I'll Pick You Up

Leyla vaguely remembered the rest of the events as she lay exhausted on the bed, all she knew was that they had been in the reception room when it started, and now they were back in the bedroom.

Her breathing was ragged as she tried her best to catch more air. She didn't know what they were doing now, but she was vaguely aware that right now her wrists were bound together above her head. She hardly had any strength left in her to participate further in their activity, but she had enough left to shoot glares at the duke.

Matthias on the other hand, only gave her a lethargic grin as he pulled tight the knot on his tie. Leyla gasped as she felt her bounds tighten, making her arch her back in a feeble attempt to get some blood circulation in her hands.

Un-untie me this instant! she hissed, struggling to loosen up the tie. Matthias only hummed, hovering over her as he ran his fingers through her golden locks.

Shh, hold still, Leyla, he whispered next to her ear, Try to keep still for me. he murmured, breathing in the scent of her mixing with that musky scent of sex. He straightened up once more, one hand hefting her up the pillows as the other adjusted her wrists to a more comfortable position. Keep struggling and the knots will go tighter around you.

Matthias got up from the bed, fetching the blanket that made its way to the floor, draping it all over her naked body, when she twisted away from him, causing it to fall once more on the floor. He frowned momentarily, before deciding that the warmth from the fireplace would be sufficient enough to keep Leyla warm on his bed, and thus smiled to himself in satisfaction.

He climbed back on the bed, situating himself beside her, brushing back the locks that stuck to her face. She kept glaring up at him defiantly, and knew he wouldn't be able to get her to willingly take a bath with him. Which was a shame because he really wanted to bathe with her. But he had expected she wouldn't stay inebriated for long, the alcohol's effect having burned through her system by their strenuous activity.

Eventually, he stood up once more, and headed straight for his bathroom. He was confident Leyla wouldn't be able to leave before he was through with her.

He took his sweet time in savoring the hot water running down his skin, lathering his body up with soap as the water pelted his skin continuously. He then got out and dried himself off, before heading back to bed, where he found Leyla dropping off to sleep as she let herself rest against the soft sheets beneath her. Though his eyes narrowed when he saw the pillow he propped her back against had joined the blanket on the floor.

With a sigh he came closer to her, swinging the towel over his shoulder as he loosened up the tie around her wrists, revealing reddened skin underneath, making him sigh in disappointment at her continued resistance.

I told you to keep still. he admonished her. Through her sleep addled brain, Leyla only glared in response.

Why would I take the advice of a crazy person? she asked him incredulously, as Matthias proceeded to rub smoothing circles around her sore wrists. She felt disgusted by his touch, but she couldn't find it in herself to pull away from the delicate way he was touching her.

Matthias repositioned her, hooking his arms underneath her back and under the knees. Leyla let herself surrender to his whims, closing her eyes in defense as she felt her body was no longer in her control.

Once she was positioned in the middle of the bed, Matthias grabbed the wet cloth he had prepared beforehand at the bedside table and began using it to wipe the dried body fluids and sweat off of her.

Leyla could feel the warm, moist roughness of towel scrubbing her all over. His hands trailed from her face, down to her chest, through the valley between her breasts, and then further downward past her lower abdomen.

As much as she wanted to continue lying on the bed, and drift off to sleep, she fought to open her eyes to watch Matthias.

He looked so calm as he was wiping her clean, but Leyla could see in his eyes how numb he was currently. He looked so different from when he had been busy thrusting into her a while ago. His hands were different before too. Gone was the lust he had when he'd wrapped himself around her, which further embarrassed Leyla deep inside.

Every time she thought she knew him, he'd break character all of a sudden, confusing her as to who he really was. It was like he had a switch in his mind, letting him act differently from time to time, a switch he could control when he wanted to.

Her eyes drifted close once more as her breathing calmed down to a gentle rhythm once more. Matthias' eyes drifted towards her, thinking to himself how much she resembled a marble sculpture with how pale she was.

Matthias could see a trail of goosebumps up her arms and he pulled away, setting the wetted cloth down on the basin. He immediately took his robe off, draping in on top of her body. He then climbed behind her, pulling Leyla flush to his body, making her turn towards him in surprise.

He thought she would squirm once more, but after holding her gaze, she eventually gave in, and let him pull her closer to him. He held her in his arms, watching, and waiting for the time her breathing evened out to soft, gentle breaths.

Thinking her asleep, he pulled away from her, before taking a spot once more on his desk and reviewed the remaining documents for the rest of the evening. He had been at it for a while, when Leyla spoke up once more.

I hate you.

she hissed softly towards him, her voice just above a whisper, but he could hear her words clearly as though she was shouting it right next to his ear. Matthias set the papers down, staring at the woman in his bed. Eventually, he got up and went back to his previous spot, gathering her in his arms once again.

Drops of water from his hair tips cascaded down on to her pale cheeks as he stared her down. Her lips quivered as he continued to hold her gently.

I really hate you so much! she gritted teeth as she tried to stifle her tears. Matthias began to rub circles against the small of her back, while wiping the drops of water off with his free hand.

Leyla never felt so much hate for one person until recently. She never hated anyone before.

Not the mother who abandoned her, nor the relatives who beat and abused her. Not even Mrs. Etman, who made it her life's goal to remind Leyla just how insignificant she was. Yes, she held and let go of her hate of them because holding it in her heart only felt like lead

It kept weighing her down, and would soon poison her.

Because all her life, she wanted to live as free as a bird. And she worked hard to forgive them for what they did to her, but with Matthias, she found it very difficult to forgive him for the hurt he put her through. She can't help but hate him to her core.

And suddenly, she wasn't so confident in living that proud and free life she once dreamed of. Her hatred of him weighed heavier than just a fist-full of lead. He felt like a boulder propped over her shoulders, and she feared she would hate him for the rest of her life

And she wasn't willing to let go so easily.

'I hate you. I hate you! I HATE YOU!' She repeated like a mantra all over in her head, until she finally succumbed to sleep.

Matthias, unaware of her hateful thoughts, only smiled down at her sleeping form, finally satisfied she was fully asleep. With a sigh, he got up from the bed, grabbed the documents and his pen as he went back to bed, opting to work on the bed instead of his usual desk.

He regathered Leyla in his arms once again, who seemed to snuggle instinctively closer to his warm body. Matthias couldn't help but think that if Leyla wanted to continue living well, she need only stop wanting to live far from him.

The reminder of how badly she wanted to be free of him left a sour taste in his mouth before he let out a dejected huff. His arms unconsciously tightened around her, and Leyla continued to rest snuggly against him.

He had a myriad of things he wanted to give his beautiful mistress, things like a suitable house for her to comfortably live in, an opportunity to study in her dream university. He could even give her the life she dreamed about as she studied her favorite birds.

All these were things he, Matthias von Herhardt, could give her and not that poor excuse of a doctor's son!

'And yet you continue to think you could live well without me?' he couldn't help but scoff at the thought. He gazed down at her, caressing her parted lips as she breathed in and out, softly snoring against him.

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These were the lips that slandered him, and yet despite the cold words she spewed at him, they remained warm and tender against the pad of his thumb.

But Matthias had work remaining, and thus reluctantly pulled away, immersing himself back in the word of documents and business. Just having her near him, her smooth, rhythmic breathing as music, was enough for now.

He found a different kind of contentment at feeling her warmth next to him, the way her scent flooded his nose. She was absolutely perfect for him, and he loved it! He knew by now, his desire for her would not wane easily.

Finally, he got through the last of the documents, and set it on top of the growing pile by the bedside table next to him. When he glanced up, he caught sight of the snow, flickering against the dark as it fell against the windows.

He took a trip down memory lane, his thoughts leading him back to when he first saw the snow this year. It was just after the first half of the charity ball, right when Leyla's chaotic play had just ended. They stood close by the frozen river, as the landscape began to be blanketed by white frost.

And Leyla stood, so angelically in front of him beneath a lighted street lamp, haloing her golden locks. He remembered how she looked up in awe as she witnessed the first snow of the season too. The way her lips curved up sweetly at the sight of it falling gently on her face, kissing her skin the way he wanted to.

Leyla, he whispered out in longing. There was a certain stillness in the air, much like it did that first snow, but Leyla's tossing and turning eventually broke the placid atmosphere between them. The blanket slowly slid down her shoulders, revealing her naked torso as it pooled on her waist.

He couldn't help but think of how prettily she'd smile this time around too if she were awake to witness the snow fall once more.

He couldn't find it in himself to wake her up, and ended up caressing her cheeks instead. Leyla nuzzled into his warm hand, sighing contentedly. Such small gesture, yet it filled Matthias with a different sense of satisfaction as he saw her willingly lean into him.

He opted to stay still, deciding not to do anything about his robe sliding off her. She trembled as the cold began to seep into her body, seeking the warmest source she could find; which was him of course, and buried herself further into his embrace.

Matthias breath hitched as she moved, not daring to make a move in fear of rousing her from her listless sleep. He could feel something blooming in his chest, something far different, yet closely the same from the lust he'd grown accustomed to around her.

It was a flutter, something fragile and miniscule. Much like a snowflake falling down from the skies, resting beautifully as it sticks against the window's glass.

He quickly, yet gently wrapped both his arms around her as her body shivered, giving her more warmth as he pulled her impossibly closer. He ran a soothing palm up and down her back, rubbing some much needed warmth as she burrowed further into him in response.

He could only lie awake next to her, holding her as though he was afraid she'd pull away, and leaned into the plush cushion behind him, gently bringing her along with him. His eyes stared out at the swirling snowflakes, watching as they swayed with the wind and felt his eyes grow heavy by the second

He leaned down, planting a ghost of a kiss on each of Leyla's shut eyelids, while his heart echoed her name over and over like a velvety mellow tune.

Leyla.

Leyla.

My Leyla.

There was a screeching in the station, and the sound of pressure being relieved as the night train entered the Carlsbar Central Station. It was just before the breaking of dawn, the day's winter sun not yet up in the skies.

There was a certain muteness in the air as people hurriedly rushed out of the train, equipped with their belongings as they huddled in on themselves, wearing fatigue in their expressions as they rubbed the sleep from their eyes. The platform grew more lively as more and more people piled out, while the sparse people that already were in the station met to greet their returning loved ones.

Amongst the passengers was Kyle Etman, right in the middle of the bustling crowd. He had come without any notice he was arriving, and thus had no one to greet him. Even Mr. and Mrs. Etman was unaware of his plans of returning instead of traveling to the southern countries of the continent.

He still received no reply from Leyla, even after his last heartfelt letter to her. He poured all his heart and soul into every word, and so when he received no letters from her in response, his initial thought was it was time to give up.

Which was why he had accepted his father's suggestion of traveling south. And yet, he changed his mind at the last minute, changing his tickets to take him back home instead of further away.

Kyle didn't know why he wanted to return at first, but the moment he caught sight of them entering Ratz's borders, something clicked inside him, making everything make sense.

He knew now why he wanted to return.

He knew where he wanted to go.

There was a sense of foreboding building in him as he grew closer and closer to home. It wasn't like Leyla to reject him without a proper goodbye. He knew her that much at least, and so he worried something must have happened to her.

It might just be his desperation blowing everything out of proportion, and maybe she was just fine, but he needed to see her.

He wanted to see her.

As the crowd slowly died down around him, Kyle found himself moving once more, hauling his enormous trunk behind him as he walked out of the station alone with a determined look in his eye.

As he stepped out of the station, he was met with the sight of his hometown covered in snow, everywhere he looked, he could see blankets of white surrounding him. Snow continued to fall, piling on his shoulders the longer he stood still, dancing around him.

He was a different man from when he left. He'd grown over the time he parted with Leyla.

Leyla he whispered like a prayer, her name flowing desperately out of him as wisps of white puffs flitted around him.

Just the thought of her gave a twisted feeling over his heart, a trepidation washing over him at the thought of seeing her for the first time since they broke it off. His knuckles turned white, as his grip on his trunk tightened.

[ I will love and cherish you for as long as you will allow it. I swear that no harm shall come to you again, whether by another's hand or mine.]

Those were his words for her. A sincere confession as he wrote out to her, hoping his words would reach her heart as well. He swore if Leyla even gave an inch of a chance, he'd take it as a mile, giving her everything he'd ever promised.

[I'll come to you at once! We can leave Arvis together, and find our happy place in this world!]

With that final thought, he found the strength to move forward once more and braved the frosty path on the way to his happiness.