Drider Boyfriend: Kerekes 2 (rough draft)

My parents reacted strangely to the news that the Tulgey Wood Driders had moved into the Gander estate. My mom was unusually quiet with the news, and my dad was trying to keep any and all information about our new neighbors away from her. He was willing to listen to his father, but that was about all he wanted to do.

I had been meeting regularly with Kerekes, although it was something I wasn’t even sharing with my grandfather. Oh yes, I told him I talked to Kerekes often, but I was leaving out quite a few details. For you see, during all this time, Kerekes and I had gotten close. Very close. I have been charmed by Kerekes, he has moved my heart, my soul, and my mind. Our meetings happen in secret, sometimes when I take out the calves, other times when I sneak from my bed to meet him by the Tuffet tree. The more I got to know Kerekes, the more I became enamored with him. Things about him that seemed frightening before became beautiful to me. The color of his body, his eyes, even the pincers on his face. At first, I thought my feelings were one sided. After all, we came from two very different worlds, and he was the leader of his clan. I was just a simple milkmaid. I had to remind myself he had more important things on his mind besides romance or silly milkmaids with a crush.

Kerekes was trying his hardest to take care of his people, to rebuild something around them to make them feel safe. He was focused on this goal, but to my surprise, there was something that made his mind wander from time to time.

“Meeting with you has given me a small bit of respite in these trying times,” he confessed to me. “I look forward to seeing you, to speaking with you. It gives me a chance to let go and breathe.”

“I’m glad I can help you in some way. I feel I haven’t been able to make a dent in my parents’ minds. I am trying though.” Kerekes placed his hand over mine, and compared to his, my hand was so small and chubby. Kerekes took my hand then, lifting it and placed a kiss upon it.

“I will show my affection regardless, as I cannot hide it anymore.” He kissed it again, touching against my wrist. I looked up at him, feeling my heart turn to feathered wings in my chest. “I hope this does not frighten you, but I must confess how fond I have become.” He touches my cheek and I swear I could almost fly. “I find myself thinking about you, longing for you. So I must tell you before my feelings verge onto our friendship and weigh it down.”

I took hold of his wrist, leaning my cheek into his palm. “My thoughts are often filled with you too,” I replied breathlessly. “But I never would have dreamed my own affections would be met.”

His smile was soft. “Then it is a mutual pining we have shared?”

I chuckled shyly. “I believe so.”

Ever since then, Kerekes and I have taken our stolen moments without fear. I have kissed him without a worry in the back of my mind. I have learned his body is like velvet and wherever I touch, he is soft. His hands tremble when he is excited, and I have grown to love this feeling when he touches me. I grow warmer with each meeting, and soon I feel we shall boil over if we are not careful.

It is a shame when I have to be reminded of Mr. Porgie’s existence. As I am informed over breakfast one day that he will be coming to the farm to visit.

“I can’t stand him,” Grandpa scoffs.

“He’s a friend of the family, hold your tongue!” My mother warns him. “He’s also quite fond of our little Quinn,” she says suggestively, making my guts churn. “We should be so lucky to have such a handsome and well off man interested in our little family.”

“Little?” Grandpa snaps. “She’s an adult. We’re all adults. Why are you using this word all of a sudden? This little man is lucky we have anything to do with him.”

“Calm down, Dad,” my father coaxes. “Mr. Porgie wants to visit, he wants to buy some more livestock and take a small vacation.”

Grandpa rolls his eyes then looks at me. “Sure he does.” He gives me a wink and goes back to eating his food. “So whose bright idea was it to invite him over?”

“It was mine,” my mother announced proudly. “I think it’s about time we had him over. He’s been buying cows from us for years! Hopefully our new neighbors won’t offend him too much,” my mother sighs. Her comment makes me stall in taking a sip of coffee. “He told me once he was afraid of spiders.” I forgot about this! Some time ago, I had been giving Mr. Porgie a tour of the farm when we came across a spiderweb between two fence posts. He lost it! I had to walk him away and even then, he was still jumpy, even in the house. But how did my mom know that?

“The Tulgey Driders are very nice,” I try to reassure. “He has no reason to fear them at all, unless he was the one who set that fire.”

“Quinn!” My mother scolds.

I shrug at her. “What? It was only a joke. He lives all the way in Pirlipat.” I sip my coffee and smirk to myself. Maybe having the Driders there was a bigger boon to me than before. Maybe it would scare away Mr. Porgie for good.

That evening, as I went to go meet with Kerekes, I brought along with me some of my old books. Bit by bit, I had been finding my things from when I was a child and bringing them to Kerekes to give to the children. They didn’t have much, and many of them were still too shaken to go outside. The books would be good for the kids and the adults in the manor.

Kerekes comes down from the tree as I approach and I run to him. He wraps me up in his arms, lifting my feet off the ground. “You do not need to keep bringing gifts if it means you are robbing your own home.”

“I want to, those kids deserve it.” I say as Kerekes sits me down beside him. “And those books have gone untouched for years. I bet I could find more.”

He looks through the books, a gentle smile on his face. “They will appreciate these. They’ve been enjoying the wooden blocks you sent last time, they’ve made up a game where they try to spell words by tossing them into webs. It’s quite cute.”

“I’m glad.” I relax into his side while he places an arm around me. “I am afraid I have some bad news though.”

“Oh dear,” Kerekes sets the books aside. “Is something wrong?”

I frown and look away from him. “There’s a dairy farm in Pirlipat we often do business with. The owner of it is dead set on marrying me. He’s coming to visit the farm soon, and I have the feeling he’s going to be putting the final hooks in so he can reel in my parents. Especially my mom. My dad will go along with whatever she does.”

Kerekes goes still and quiet. “I see,” he murmurs. “I take it your parents are fond of him.”

I roll my eyes. “Like I said, my mom is infatuated with him. Thinks he’s god’s gift to our dairy when it’s our dairy he relies on heavily!”

“Surely your parents would respect your wishes,” he tries to offer. He places his hand over mine then picks it up to kiss my palm.

“I’m not sure. It always seems to go in one ear and out the other.” Kerekes’ arm tightens around me and I lean into his chest. “I don’t want to think about it now.  I’ll probably be fighting him off until the day I die. How is the house coming along?”

“We’re cleaning out the chimneys so maybe we can light some fire. The wood your grandfather had sent to us has been a major help. Once we can get rooms cleared and made comfortable, we’ll be able to start making bigger repairs and we should be able to start weaving again. Once we can get there, we can finally build up our income again.”

“If you need anything-” Kerekes stops me by placing his finger over my lips.

“You’ve done enough, we have to keep moving forward on our own from here.” His finger slips away and he replaces it with a kiss. “Just give me these.”

I smile against his lips, sitting up so I am closer to him. “As many as you want.”

He places his hands around my waist as his kisses grow stronger. There is an edge to them tonight, from both of us. I know there is a need inside me that longs to be quelled. I want his touch, more of it, on my bare skin.I have had dreams where I am naked in his web, and I have tried hard to ignore them.

“I should stop here,” he breathes into my ear. “I fear if I take much more, I’ll give too much back.”

I peek up at him in surprise. “How so?” I place my palm upon his chest.

He looks away shyly, all his eyes partially lidded. He clears his throat, then licks his lips. “I have been trying to behave to human custom,” he says. “I know you humans tend to take your time with courtship. But usually with Driders, once a bond is established, our intimacy becomes stronger than kisses and hand holding.”

I bite back the excitement building up inside me. “You can always ask me, if you want to step outside human custom. I would like to practice Drider customs with you too. What can you tell me about them?”

His eyes glimmer as he looks at me, seeming quite surprised by my willingness to pursue this further. “Well, I can certainly say that it is much more intense than holding hands and trading kisses.”

“I live on a dairy farm,” I huff. “I see it all the time.” I wrap my legs around his waist. “I know exactly what I want and what we are doing, Kerekes.”

Kerekes moans into my ear again. “Forgive me, I should have known better.”

“You’re only making me more and more curious, my dear.” I touch his face, guiding his gaze back to me. “It makes me want to try at least a little something.”

A low rumble vibrates in his chest and his hands squeeze tighter around my hips. “What about your suitor?”

“What suitor?” I breathe. “All I have is you.”

He brings me in close, kissing me hungrily as his hands pull up my skirt. His strong fingers dig into my hips, my thighs. He removes my underclothes, pulling me closer to him. His fingers touch bare skin, gliding along until his knuckles hit against the apex of my thighs. He breathes against my chin, opening his mouth wide and licking there. His mouth dragged down, biting at my neck and shoulder as he turned his palm to cup me completely.

My breath comes out in a shudder and I cling tighter to him. “Don’t drop me,” I whisper.

His tongue circles my ear. “I am holding you fast, I will fall sooner than you would.” His fingers rub against me and slowly I begin to open. Using his teeth, he undoes the laces of my blouse, he gazes down upon me with a smirk upon his lips. With his free hand he strokes the skin between my breasts and touches down to my belly. “I am not used to clothing. But I am finding it quite appealing when I undress you.”

“Kerekes,” I whimper.

He licks his lips, watching me as he touches me. He opens me, finding me wet and succulent inside. Long fingers rub along this slit while his breath begins to hitch. I squeeze my eyes shut, burying my face against his chest as his fingers move deeper. They slip inside with ease due to my wetness. The long digits swirl inside me, twisting and crooking. My body twitches and my breath becomes ragged.

“Are you alright?” He whispers.

I nod shakily. “I think so.”

“You feel wonderful,” he purrs. “How am I?”

I can’t quite put it into words, and saying them out loud felt too much for me. “Good.” It’s the only thing I can manage to squeak out.

Kerekes chuckles. “Can you look at me?”

I lift my head and open my eyes to see his smile. I’m swooning enough as it is, but that is enough to make me lose every breath I have left. His eyes focus upon mine and he moves his hand away from me. His licks my witness from his fingertips and palm, and the vision of his tongue between his fingers is so salacious and lewd.

“Why did you stop?” I whimper. “You could have kept going, really.” I dig my fingers into his back. “I wanted you too.”

Kerekes chokes back a growl. “If I continue, we cannot take it back. You have to be certain that you want to complete this with me.”

I kiss him, pushing my tongue into his mouth. I feel sharp teeth along the roof of his mouth, but he tastes sweet. “I don’t want it back,” I whisper.

“Then we will continue,” he whispers. “Together.” Something touches me below. It feels strange at first, until Kerekes lowers me down. His shaft rubs against me and his hands begin to tremble.

“Excited?” I purr.

“Yes, very.” He places himself inside me, bit by bit. His shaft feels bumpy all over, with a very deep curve. I squeeze tight around him and lay my face against his chest. “I’ve got you,” he moans. “I’m not letting go.”

The shaft moves inside as he brushes his hands down my legs.  He then grabs hold, pulling my legs so he goes deeper. I cry out against his body, dragging my lips along his soft skin. I take a bite and feel his chest flutter. I place kisses and bite again, so he moves harder inside me. I have wanted this so badly, I have needed this touch, it does not concern me one bit if we are caught or not. I just want to be with him, that’s all that matters.

By the time Mr. Porgie does arrive, I have been with Kerekes several times, and not just in the Tuffet Tree. Mr. Porgie is not a bad looking guy, he’s tall and thick in the middle, with lovely eyes and a jawline to die for. It’s just his personality that tends to ruin the picture. He’s confident, which is never a bad thing, but he overdoes it. He brags far too much. He tends to have a story better than yours, as if he always has to one up you. I’m sure he’s fun at pubs, but as a businessman, it does tend to grate on a person. How my parents never seem to notice this is beyond me. I was fine just selling cows to him, I don’t think I could survive a week with him in my home without putting my fist somewhere on his body in a way that hurt.

“So good to see you, lovely Quinn!” He kisses my cheeks, when he had only shaken the hands of my parents. “You get more radiant by the day! Just like your mother.”

My mother is smiling proudly, probably picturing her future grandchildren.

I wipe my cheek off and force a smile. “Beauty fades eventually,” I laugh. “But thank you.”

Mr. Porgie wags his finger at me. “Yes, but if you are anything like your mother, your beauty shall last a very long time.”

Like I said, he has to one up everything.

I grin and bear it, as my parents take him inside to show him his room. I wander away from the welcome wagon and join Grandpa Horner on the porch. “Is he still here?” He grouses.

“He just arrived.”

“Overstayed, I say,” he spits. From inside I can hear my parents laughing. “It’s the mother of yours. Never had her head on quite right. Only she would ever fall for such pompous bullshit.”

“If they try to marry me off this weekend, will you help me escape next door to hide out?” I say with a smile, even though my guts were in knots.

“I’ll fall down the stairs if I have to,” Grandpa laughs. “Don’t you worry, I’m not letting that cad take you and run away with you. I know you like the Drider boy.”

I laugh nervously. “Grandpa!”

“Everyone thinks I’m daft cause I’m eighty, but I see things clearer than when I was twenty. I saw it in my son, and I see the same thing in you. You two are made of the same cloth, and that’s a cloth that wants to wrap itself around a monster.”

I sputter and cough. “Grandpa!”

He pats the top of my head. “Oh shush, you’ll see as good as me one day, and when you do, you’re going to have to tell me I’m right!”

One morning, I’m coming back from the barn after giving the cows the leftover fruits we purchased from the orchard, and I catch Mr. Porgie staring across the way towards the Gander manor.

“Is something bothering you?” I ask as I lay the burlap sacks over the railing.

“This is no place for the gentle anymore, Quinn,” he says solemnly. “This place is going to get taken over, become something changed.”

“If you are talking about the Tulgey Driders, your head is full of shit. They mean no harm to anyone, they just want a place to live,” I scoff.

“That is how it will start. But soon, won’t they just want more like the rest of us.” He looks down at me. “Will you be safe? Will you be able to find help here when everyone knows you neighbor a home of Driders?”

“Maybe we don’t want people here who think that way.” I start to walk past him when he grabs me. “Pirlipat is nice, the air is sweet and there is so much to see. Unlike here, there’s nothing here.”

I push his hand off me right as Grandpa Horner steps out with his coffee. “I’m fine here,” I scoff.

“Are you staying out here?” Grandpa asks him.

Mr. Porgie arches a brow. “In Miror?”

“No, on my damn porch!”

I leave Grandpa with him, he’ll handle him much better than I ever could. It makes me itch all over to think of him trying to use the Driders as leverage for why I should marry him and leave. That sort of shit might work on my mother, but it won’t work on me.

Then, there comes a morning where I’m shaken awake. “Quinn, Quinn, wake up.” It’s my father.

“What’s going on?” I grumble. “Is the barn okay?”

“Yes, it’s fine.” His voice is quiet and urgent. “It’s your mother.”

I sit up in alarm. “What? What’s going on? Is she okay?”

Dad has a piece of paper in his hand. He sighs heavily. “Well. I think she is.” He hands me the letter. “I woke up and found this.”

“For years I have thought that this was the life I wanted. I raised a child, cultivated a successful business, and enjoyed what I thought was a happy marriage. Instead, I came to realize it was all a shell. Everything I did was hollow and lacking of purpose. Until I met Georgie.”

I look up from the letter at my dad then back down at the page. “Georgie gave my life purpose again. He helped me understand that all I had done was just to go through the motions of life. Finally, I can no longer deny what I want, and it comes at a cost. I understand if you don’t forgive me. But in my heart-” I ball up the letter right there.

“Her and Mr. Porgie?” I scoff.

Dad sits down on the bed beside me, scratching his head. “I don’t know how to make heads or tails of it,” he says. “I thought it was kind of odd how much she talked about him. But I thought that was all for you.”

I take my dad’s hand into mine, befuddled and gobsmacked. “I thought the same thing! I never assumed it was...this!” I look at my dad again and squeeze his hand. “Are you okay?”

He sighs heavily and shakes his head. “Not sure yet. Guess I gotta let this settle.” He looks at me. “How are you?”

“Good question,” I murmur.

“You must be relieved,” he chuckles.

I shrug. “I guess.”

He then stands up. “Well, come on, your grandpa will be wanting his coffee. Best we get started on breakfast.”

I follow him downstairs to the kitchen, cooking breakfast together in silence. Once Grandpa enters the room, he looks back and forth between us.

“She left, didn’t she?”

“Grandpa,” I try to scold.

“Well, I saw her and that boy go off together,” he scoffs. He comes in and pats his son’s back. “Better days ahead of you, son. Better days.”

News must have spread fast, because people from all over came to visit. They brought us food mostly, and half hearted platitudes they thought would comfort us. Dad appeared to be taking it well, although there were a few times I could see him go a little weak in the eyes.

That evening, the Tulgey Driders arrived at our home. They brought with them candles and instruments and they began playing music on the lawn. We walked out in awe, as they used their silk to make notes like singing. My dad sat down on the porch to watch and he cracked a smile as he watched the kids rolling around on the soft grass.

Kerekes approached and bowed before my dad. “We heard the news,” he says. “We don’t have much to offer you, but we always take comfort in music when our hearts are sad.”

“Thank you,” my dad sighs. “This is an unexpected treat.”

Kerekes then offers out his hand to me. “Do you mind if I dance with your daughter?”

“Ask her,” dad sighs.

I take his hand and step out onto the lawn with him, partaking in a dance as the other Driders play their music. I hold him close, grinning up happily at him. While I am wounded by my mother’s departure, I now realize I can be with Kerekes and it is not something I will have to hide.

After that, the Driders become a fixture on the farm. My dad begins hiring them to do work on the farm, as well as helping them sell their silk. With my father’s backing, people begin to buy the beautiful silk and their weaving.

I went and visited my mother once, but only to invite her to my wedding. I’m not sure she and Mr. Porgie will attend, considering his fear of spiders. I just at least hope my mother will make an appearance. After all, Kerekes is to be my husband, and like it or not, that means he will be her son.

We plan to take down the fence that separates our property, which will allow the cows more room to roam, as well as allowing the Driders easier access to the farm. Once it’s down, Kerekes and I will get married under the Tuffet Tree.