the rest of her words were lost as Bash began kissing her neck again, his words flushing against her skin.
"Last night," he breathed, lips so close they brushed her skin causing her to quiver, "I almost lost myself."
"But you didn't." Mary reminded, her hands splaying into his hair, wordlessly encouraging him.
"Yes..." the 's' dragged shivers straight to her core. "But Mary, I wanted to." He caught her collarbone in his teeth, licked her there and she sighed his name. "I wanted to lose myself in you." Bash moved himself up, nipping her earlobe before he whispered heatedly into her ear, "You incite the most vicious of passions inside me." He rolled his hips experimentally against hers and suddenly she was aware of just how hard, and large, he was. Her cheeks colored and Bash smiled, leaning back to take her in— breathless, flushed, yearning.
"You tease me," she accused, quaking beneath him. She wanted him so much it was almost a physical pain.
"No, my queen," he corrected gently, leaning down to catch her bottom lip like she did to him before, "I warn."
A/N: Am I making Bash too hot? If yes, leave a review. If no, leave a review. If unsure, leave two reviews (I also take payment in form of story follows and favorites). I. am. shameless. See you next week (likely sooner if given enough love!) for the final, very long, chapter!
Anon review responses (in order of earliest received)
Mehrnaz Shirriz: Nooooo yooouuu arrreeee amaaaaazzziiingggg.
Kelly: Eh, maybe? Maybe not? Probably? I wasn't aiming too hard for historical accuracy here since the show itself is historically inaccurate. I built off of what the show gives us and in the pilot they gave us witnesses for a royal consummation which I expect would be the same for Mary and whoever she gets married to. As for your thoughts on the M rating— thanks for the advice, but I do not believe in leading on an audience just so I could get more viewers. This whole fic contains lots of explicit content and it's aimed toward people who are looking to read explicit content. I think I gave it a correct rating for the first chapter because they basically had sex without penetration, which in my eyes, is still sex.
Brony: You are a fab reviewer who makes a writer feel warm inside. I hope this chapter was worth your patience.
Guest: Thank you! It's really amazing for such a mature fandom to not have all that many mature fanfic! At least, it surprised me haha.
Guest: Thank you! And Bash will, soon enough. Haha
Kitty: Yay for Mabatian, right?
Anon: It gets less sweet and more hot later, I assure you. Haha! Thank you for reading and reviewing!