"The cake looks amazing, Primrose." Caleb walks into her apartment with two bottles of wine in his hands, the luxurious red liquid is carefully stored in a beautiful glass bottle, reserving the finest taste.
"You think so? I think it still needs a little more…" squeezing the piping bag in her hands, Primrose smiles proudly at her work "…delicate touch…"
"And I know it will taste amazing too, beloved. You have tried different recipes prior to this day and I have to say, your baking keeps getting better."
"That is some high praises coming from you, Caleb." her eyes twinkle in joy as she speaks "I know how tired it was by being my taste tester."
The vampire lord shakes his head gently, if anything, he enjoys her cooking a lot. Primrose always strives to learn new dishes and hone her cooking and baking skills. If being her taste tester means he can see her growth on the culinary journey, then Caleb will gladly accept the position.
"And the cake is done!" she cheers, setting down the pipping bag on the counter "4 hours for this guy..."
Eyeing the beautiful buche de noel with admiration, Caleb can't help but circle his arm around Primrose and plant a kiss on her cheeks, rewarding her hard work and dedication. A hand shoots up as her cheeks are tinted in red, murmuring thank you for his affection.
Looking at the clock, Caleb reminds her that she should get ready as the Christmas party is going to start in 2 hours, and Primrose wastes no time running to the bathroom to take care of herself. Shaking his head amusingly, the vampire lord helps her clean up the kitchen while setting the cake in the fridge, ready to take it with them when they leave the apartment.
Caleb walks up to the sofa, making himself comfortable while waiting for Primrose to get ready. Reading a book for his leisure, the young lord can't help but smile to himself. This will be their first Christmas together after many years of separation and he feels grateful that he is able to spend it with her. With all the events that lead to this special day, Primrose is like a little bird chirping in excitement as she can spend this holiday with her loved ones.
She has also been quite secretive lately, denying him access whenever he wants to spend time with her in her apartment. Caleb knows very well her intention and finds all her reasons endearing as she tries to come up with different excuses just to hide the gifts she has behind the closed door in the hopes of bringing him a surprise. Looking at the piling boxes in the corner of her living room, it seems like Primrose has taken a lot of time picking and choosing all the gifts she has for everyone, including Lilith and Kian who will attend the Christmas dinner at the Emberlynn house this year.
"No peaking, Caleb!" Primrose exclaims loudly as she spots him holding a gift box.
"I'm not peeking, beloved." Caleb sets down the box "It's going to fall if you stack them up this high, and also…"
He clears his throat, eyeing anywhere but the raven head herself. She is wearing a white bathrobe, her hair is still wet from the bath and the apple scent still lingers on her soft skin. Caleb takes in a deep breath, pointing at her questionable attire before turning away, giving her some time to process what is going on.
Primrose blinks a few times in confusion before her face turns bright red at the realization of what Caleb is trying to tell her. Covering her peeking bosom with both hands, she turns around and returns to the privacy of her bedroom, telling the young lord to not look at the gifts. Caleb exhales heavily after the sound of closed doors and finds comfort on the sofa, his mind is imprinted with the picture of her small but visible cleavage.
While the vampire is no stranger to that kind of thing, seeing it from Primrose makes him swallow hard. Up to this point, he has been very careful with her, knowing that she has been with no one before him. Even when they kiss, it is always a gentle and sweet one, and while Caleb doesn't mind being romantic and such, there are times when he thinks about what would happen if he pushes a little bit more. Would Primrose allow it? Or would she be afraid of it?
As the young lord is contemplating the possibility of taking their relationship to a deeper level, Primrose behind the safety of her bedroom finds herself blushing at the thought of Caleb seeing her in such a state. She stares at the tall mirror in the corner of her room, studying her small stature. Despite being a woman in her 20s, Primrose lacks what others may call assets. Her petite frame is nice and adorable, but sometimes she wishes that her body could be a little bit more curvacious, or maybe more voluptuous, similar to Lilith's or Lumera's.
The raven head knows Caleb has been with other women before her and physical intimacy is not a new thing to him. While she finds it reassuring that he is experienced in that subject, Primrose wonders if her innocent outlook is something that is left undesirable. There are times when she catches his gaze, longing with a hint of lust, and instead of confronting him, the raven head seals her lips. The thought of speaking about such a delicate topic makes her face turn crimson and she can not fathom how to open up to him about…this…
Since when did I think about this?
Chewing on her bottom lips, Primrose finds herself grabbing tightly on the white bathrobe. Her relationship with Caleb is built on what is left prior to their separation years ago, it takes time for them to build this romantic connection, and now, Primrose wonders if she is ready to take things to the next level.
"Be still, my heart…" setting one hand on her chest, she takes in a deep breath, finding herself shaking at her little thought.
"Merry Christmas!"
The cheers are loud and lively as they clank the wine glasses together, celebrating a lovely dinner together. The dining table, filled with fined dishes and desserts, captures the attention of all the guests.
"The buche de noel is beautiful, Primrose." Rosalina praises her daughter "As well as the croquembouche, Ember. Thank you, both of you."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that. I got store-bought cream puffs and stacked them with the help of Nathaniel. Primrose's work is more beautiful than mine." Ember giggles "And the food is amazing as always, thank you for having us."
"Ember is being too formal again." Primrose takes note of the wording her future sister-in-law is using "Nathaniel, are you bullying her to the point she is this stiff to talk to us?"
"Hey! I have done nothing of that sort!"
Laughter fills the air as the raven head continues to tease her little brother. Caleb, standing not far away from them, smiles at the siblings' bonding experience. Edward picks up the wine bottle prepared by House Vatore, nodding at the exquisite taste of the red liquid. There is no doubt that the bottle the vampire lord has picked up by himself is the finest thing on the dinner table.
Primrose walks closer to Lumera and Marlin, chatting with them about Glimmerbrook while inviting them to some good wine. The blond mage accepts it, but Lumera declines the kind offer. The raven head blinks a few times, wondering if her kind mentor doesn't like the taste of fine wine. Lumera is the type of person who enjoys a good glass of wine, it is unusual for her to turn down an offer, especially when this is the bottle brought by Caleb.
Her curiosity doesn't go unnoticed as Lumera smiles kindly at her before setting a hand on her flat stomach, alluding to something else. It takes Primrose a few minutes to digest the hidden meaning behind Lumera's action before her face lights up at the realization.
"No way…" she utters out in joy "Are you really…?"
"Yes, Primrose." looking at her husband, Marlin, Lumera continues "We're expecting…"
Her loud screech draws the attention of everyone as Primrose turns to Marlin, her onyx eyes pleading to him as the blond mage sighs, nodding his head in approval.
"Marlin and Lumera are expecting!"
The news brings another wave of cheers as everyone congrats them for the new addition to the family. Questions are asked and speculations are made on whether the baby is going to be a boy or a girl. Rosalina inquires about how many months Lumera is in and Primrose blushes at the answer. She begins counting on her fingers, trying to make sense of the timing as a lightbulb appears on her head. She turns to Marlin who is talking to her father, then back to Lumera who is being embraced by Ember, making sense of what happened when they arrived in Forgotten Hollow after their rescue mission.
"No way…"
"You don't know how painful it was to sleep that night, Primrose." Lilith chuckles when she sees the raven head's shocked expression "They had a wild night…"
She turns crimson at the comment, looking at her mentors as if they have just grown a second head.
"You guys knew?"
Kian, with a faint blush on his face, nods firmly. He points at Caleb, who is having a conversation with Edward and Marlin, informing her that the young lord also knows about what had transpired between Marlin and Lumera that night.
"Oh dear, this is embarrassing…"
"They don't care, so props to them, I guess…"
Her face is dusted in red as Primrose sneaks a glance at Lilith. Standing tall with a body-con red dress, her looks exude an alluring aura that will surely capture the attention of all men. Her assets are something the raven head wishes to have for herself. Just comparing the voluptuous figure of the younger Vatore and how petite she is makes Primrose sigh, feeling embarrassed at the lack of volume on her body.
"That is quite an obvious sigh, Primrose. What's wrong?"
The water mage looks at Lilith, contemplating whether she should share her insecurity or keep her lips tight. The thought of Caleb maybe enjoying looking at a well-endowed body tugs her heartstrings, she wants him to enjoy what he sees in her too.
"C-can I ask you something, Lilith?"
"Of course, what is it?"
Her lips open and close a few times, a bright blush adorning her face as she leans closer, motioning the young Vatore to follow as she whispers her question in her ears. Lilith blinks a few times, digesting the delicate topic the raven head presents to her.
"Why don't we go to somewhere more…private…?"
Primrose nods, showing Lilith the way to her old bedroom. Her retreating doesn't go unnoticed as Caleb's eyes immediately fall onto her, he tries to follow, but Lilith mouths something to him, making him stop at his track.
In the privacy of her old bedroom, Primrose sits on her bed, hugging both knees against her chest as she sighs again. Lilith closes the door behind her, looking at the raven head with amusement in her brown eyes. Never in hundreds of years in her life had she come across this kind of topic and she never expected that Primrose, her older brother's partner, would be the one who asked her this.
"So, you want to know about Caleb's preferences for women?"
A firm nod from Primrose draws a chuckle out of her.
"He…I mean…I feel like I'm a bit on the…" clearing her throat a bit, the raven head continues "Lacking side…"
"And why do you think that is an issue?"
Combing her hair nervously, Primrose chews on her lips as she thinks of a response. The party at House Cent's manor a few months ago showed her the world in which all the women around Caleb are blessed with assets that she finds herself lacking. Even Serephina Bloodhaven, the vampire maiden that Inna Cents constantly pushes onto Caleb, is a beauty herself. Golden blond hair and captivating green eyes, her hourglass body is something most women wish for. It would be a lie if Primrose said she was not jealous of such a voluptuous figure like that.
"Primrose, Caleb's heart is only for you to hold. There is no competition because he always chooses you. You know that very well, yeah?"
"I know, but…" she trails off, eyeing her petite figure.
Her hand spreads on her modest chest, thinking of how it can be bigger, maybe it will draw the attention of the young lord even more. Primrose has noticed recently, how the women around her are blessed with sizable fruits, even Ember who is considered to be petite has a generous bust size. As for hers…
"If you think that the first thing that lands in Caleb's eyes is a woman's bosom, then Serephina Bloodhaven would win the Duello without drawing out her fencing foils." Lilith comments on the obvious fact "But that's not it. He chooses you. Caleb loves you for who you are, Primrose, not how small your body is or how modest your chest is."
Primrose takes in the younger Vatore's wisdom, yet her heart still sinks at the thought that her body is left undesired. She knows that Caleb is a noble vampire lord, a gentleman who treats her like a delicate flower. Being by his side makes her feel loved and cherished, his tall frame always shields her away from all the dangers that come to her.
The raven head also knows how careful he is at handling their relationship. This connection that they are sharing, the bond is tight and strong, yet it also resembles a fragile gem. One wrong move and they can shatter it into pieces. She has caught his lingering gaze on her, how there is a hint of desire in the depth of those silver orbs. Primrose wishes that she can give him what he wants and that she is ready to take this relationship to the next level, but the thought of telling him makes her turn crimson. She can never discuss such an embarrassing topic like that with him, who knows what he will think about her?
"Well, it will come to you guys naturally. There is no need to force it if you feel shy about it." Lilith smiles kindly "Or maybe there is something else that makes you feel uneasy?"
Swallowing a big lump in her throat, she nods. While Primrose is the author behind many romantic novels that bring people to tears, she doesn't have experience in that uncharted territory. She has heard stories about it, how it can be painful for first-timers, how things can be very awkward if she does not have experience in it, and how it can affect the partner negatively. Primrose doesn't want that…
"I see, you want advice about that…" the younger Vatore hums in response, giggling when Primrose slumps down in defeat "Well, why don't we bring out the experts then?"
"Experts?"
"Wait right here, I'll be right back."
Primrose blinks a the sight of Lilith's back disappearing behind the door. Hugging her knees as she hides her flustered face in them, the raven head can't help the surge of embarrassment within her.
Maybe this is a mistake… I should not have asked Lilith about this kind of thing…
Biting her bottom lips, the blush on her cheeks deepens its color as she holds tightly on her skirt.
Stupid Primrose, you're making a mountain out of a molehill!
Caleb raises a brow when Lilith is the only one coming down the stairs, where is Primrose?
His little sister sends him a knowing smile before she clears her voice, asking all the women to come with her. The announcement draws the attention of all the men as they inquire about the reason for their secretive meeting.
"My, aren't you guys some nosy dudes?" the younger Vatore chuckles "Don't worry, I'm not stealing your loved ones away."
"That's not what we mean." Nathaniel responds "Also, where is Primrose?"
Lilith whispers into Rosalina's ears, the woman covers her lips in awe, stealing a few glances at Caleb before nodding her head. If that is what her daughter needs, she as a mother will gladly offer her aid. Pushing all the women upstairs, she turns to the men and winks playfully at them.
"You guys have fun, us girls need a little…privacy…"
Edward immediately picks up the hint his wife is throwing. Closing his eyes as he takes in a deep breath, sooner or later, Primrose and Caleb will have to…
He doesn't need two brain cells to piece together why all the women decide to leave for some girl's talk. Grabbing a drink on the table, he down the red liquid in one gulp, feeling his body warm up at the effects of the wine. Marlin sighs, shaking his head lightly at the sight. Edward has always been the protective father…
"Why are they…?"
Kian sets a hand on Nathaniel's shoulder, bringing the poor blond somewhere else instead of questioning his mother's weird antic. It seems like Nathaniel is the only one who doesn't understand the hidden meaning behind Lilith's and Rosalina's words.
Keep it up, Nathaniel. Just keep being like this, you don't need to have a dirty old mind like these guys…
Caleb raises a brow at everyone, wondering if this has anything to do with him. Despite wearing a calm expression, the young lord is worried about his lovely raven head. He wonders what has caused her such a hassle that she needs the help of everyone like that.
"Caleb seems like he doesn't even have a clue what the hell is going on upstairs…" Marlin chuckles "How are you holding up, Edward?"
"Shut it, I don't need you to remind me that they are talking about stuff in Primrose's room."
The young lord's ears perk up as he picks up the weird tone Edward is using when he refers to the girl's talk. Could it be…?
"Hey! No eavesdropping, Caleb!" Marlin speaks up with a teasing tone "Can't use your vampire skill in advantage like that. Let the girls have their talk."
Caleb startles at his jesting, sending Marlin a glare before reluctantly giving up his plan to listen to their conversation.
Upstairs, Primrose is overwhelmed at the sight of so many people. Lilith closes the door behind her, allowing all the women to make themselves comfortable in her room.
"L-Lilith, wh-what is…?"
"I heard you're planning to take your relationship with Caleb to the next level?" Rosalina's eyes sparkle in joy "I'm very happy that you come for my aid, sweet one."
"I don't know if I can help, but I will try." Ember can't hide her embarrassment, blushing as she speaks.
"Don't worry Primrose, we will make sure you know exactly what you need to do!" Lumera offers a kind smile.
Primrose stares at them, then back at Lilith who is leaning comfortably against the wooden door. Her eyes flicker a light of amusement before telling the raven head that these women can answer all the questions she wants to ask regards that uncharted territory.
"Bu-but…Lilith…" she fumbles on her words, finding herself in an even more awkward situation than earlier.
"They're the experts, Primrose. Make sure you ask a lot of questions." Lilith giggles in amusement.
Primrose swallows a big lump in her throat, trying to navigate the embarrassing topic with all the experts in the room. Rosalina and Lumera waste no time sharing their experiences, along with Lilith humming in agreement, they all have awkward stories regarding that nighttime activity. The raven head feels the heat on her face grow drastically and Ember has to hide her face behind her palm sheepishly as the talk goes on.
"But I have to say, you guys had a wild night, Lumera…" Lilith nonchalantly comments, eyeing the flat stomach of the healing mage.
A soft giggle escapes her lips as Lumera's mind wanders back to that night after successfully rescuing Edward and Rosalina. Her ominous laugh sends chills down Primrose's spine as she never expects her mentor can be that passionate, especially Marlin…
"Oh, you know… Tiredness leads to something…"
While Rosalina, Lumera, and Lilith are laughing at the playful remark, Ember and Primrose want to dig a hole for themselves and hide from the embarrassment. The raven head turns her attention to the older Feng, curiously looking at her. Nathaniel and Ember have been together for a very long time, surely they have…
"Ember…" whispering in her ears, Primrose pulls back and waits for an answer.
Her question makes Nathaniel's girlfriend turn crimson, but she offers a firm nod, confirming the water mage's question. Her answer makes Primrose's shoulders slump, so even her younger brother has gone through it with Ember…
So I'm the only one…
The thought of being an adult yet having never been in that intimate setting before makes Primrose feel more insecure about herself. Prior to their rekindling relationship, she has never been in a relationship with anyone. The pain that she has carried all those years prevents her from accepting another person into her life. While she and Caleb have gone past that point and their relationship is flourishing, she can't help but feel self-conscious at how inexperienced she is compared to everyone else, especially Caleb who has been with other people before meeting her.
"Primrose, there is nothing to be insecure about," Ember offers a kind smile "Nathaniel and I had to navigate through a lot of ups and downs in regards to that subject."
"She is right, Primrose. You can't have experience in something you have never done before. And maybe it's a good thing…" Lumera's eyes carry a sense of tenderness as she looks at her pupil "Maybe Caleb is more nervous than you think, especially with how much he adores you."
"What do you mean?" the raven head bites her bottom lips "Why would he be nervous when…"
"Being experienced doesn't mean he's a good partner, my dear. Don Lothario proves himself to be a scumbag, even when he has many girls in his life…" glancing at Ember for her approval, Rosalina continues "I'm sure that Caleb is just as nervous as you are right now. He wants to make it special for you, isn't that right, Lilith?"
The younger Vatore nods her head in agreement. While her brother says nothing about that delicate topic, Lilith knows that he is also very careful in taking his and Primrose's relationship to the next level. Unlike all his previous partners, Primrose is a past flame that Caleb can not let go of. The moment he rekindles his relationship with her, the young lord has been so kind and gentle, treating her like a delicate flower that needs all the care in this world. For the raven head to be inexperienced in that uncharted territory, Lilith knows that her brother will do everything he can to ensure Primrose's first time is as special as possible.
"B-but I also want to…"
"That will come later, when you guys understand each other's physical preferences. There is no need to rush and I'm sure that Caleb is very appreciative of you since, you know…" Rosalina pats her daughter's head gently "There is no man in this world who doesn't cherish a woman's first time. You will do well to keep that in mind."
Primrose's face is engulfed in a lovely blush as she lowers her head, the raven locks fall down her shoulders, covering her flustered face. Does Caleb truly think like that…?
"Let's get downstairs, I bet that all the guys are very worried about why we're up here."
"We should start opening gifts too, it will be amazing to see everyone's reaction." Ember follows up, hoping to add a lighthearted touch to this delicate conversation they are having.
"Come now, Primrose. Let's give you back to Caleb…" Lumera chuckles "Who knows how worried he is not seeing you at all…"
Downstairs, the men are casually striking conversation with each other, eagerly waiting for their loved ones to come back. Edward and Marlin steal a few glances at the young lord, the fire mage smirks in amusement as he turns his attention back to Primrose's father, enjoying his uneasiness as well.
"You know, they are at that age…" Marlin can't hold back his chuckle when Edward shoots him a glare "I'm just saying…"
"That age or not, it is still worrisome." Primrose and Nathaniel's father huffs, concern lingering in his eyes "Anyway, how about you? How are you holding up with the administration?"
"Well, as long as they don't breathe down my neck, everything is good." the fire mage takes a sip of his wine as he continues "Glimmerbrook's School of Magic my ass… More like Glimmerbrook's 'do everything I need you to do'. Those bastards keep pestering Lumera about her pregnancy, it has become increasingly annoying."
Edward hums in response, knowing what Marlin is talking about. While the fire mage is an instructor at school, he is under no one's thumb. Had it not been for Lumera asking him to help her get rid of Thebe Rosenberg that many years ago, Marlin would never come back to the place that pinned a crime on him. Ever the carefree mage, he refuses to be supervised by Glimmerbrook's administrations, challenging their authority by pushing their buttons even more.
Now that Lumera is carrying Marlin's blood, the school wants to ensure that their child is working for Glimmerbrook and under the watchful eyes of their administration. The combination of Marlin, the talented mage, and Lumera's expertise in healing magic has become a concern for the school, fearing that they no longer have their hands on the unborn child should Marlin and Lumera choose to stay away from them.
"I guess I will pay them a visit…" Edward swirls the wine glass in his hand "Marlin Ember and Lumera Faba are under the protection of House Emberlynn, what do you think about that?"
"Are you sure you even want to get involved?" the fire mage smirks at Edward's suggestion.
Being under the protection of House Emberlynn, particularly Edward Emberlynn, has many advantages. Knowing Primrose's dad, the man has enough power to influence his whole house, even when he is not a prominent member of House Emberlynn. Glimmerbrook's administration is nothing but a small obstacle for Edward, with one snap of his fingers, he can change the whole system should he chooses.
"Let's just say it is my thank you gift for taking care of Primrose in all these years…"
"By all means, go ahead. As long as they stop leering at my family, I have nothing else to oppose."
Returning to the topic of the girls, Marlin steals a glance at Caleb, who is leaning against the wall, staring at his wine glass. His silver orbs reflect the worries that reside within him. Primrose has not gone downstairs yet, and the young lord is stuck here, wondering what is happening in her old bedroom. His nonchalant face is betrayed by the emotion in his eyes and Marlin can't hold back his chuckle.
"You accept him and Primrose now?"
Edward raises a brow at the blond mage's question. Had he not accepted the relationship, Primrose would never had the chance to come to Forgotten Hollow, let alone being close to Caleb Vatore. Despite knowing that the young lord is actively doing everything he can to ensure the safety of the raven head, something tells him that there are still many obstacles on his daughter's journey.
"The human trafficking case? I heard that House Vatore is investigating it, they believe that it has something to do with Forgotten Hollow."
"We'll see how it plays out. For now, I want to make sure that Primrose and Rosalina are safe. You need to look out for your wife too, Marlin."
"I know, I know…" looking around, the blond mage notices something "Hey, that little friend of Primrose is not here?"
Edward shakes his head, confirming the absence of Lilian. But before he can continue, Nathaniel's voice booms in the still air, drawing their attention to the stairs as the women are finally returning to the party.
Caleb straightens his postures immediately when he sees his lovely raven head standing behind Lilith and Rosalina. Upon meeting his gaze, her face turns bright red as Primrose excuses herself to the kitchen. Catching the approval glance of her mother, the young lord nods and follows her. The rest stays behind, knowing that it is a good time for the young couple to have some privacy.
"Primrose…"
She startles at his warm voice, the cup in her hand almost falls to the floor had it not been for Caleb catching it in time. As he draws closer to her, Primrose's anxiety surges. She timidly avoids his gaze, too embarrassed to even look at him after the delicate talk she has with the women.
"Beloved… Is everything okay?"
"Y-yes…Uhm…" Primrose stammers, fumbling with her words "C-Caleb…"
Her eyes shut tight when Caleb brings her face up close, only a few inches away from his. Her nervousness doesn't escape him as he caresses her soft cheek, the gentle touch encourages her to look at him.
"What's wrong?"
Primrose's eyes are half-opened, staring at his mesmerizing silver orbs. She thinks of what her mother told her earlier, how Caleb appreciates her being inexperienced in the matter of intimacy, it makes her wonder if that truly is the case.
"No, it's nothing…" she shakes her head "C-can we talk when we come back home?"
"Of course, let's talk later."
Planting a reassuring kiss on her forehead, Caleb's lips curl up into a smile when Primrose snuggles close to his tall frame, hiding her flustered face in his chest as he returns the embrace. The warmth of her human body radiates to his and the young lord finds his tensed muscles soon relax at the touch.
"I love you…" her voice is soft and tendered and her arms tighten around his body.
"I love you too, Primrose."
