He smiled. "Mhm." He replied, eating a bit more. Around them, the conversation of everyone else swirled, the topic usually on some facet of the business.
“I can’t love you...” Reposting this here (O/O|Romance|Closed|)
group
Arabella seemed truthfully and honestly exhilarated by the dinner’s courses. The small female could eat three times her weight in food. Which was probably a good thing seeing as how stress had eaten away at her body and beauty. She needed a little fattening up, she was mostly bones. She pointed at different parts of the plate, asking Ashton about them and grinning. Her mood was slowly coming back up, she felt better that she had gotten out her frustrations on him. What a horrible person she was for it, but it was what she needed.
Asher smiled, answering her questions as she asked them. He hoped she would eat as much as she wanted to, she needed the extra food. He also participated in the other conversations, when they concerned him, but didn't interfere if it didn't.
group
Arabella would glance up as the conversation topics changed, tilting her head and nodding her agreements. She remained silent about them otherwise. She had nothing to add. Her father’s company was too small to really allow her to relate.
Asher held her hand gently, still rubbing his thumb over her knuckles softly. The fourth course was served up, and he started eating it, still contributing to the conversation every now and again.
group
She suddenly leaned up and kissed his cheek, nuzzling into the side of his head. “Thank you Asher. Your family is wonderful.” She murmured. “And I’m sorry again… I’m making you worry about me when you should be focusing on yourself. Heal, find closure with Peri… I know for a fact he is watching you from heaven…”
Asher shrugged. "My family is…not that great. And Arabella, I don't mind. Okay? Really. You can talk to me about anything you want to, at any time. I don't mind." He kissed her cheek lightly, giving her and small smile.
group
She rested against him, shaking her head. “And you can talk to me.” She murmured gently, looking up at his face. “I’m sorry I’m so immature. I don’t know how to act in this situation…”
He nodded, then shook his head. "It's alright, I understand. No one's dream is to marry someone who is still sort of in love with their dead boyfriend." He shrugged slightly. "I would be a bit immature in your position as well."
group
She closed her eyes and breathed him in. She didn’t know he smelled so good… No stop that. He’s not interested and you aren’t either. You’re only attracted to him because you have to pretend to be right now. In any other situation you wouldn’t be this close…. you’d refuse.
“I’m really sorry still… I’m sorry about everything, about you losing the love of your life and about you having to marry a complete stranger when you’re still trying to heal from your past love.”
Asher hugged her gently. "Don't apologise. It isn't your fault. And Peri…yes, he was someone I loved very much, but I am only 21. I'm sure I will find someone new, and I'm hoping that it's you." He murmured in her ear, kissing her cheek.
group
She sighed, her breath hot against his neck as she nuzzled her way there. She just wanted to stay here. Where it was warm. Yeah… pretending is enough… “I’m hoping it’s me too. But I understand if it isn’t. You aren’t obligated to be married to me, by the way. You could always divorce me.” It wasn’t that she wanted divorce. She wanted his happiness.
He nodded. "You've said that multiple times, Arabella. And I told you: I'm not divorcing you." He kissed her cheek lightly, closing his eyes for a moment. He sighed softly. "Okay? I'm not letting you just get sold off to the next man in line."
group
“I’m just making sure you know…” she replied softly, returning the kiss with one of her own to his nose. Her head felt light and dizzy, his affection was nice. “Its just a part of my life, Asher… I may be an adult now but I have no freedom.”
Asher sighed. "I'm trying to give you as much freedom as I can, Arabella." He replied softly. "I've told you before that you can do whatever you want. I'm not going to stop you. Unless you're trying to murder someone." He chuckled softly.
group
She laughed softly, smiling. “I know I have freedom with you. I like it. But with my parents I’ve got nothing. I sincerely hope you never have to see me with my parents.”
He nodded. "Alright." The last course was served, and he let go of her so that they could both eat. He added to the conversation around them a bit, as necessary.
group
She hummed, letting him go to eat. Her eyes fell happily upon the food, a bright smile gracing her lips.
He kept eating, glancing over at Arabella for a moment, then continued eating. He ate neatly, as he had learned to do since he was younger.
group
Arabella, was naturally a messy eater. But at these types of dinners she was well mannered and quite good at keeping things clean. She glanced back at Asher, wondering why he kept looking at her.
He sighed softly. After everyone had finished the course, the plates were cleared, and the servants brought dessert. Asher smiled slightly, and happily started eating it.
group
Arabella purred at the first taste of the desert. Her eyes slipped closed. She hadn’t had something sweet since their marriage. This was wonderfully made. She looked up at Asher and pointed to the plate. “Can we make this at home?”
Asher smiled lightly. "Yeah, we definitely can." He replied, kissing her cheek softly, then going back to his dessert. He closed his eyes for a moment.
group
She smiled sweetly, it was genuine. “Thank you Asher!” She giggled softly and placed another forkful into her mouth.
He smiled. "You're welcome." He replied, and went back to his dessert. When people finished the dessert, they started to leave slowly, one by one.
group
Arabella looked around, licking her lips absentmindedly as people began to leave. She glanced at Asher, wondering what they were going to do. Her eyes fell on his slightly pointed ears. She reached out to brush his hair away from his ear and gently traced the shape.
Asher shivered slightly as she traced his ear, glancing over at her and raising an eyebrow at her a bit, but smiled. He finished up his dessert. "Ready to go?" He asked with a smile.
group
She blushed lightly when he glanced over, pulling her hand back into her side. “S-sorry I’ve never really seen elven ears up close.” She murmured, nodding softly as he spoke. “I am ready…”
"Fae." He reminded. "Elf is a misnomer." He smiled, and stood. "Alright then. Let's head home." He gently pulled out her chair and helped her up, kissing her cheek lightly and holding her hand gently.
group
“Fae sorry!” She mumbled, hiding her face in her hands. She looked up at him as he helped her up, smiling sheepishly and looking away.