Chapter 540

540 Ceremony Of Honor(Part Three)

***WARNING: SEXUAL CONTENT***

“Yer right, we already be late. So could ya just let me breath fer a minute?! We shopped fer hours, then rushed back here. And this be the first time I’ve stopped bein’ dragged about all day! Please, Peg: give me a minute wit me husband.”

Peggy shot her a sharp glare before conceding with a sigh, then left the room while clicking her tongue disapprovingly. Tidas was already at her side by the time the door had latched. Turning to face him, Skye smiled as their arms entwined around each other..

“I didna get ta say it before, so: hello, husband. How was yer day?”

Tidas pulled a face before changing back to a strained smile; “It was a pain in the neck, literally. I had to use my Shaman trait to stop a kink from forming. My shoulders are still a little stiff.”

Skye stifled a giggle; “Paperwork?”

Tidas nodded solemnly; “Aye, paperwork.. I knew that the task would be arduous, but Hang’s office has stacks of shipping forms everywhere. Most are organized, but the stacks themselves were out of order. It took all morning and afternoon just to get everything squared away. That’s not including the manifests I have yet to go through and match up to the shipping forms.”

Skye quirked an eyebrow; “They’re not in the same department?”

Tidas shook his head; “No, and there’s little to no coordination between them. I see why embezzlement and criminal activity going unnoticed is such a concern for Genie and Mei’s father. Only a handful of the other Senators seemed concerned at all.”

.....

“Probably cause they benefit from the corruption,” Skye muttered as she pressed herself against his sturdy chest.

Tidas stiffened before holding her tighter, and inhaled her hair. Skye could feel his whole body tense as he ran his hands along the curves of her sides. A low groan escaped his lips as one of his hands went into her locks, and gently tugged at her head.

His lips softly pressed against hers in a sweet kiss, but it quickly turned into a display of sweltering need. Breaking the kiss, Skye let him hold her in place as he stared down at her with hungry eyes. When they landed on her ample cleavage, Tidas swallowed hard before pulling her back against himself.

Through gritted teeth, Tidas whispered in a rough voice; “I hope that you’re not too attached to that dress. When we return, I intend to rip it off of you..”

Skye leaned back with her eyebrows pinched together; “Ye canna do that! The shopkeepers gave it ta me! Tis over three-hundred years old!”

“And it still fits like that? ...I’ll most likely be chasing grabby men away from you all night,” Tidas muttered with a disgruntled look on his face.

Skye’s face went flat; “I can handle me self, and ya ken it.”

“Oh, I ken it. But that doesn’t stop men from being men,” Tidas replied, matching his wife’s expression.

“Nor women.. Dinna think I don’t see the noblewomen flashin’ ya their ‘come-hither’ looks back in Alcon, husband. Or practically shovin’ their tits in yer face as ya danced wit’em. Ima yers, and yer mine: that’s all that matters. I ken ya wouldna let another touch ya in a way I wouldna like. And I’ll die before I allow another man ta touch me the way you do..”

Skye’s words were meant to be reassuring for him, but the look in her eyes made him think that she needed the reassurance. He smiled softly, then gave her a passionate kiss that took her breath away before saying; “The only woman in existence that I want to touch is you. I love you, Skye. More than anything..”

Skye smiled as her breathing tried to level out, but it was pointless. Seeing her flushed cheeks and parted lips, Tidas seized them in a passionate embrace. One hand pressed her hips against him while the other entangled it’s fingers deeper into her hair. By the time he released her enough to breath, Skye’s mind was spinning.

Her lids heavy with lust, Skye looked up at her husband’s, and spoke with breathless words; “I love you, Tidas.. Always..”

He kissed her again with a strained look on his face. Moving his hand from her hair to her front, Tidas cupped her breast, then slid it along the silkened fabric. Lightly pressing his fingertips as he lazily trailed down her body until he’d stopped to rest above her most sensitive place. Right as he was about to lose all sense, a sharp knock came from the door..

“Ya two dinna have the time ta get yer jollies off! Now move it before I track down Genie, and send Him In!”

Peggy’s voice brokered no arguments as she pounded at the door. Tidas and Skye sighed in unison, their disappointment obvious as they straightened their clothes and hair, then went to the door. Flinging it open, Tidas’ irritation rose as he stared at a smirking Peggy.

Stepping forward so Skye could come out as well, he commented; “You know: for someone who wants grandbairns as soon as possible, you sure like to interrupt how one achieves a said goal..”

Peggy narrowed her eyes at him as Ronnie’s laughter echoed in the hallway. It was at that moment that the two realized that Peggy hadn’t been the only one waiting on them. Klaus, Kari, Ralph, and Ronnie lined the wall across from their door; all waiting for the two..

A light flush crept into Skye’s cheeks as Tidas acted as if it wasn’t anything to be concerned about. They had been married for nearly three years now, and had been openly talking about attempting to have a child soon. It was expected that they be ‘more affectionate’ towards each other, but it was still a bit embarrassing for her.

As they readied to head towards the banquet, Skye turned to Tidas with an inquisitive expression; “Has Zazzy contacted you at all? I havena heard a peep from her all day.”

Tidas grinned broadly like a proud parent as he replied; “She’s flying around close by. She told me that she went exploring earlier, and found a waterfall near where Genie had tested you. And that she’d be close by if we need her.”

“She went that far by herself?!” Skye exclaimed, her worry plain on her face.

Tidas wrapped his arm around her shoulders; “She’ll be fine.. If anyone tried to hurt her here, the people would probably lynch them in the capital’s square. As a warning to anyone else dumb enough to just Think of hurting her. In Alcon, our enemies had a chance, but not here.”

“Well, that depends on who is sent,” Genie commented as he waited for them at the end of the hall.

As they continued towards the banquet hall, Genie elaborated; “If a team of well-trained Shinobi are sent, then Zazzy may not be able to hold out. The same goes for you two.”

Tidas scoffed; “Are you saying that you think a bunch of ninjas could best me?”

Skye squinted at him a moment before turning to Genie while speaking; “A wee bit arrogant there, love, but he’s gotta point, Genie. He’s the bloody Commander of the RMC, and I have four traits-”

“Which you depend upon far too often. You both depend on your magic too much,” Genie looked at her like an ill-mannered student as he continued;” What if you were in a situation where you couldn’t use your magic? What then? Strength can only go so far, Skye. One must be-”

“Flexible in one’s pursuit of knowledge. I remember yer words, old man,” Skye joked, even though Genie reacted like she’d punched him in the gut.

“Old man?! I am but fifteen years your senior! I know married couples-nevermind.. The point is that your knowledge of hand-to-hand combat is not the same as a Shinobi’s. If either of you two were to face an experienced one, especially more than one; I have doubts about who the winner would be..”

Skye opened her mouth to speak, but Genie quickly added; “And don’t forget that we are not the only mages in this world. There was a time when various Shinobi clans targeted child mages, and used any means necessary to bring them into their clan’s fold..”

Genie’s expression hardened in a way that Skye had only seen a handful of times in her life. It had been fleeting, but lasted long enough for her to connect it to other memories.. ‘He always looked like that anytime his childhood was brought up..’

Skye walked quietly in thought while Tidas and Genie discussed protective counter measures for Zazzy. It took little time to reach the doors to the hall, where everyone split up to take their respective places. Skye, Tidas, and Genie were the only ones not to go in yet.

Genie was to announce them before taking his own seat at the head table. Skye looped her arm through Tidas’, then raised her chin; ready to face the patriarchal wolves. When Genie left them for a few moments and began giving a small speech, Skye looked up at her husband with a small smile..

“Reminds me a bit of when we first arrived in Alcon.. Canna believe tis been three years already. Ya ken, we still need ta do somethin’ ta celebrate.”

Tidas grinned happily at her suggestion; “That’s a grand idea. It’ll give me an excuse to put off that paperwork a bit longer.”

Skye chuckled at her husband’s joke before adding; “Ima serious, though. We didna exactly get ta celebrate our first two. We should try ta make this one special.. Who ken’s what’s waitin’ fer us back in Alcon..”

Seeing her features cloud slightly, Tidas asked; “What do you mean?”

Skye shrugged as Genie concluded his speech, and replied; “I dunno.. I just got an off feelin’ whenever I think of home lately.”

Tidas nodded, but didn’t say anything as the doors to the banquet hall creaked open. He wanted to tell her that he’d had the same unease in his heart whenever he thought of home, but Tidas quickly shoved it down as they strode forward. In his mind, now was not the time to fuss over something that he deemed to be pointless.

When Genie had taken his seat, he had surveyed the visiting guests with scrupulous eyes. Everyone that was there was expected to appear. All except for one..

Richard Yaris waved to Genie with a cocky grin as he walked passed the edge of his table. Senator Pho was one of five other Senators with him, and all were supporters of the Tokuga. Once he was seated, the doors swung open, and Skye and Tidas made their entrance..