Luxe Aeterna

"So, Riven finally decided to put a ring on it," Aisha said with a smile as she admired the ring, making sure to bend Musa's wrist gently so that it caught the sunlight in all its glory.

Musa's ring was twice the size of Aisha's, equatable to Bloom's, and nearly as big as Stella's, something that the blonde was very self-conscious about since she was royalty and felt entitled to have a better ring than her commoner-friend counterparts. Flora didn't even have a ring to compare to, seeing as though she and Helia were too broke to afford much of anything. But they were happy, at least. Maybe that was worth more than flashy things.

The girls took turns yanking her wrist in different directions, scrutinizing the ring down to the tiniest details. It certainly was lovely; Musa had no idea how Riven had come across the money to afford it, but she didn't ask. Not that she suspected Riven of doing anything unsavory or illegal, but she lacked the want to know. The giant rock was on her finger, and how it got there was an inconsequential blur.

Her friends, however, wanted to know every single little detail about the proposal. They felt gipped out of watching the 'magic' go down at the ball, despite the fact that they were two rooms over. It wasn't Musa's fault that they failed to recognize the new jewelry gracing her hand when she stepped back into the thick of things, and it definitely was not in either hers or Riven's personalities to divulge personal information without being asked first. So, no one asked, no one noticed, and Riven and Musa both remained quiet on the matter. Musa had felt Riven's eyes glance down to her hand multiple times that night, as he had gotten into the habit of doing every time she walked into the room now, subtly pleased that he had marked her as his. She was sensing that was a theme with him: claiming her in any way he could get away with.

Musa settled back into the lawn chair, sipping at her cup of jasmine tea. The girls had chosen the garden patio as the place for this casual little gathering, the warm breeze ruffling through their hair and skirts. It was strange to see them all gathered there so soon; Melody certainly wasn't a close destination between all their respective planets, and they had already made their obligatory visits for the next few months. Musa suspected that Galatea must've let word of the engagement slip. It would certainly explain all the side glances and stares she had received in the council meeting that morning.

"Brandon and I are trying for a baby," Stella announced abruptly, stealing the spotlight as she was in the habit of doing when the attention wavered from her for too long.

"Oh really?" Musa asked, feigning ignorance alongside everyone else at the table. Everyone knew that Stella was trying to get pregnant. Babies were all she could talk about to anyone and everyone who she could rope into listening. "Congratulations."

"Thanks, but don't congratulate me yet! Don't want to jinx things."

"It's okay sweetie. These things can't be rushed. They happen when they happen," Flora said serenely, placing a hand on her demure baby bump - the third one in the last four years.

"Says the girl whose husband breeds her like a horse," Stella quipped back, poking at Flora's belly. "Honestly, if Helia keeps this up, he's going to break you. Your vagina needs some rest."

Flora blushed a dark pink.

"I don't know what our problem is to be honest," Stella sighed, brushing back her golden hair dramatically as she leaned across the table in a manner that Musa knew could only mean she was about to divulge way too much personal information. "I've been off my birth control for six months, we have sex nearly every day - including when I have my period - and still nothing."

"Maybe it's all the mimosas," Bloom teased, to which Stella only scowled before taking another sizable swallow of her own.

"Puh-lease," she huffed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "If anything, the drinking will only kill my liver. Which, I can afford to get a new one."

"Whatever you say Stel," Bloom rolled her eyes back, but there was no heat. Bloom never could lower the boom on the sunny airhead, even when everyone else wanted her to. "How's Nabu doing, Aisha?"

"Great, actually," Aisha beamed with pride, fiddling with the locket he had taken to wearing during his slumber to keep him close to heart, while Musa had to force herself to remain neutral, her heart was hammering out of her chest. "The readjustment has been hard, but he's taking it in strides. Mostly, it's just catching up with the technology and culture. A lot changed in the five years he was under."

"All for the better, thank the Dragon," Flora replied, rubbing at her stomach protectively.

Better, Musa thought bitterly. She wondered if that was what Flora told herself to sleep at night. All that war, all those lives lost and planets razed, that was for the best. In the back of her mind, Musa knew that things could have turned out worse, that there were plenty of alternative routes that could have lost even more lives and destroyed even more planets. Still, ridding the world of the Trix, Valtor, Darkar, Tritannus, and so many more came at a hefty cost, one that she was still not comfortable with.

"...Musa?"

Tecna's voice shook her out of her stupor. She'd gotten lost in thought again, something that her therapist said was a sign she was headed down the rabbit hole of dark thoughts and self-loathing. The spells had gotten better for a while; this was the first time she'd been sucked in in a while.

"I'm sorry, must've spaced out for a second," she apologized, trying to act normal and hide the fine tremor in her hands. "How's the business going, Tec?"

Musa should have known the answer to that question. She had just seen the girl after all. They used to be roommates; Musa used to be able to read the technology fairy so well. But now those furrowed brows and teal eyes were a mystery.

"Timmy and I received our first patent last week."

A chorus of 'that's amazing' and 'congratulations' rang out from the group. Tecna had never known how to take compliments, so she ducked her head and gave everyone a thin-lipped smile, picking up her tea so that she would not have to say thank you more than necessary.

"What a power couple! Should we be expecting a ring on that finger any time soon?" Stella teased, slapping at Tecna's bare left hand.

She curled it up into a fist, shaking her head. "Timmy and I are in no rush to get married. We are happy where we are."

"Awwwww come on!" Stella whined, tossing her hair back. "We always do things together, and now you're officially the last one to be tied down, which honestly, is surprising because I was sure Musa was going to wind up a crazy cat lady."

"Hey," Musa said sharply, glaring at Stella. "It's dogs, not cats, and who knows? I may still end up with them."

"Ooooo am I sensing trouble in paradise?" Stella honed in on Musa's slip up like a vulture to prey. "What could possibly make you leave your dream man? Is the sex really that bad? Is it his dick? I always thought it was small - he always had such a big ego, tried too hard."

Memories of the night before flashed through Musa's mind like a slide show, everything from the sunset to the purple dress to the darkened bedroom. She had to force herself to remain neutral, flashing Stella a withering look.

"No, I'm not going to tell you anything about my sex life, especially not that."

"Come on Musa, we're not sixteen and clueless anymore," Stella scoffed, taking a sip of her mimosa as she rolled her eyes dramatically. "You can tell the truth. No one is going to have a heart attack."

"Absolutely not."

"That's just code for super small," Stella concluded, making everyone else at the table except Musa snort out their drinks before turning to her next victim. "What about you Aisha? How's Nabu in bed? Was it worth waiting all those years for him to wake up?"

Aisha looked flustered at first, such a delicate look for a non-delicate girl, but then she cleared her throat and said, "He is more than enough, if that's what you're asking."

"Damn girl! Get some," Stella shrieked, clapping with glee. The whole exchange was so childish Musa wanted nothing more than to get up, leave the table, and not come back.

That was the final straw. Musa could not take a single second more of this inane chatter. She was bound to lose her mind, or say something she'd regret.

"We're almost out of tea. I'll go get some."

"There are maids for that," Stella waved away, gesturing for one to scoop up the empty pot, but Musa beat her to the punch, pulling a thin-lipped smile.

"I don't mind. Be back in a minute."

No one paid her much attention as she left, going back to their stupid, vapid conversation as soon as she stepped away. As horrible as it was to think, Musa was actually relieved to be away from her friends. Not that she didn't love them - she did - it was just...well...some of them had done more growing up than others. While the majority of them had grown into mature, leadership roles and responsibilities, there were some (Stella) who had yet to leave school behind. Sometimes Musa wished she could shake sense into her, but it wouldn't do any good.

Being alone actually gave Musa time to gather her thoughts, the walk to the kitchen allowing her to focus on breathing and calming down. None of the maids nor kitchen staff seemed too surprised to see her in their workspace; Musa had a hard time adjusting to her new status, too used to doing things on her own. Doing mundane tasks, like boiling tea, gave her back some of her independence, or at least the illusion of it.

The large kettle was placed on the burner of the stove, and all that was left to do was wait. Musa could have magicked it to a perfect temperature instantly, but that would have robbed her of this precious peace. She was in no hurry to return to the gossip girls and their intimate talk of romance.

Musa was in no hurry to be put back on the spot. Not like she had something to hide...or did she? It was just...it was so hard to put on a smile and pretend that everything was sunshine and roses when it wasn't. And maybe it was because she was fucked up; maybe it was because she had seen too many terrible things in her young life to ever allow herself the same happiness she'd had in her childhood. Maybe it was because her damage had torn her down the middle, stuck her between everything she'd ever wanted and her juvenile urge to rebel and destroy the very foundation she worked so hard to build.

Or maybe it was because she had spent so long trying to be perfect that she was willing to risk it all just to feel something again.

It was only her misfortune that that something happened to be her best friend's husband.

And that that something was currently walking right towards her.

Air caught in her throat, trapping anything Musa might have said to the beautiful man. She had nearly forgotten that the guys had tagged along with the girls, spending the day shooting and training and beast wrangling, reminiscing their Red Fountain days. Nabu was covered in a light sheen of sweat, dark skin glistening, soaking through parts of his thin white shirt so that the outline of his abdominal muscles were visible. His pants were a little too tight, clinging to his thighs, and stained with mud and grass. Clearly things had gotten rowdy, but he managed to make dirty look sexy in a way that left Musa's mouth a little to dry for comfort.

The kettle whistled, drawing Musa out of her stupor. She was forced to look away lest she burn herself, maneuvering the hot metal to a tray for ease of transport.

Nabu had yet to notice her - and why should he when she was doing her best to blend in, wearing a simple skirt and a red blouse instead of some fancy gown - leaning up against the butcher's block to gain the attention of the nearest kitchenmaid.

"Excuse me, do you happen to have something to drink?"

The young girl nodded, working quickly to pull out a glass and the pitcher of ice cold water.

There is no way that something so mundane looks so good, Musa thought to herself, watching as Nabu's muscles stretched and tensed as he raised the glass to his lips, watching his Adam's apple bob with each swallow. Nabu was half way through his display when he finally realized that he was not alone. His brows arched as he took Musa in, eyes raking up and down her body unabashedly. And yet, despite his obvious interest, there was something dark and unreadable in his brown eyes.

"I believe congratulations are in order," Nabu said curtly, putting down the empty glass.

"Thank you," Musa replied evenly, watching the condensation drip onto the table instead of of at him.

"Have you set a date?"

Musa did look up at that, suspicious. "Why do you care?"

"Am I not allowed to be interested in a friend's life?" Nabu asked, falsely nonchalant. "I should just know when to pencil the big day in my schedule."

"I am sorry if my marriage is an inconvenience to your busy schedule," Musa snapped.

This was getting out of hand. The conversation was escalating for no reason, and it was heading into dangerous territory. Well, there was one reason, and Musa knew it had to do with the fire in Nabu's eyes that looked like it was going to burn through her soul and the electricity that crackled with each sharp word.

Dragon, why did he always have to push her -

And then he was pushing her. Physically. Back into the pantry and up against the wall, shutting the door shut behind them and locking it before proceeding to kiss her like she was his only source of oxygen, stealing the breath right out of her lungs. It burned, and her head was dizzy with the surprise and heady rush of it all. The pulled apart and gasped, lips merely hairs apart. Nabu's breath was wet and heavy against her jaw, the column of her neck, the juncture of her shoulder. He bit down there, hard, and Musa keened, her hands flying into his dark hair that was still damp with sweat. Her fingers twined at the base of his scalp, pulling as much as she dared without seeming desperate.

They wasted no time getting to the point. This was desire, pure and simple - an amalgamation of building want. Musa's fingers fumbled at the waist of his trousers while skilled hands reached up to pop every button of her blouse. He didn't even bother to get to the end, only opening enough to push the fabric down her shoulders, taking her bra with it, the material pooling at her waist. She gave his trousers the same treatment, pushing them far enough down his thighs to free his erection and no more.

Fuck, Nabu was big. So much bigger than any other man she had been with. And not just big, but thick too, veins protruding visibly from the rigid shaft. Musa could not contain the urge to touch it, to run her fingers over the ridges, light as a feather. Nabu shuddered, cock twitching in attention.

"Such a tease," he chuckled into the sensitive skin of her neck, teeth grazing over her pulse point as he lifted Musa up and wrapped her legs around his hips.

Musa's skirt was hiked up to her waist and her panties pushed to the side, leaving just enough revealed so that he could drag the head of his cock across her folds, giving a few teasing strokes before taking what he wanted.

"Fuck," Nabu swore as he pushed his way inside her, sucking in a breath. "Fuck, Musa."

"Yes," she gasped, wrapping her legs around him tighter as he filled her to the brim. "Fuck me. Fuck me baby."

He was good at following directions. No sooner had the request come flying out her mouth did Nabu start fucking at a brutal pace. His thrusts were fast and deep, and Musa felt like she was going to end up broken in half. She loved it though, her head canting back, slamming against the racks of sugar and flour. She was going to be filthy, she realized, between Nabu's sweat and grime and the ingredients she kept ramming into.

She couldn't be bothered to care though, not when Nabu kept fucking into that one place that made her toes curl and her eyes spot. Not when his mouth was sucking bruises into the sensitive skin of her neck, her clavicle, and her breasts. Not when the idea of being caught sent a thrill down her spine that sent Musa all the closer to the edge.

Nails bit into the skin of Nabu's back as she fucked down to meet him, matching his thrusts with a kind of hedonism of which Musa did not think herself capable. The brown of his eyes was nearly edged out with black, and she realized that she much look the same. The desire, so plain and unashamed, did things to Musa's heart - made it flip in her chest.

And then she was coming, blindsided by an orgasm that left her thighs trembling and clenching around Nabu's waist. Every fiber of her being felt like it was flayed open, like raw electricity was running through her veins. It was a feeling unlike any other, and it terrified her.

The feeling was quickly washed away, along with any other desire, when she felt Nabu come, his hips stuttering as he finished. He pulled out with a wet pop, letting Musa down and wiping his flagging cock on a nearby dishrag before pulling up his trousers and tucking himself inside as if nothing happened. But something had happened, and the evidence was running down Musa's shaking legs.

"Did you just come in me?" Musa hissed, completely mortified and terrified at the same time.

Nabu had such a content, self-satisfied smirk on his face, that Musa did the only thing she could think of to get rid of it. She smacked him.

"You bastard!" Musa screeched, gathering up her skirts, desperately trying to fix them without thinking about how ruined she looked and how there was no way to disguise what had happened from her maid. The woman would see the wrinkles, the wet stains near the creases of her thighs, and just know. For some reason, it made the situation unbearably worse. "I cannot believe I let you touch me!"

"He doesn't deserve you," Nabu called after her, his voice containing only the slightest bit of contempt.

"You don't deserve me either!" Musa spat back.

And with that, she threw the pantry door open and didn't look back.