Pegasus Boyfriend: Marlivaur #2 (complete)

I’m struggling to keep my promise to Shae. I had told him that I would try to come and visit him, but so far, it’s been strangely impossible for me to get away. It’s hard to keep in contact with him, but I have tried sending letters. If he’s gotten them or not, I’m unsure. I feel awful for not keeping my promise, I can only imagine how angry he is with me.

Once I’ve finally found a moment to go to him, I don’t wait for anything to happen. I immediately leave, forgetting things behind me to take. I return to the ranch that Clotaire and Brieanna own, where Shae also works.

I touch down, feeling the cool grass on my legs as I look around the place. I see Clotaire working near the house and he stops to greet me.

“Back already?” He slaps my back. 

“Yeah,” I rub the back of my neck. “I’m looking for Shae, is he here?”

Clotaire glances behind me, but I don’t get a chance to follow his gaze. I’m tackled from behind as a pair of strong arms wrap around me and nearly throw me to the ground. The breath is nearly knocked from my lungs and I let out a less than attractive sound. 

“There he is,” Clotaire points.

Shae squeezes tight onto me and prances his hooves around in excitement. I thought he would be angry with me, instead he’s acting extremely excited and anxious.

“I have been waiting, you jerk!” He pinches my cheeks and pulls at them. “Your letters are cute and all but dammit! I really want you more than them!”

I grab his hand, making him hold my cheeks rather than pinch. “It’s good to see you too, Shae. You look well.”

Shae grabs the tip of my nose and holds it. “No sugar for you! I did my time, now you’ll do yours. Come with me.” He tugs me along, holding me by the nose as he leads me away. I guess he is mad.

Shae leads me into the shadowy barn where the hay and supplies are stored. “Help me out with this, will you?” He hands me tools to carry. “Make yourself useful.”

“Don’t I even get a kiss?” I ask.

Shae glares back at me, his bright green eyes like venom. “You want a kiss, do you?” He comes over to me, holding a hammer in his hand. “You promised soon. It’s well past soon.” He tilts his chin up to me. “I have been waiting and clinging to letters like some character in a dusty romance novel!” He pushes the hammer under my chin. 

“I told you why I couldn’t. Things have been busy back home, I couldn’t get away even if I tried.” I can’t touch him because of everything I’m holding.

Shae gives me the eye and he lowers the hammer. He closes the gap between us and nuzzles to my neck. His tongue is hot against my skin and, for a moment, I melt. I then turn rigid as his teeth sink into my skin. He bites me, hard, several times. He then kisses and licks where he bites. As he pulls away from me, I’m a mess. I’m both terrified and aroused beyond belief. A sinister smirk crosses his lips before he plants a soft kiss to mine.

“I’m glad you’re back.” He kisses me again. “But I’m going to be a bit mean to you to work out my frustrations.”

“Understandable,” I gulp.

Shae kisses my cheek. “Drop those stupid tools and hold me.”

I do as he commands and wrap my arm around him. He feels so warm and his skin is so soft. I kiss his jaw and down his neck, licking him before I meet his lips again.

“You’re still so cute,” I whisper to him as my fingers knead the back of his neck. “You’re rough too. I think I like it.”

Shae cups his hand over my mouth. “You’ll get me all hot and bothered! I’m still mad at you.” He glares at me. “Please tell me you’re at least staying through the night.”

I nod.

Shae’s eyes sparkle. “How long then?”

I hold up a single finger.

“Just one day?” Shae stomps his hoof.

I shake my head and press my finger to his lips. 

“A week?” He gasps.

I nod.

“I get you for a whole week?” Shae squeezes me tight and kisses me again. “I’m so excited! I wish you had warned me! I would have planned my week accordingly.” He kisses my neck again. “I’m not letting you go, at all!”

“Good,” I chuckle. “I can’t be trusted on my own.”

Shae brushes his fingers through my hair then trails his fingers along my jaw. He then rests his head on my chest. “I’m so tired,” he murmurs. “I haven’t slept well at all as of late.”

I rub my hand up and down his back. “Have your nightmares gotten worse?”

Shae shrugs and wraps his hands around my waist. “Not worse,” his voice sounds exhausted. “They’ve never changed. I just miss you along with them.” He looks up at me, his eyes are tired and sad, even a little scared. “It somehow makes things worse.”

I kiss his forehead. “How about we go lay down for a nap then?”

He shakes his head. “I can’t. I’m teaching a class today to some of the younger members.” He helps me pick the tools back up again. “They’re centaurs who were rescued from trafficking. They’re lucky,” he whispers. “One of the youngest is only eight.”

I frown and kiss Shae’s cheek. “What you’re doing for these kids is remarkable.”

Shae’s smile is sad as he looks at me. “Would you like to help me? A big strapping guy like you is a comfort to me and Clotaire, imagine what you’ll be to these kids.” He rubs the stump of my arm. “They’ll see this and know you were hurt too.”

I kiss his cheek. “I’d love to help. What’re we doing?”

“I’m teaching the kids just a few simple things, but I promised them we’d be making birdhouses today.” He puts a bag over my back and fills the pockets with supplies.

We go out to the pavillion in the field where a couple of centaurs are watching over a group of young kids. They all look small and thin, some still have terrified looks in their eyes. The smallest one is a little gray mare with pink ribbons in her braid. She’s clutching tightly to a small ragdoll.

“Hello, everyone,” Shae sings as he walks over to them. He kneels down, getting at their level. The little gray mare rushes to him and snuggles up beside him while he pets her hair. “I’m glad to see all of you came today. I’m proud of you.” His voice is so gentle and calming. “I brought a friend with me this week.” He extends his hand out to me. “This is Marlivaur. He’s a pegasus. He’s also a knight, so if you’re scared, he’s going to take care of us.”

I kneel down like Shae did and a couple of the kids come over to me. They ask me questions about my wings and what being a knight is like. I stretch out my wings and the kids have fun huddling under them while I close my wings around them. I have fun, and hearing them all giggle and squeal warms my heart deeply. 

“Are we done playing with Marlivaur?” Shae asks. He’s holding the little gray mare’s hand as he moves over to the building supplies. “I have what I promised all ready for us.”

The kids sit down, tended to by Shae and the other centaurs there. I watch and help where I can, but I am afraid I am terrible at building things. I then notice the little gray mare isn’t anywhere around. She usually didn’t leave Shae’s side.

I then feel a tiny hand at my wing and I look down to see her. Shae said she was eight, but she looks so tiny, I can barely believe it. I kneel down to her and she looks at me with big, watery blue eyes.

“Is something wrong, sweetheart?” I ask her.

She looks at me then pats where my arm is supposed to be. I smile softly at her. “It doesn’t hurt,” I reply. “I lost it a long time ago. Do you know Clotaire?”

She nods.

“I lost my arm trying to save him from some bad people. I would gladly lose my other arm to save any of you here.” I hold my hand out to her and she places her itsy bitsy palm in it. She smiles at me, showing me her front two teeth are missing.

“You rely on Shae a lot, don’t you?” I ask her.

She nods and a soft blush comes to her cheeks.

“He’s very nice, isn’t he?” I ask her. “I like him a lot too.”

She pats my good arm and I think I understand what she wants. I pick her up and she snuggles into the crook of my arm. She feels light as a feather, which is worrisome, but it doesn’t bother me to carry her around.

“I’m glad she likes you,” Shae says to me with an angelic smile. “Eloise is showing great improvement.” He pets her hair. “For the longest time, I was the only adult she would approach. She would only trust the other kids.”

“What happened to them?” I ask cautiously. “You said trafficking,” I whisper. “But it couldn’t have been-” I stop myself and Shae nods to me. 

“Not here,” he says. “I’ll tell you all about it later.” He kisses my cheek. “For now, we’re having fun.” He then chuckles. “Seems Eloise is falling asleep.”

I look down, seeing her yawn and then cuddle up to me. Shae sniffles and wipes his eyes. “You have no idea how big this is!” He looks at me. “Ok, I’m not mad anymore.”

I chuckle. “This would have been worth it even if you were.” 

After the kids are done with their birdhouses, they eat lunch under my wings. I have always liked children, Blumiere was always a bright spot to my days when he was a kid. The kids seem normal, but I can sometimes see movements and looks on their faces that state otherwise. They cling to each other and rely closely on one another. I suspect that, for a while, they only had each other for support.

At the end of the day, the kids are leaving with their guardians to go back to the barn. Eloise is fussy, pitching a fit because she doesn’t want to leave. She grabs tight onto me and cries on my chest.

“I don’t want to say goodbye either,” I tell her. “But I’ll be here tomorrow, I promise.”

Shae snickers at me.

Eloise kisses my cheek and I wipe her tears away. Once I have her calmed down, I suddenly realize who she reminds me of.

“She looked just like you that day I had to go home,” I smirk at Shae.

Shae doesn’t seem to be affected by my teasing. Instead, he looks a little sad. “I see a lot of myself in Eloise. I’m not surprised.”

I touch his cheek and rub my thumb under his eye. He holds my wrist and kisses my palm, as well as each fingertip. 

“Those kids,” I whisper. “Can you tell me what happened to them now?”

“I told you, trafficking.” He looks over the birdhouses still on the table. “You’re lucky to live in that world above the clouds,” he whispers. “Where you’re not treated like a commodity or prize.”

I stand beside him and kiss the nape of his neck. 

“Don’t-” he moans. He turns and looks up at me. “Those kids were saved, but they still saw some awful, traumatic things.” He whispers. “They were hurt, they were neglected and-” tears ran down his cheeks. “Yet somehow they are the lucky ones!”

I wipe the tears away. “Shae...Did that happen to you?”

Shae’s expression melts from frustrated sadness to horrible agony in a moment. Tears pour down his cheeks and he takes in a painful, shuddering breath.

I wrap him up tight, letting him cry onto my shoulder.

After he is done crying, we lay in silence in the cold grass for a long time. He lays over my back, rubbing his hands along my silken body while he calms down.

“It was a long time ago,” he whispers. “I was Eloise’s age when I was taken in. Before that, I had been abandoned and was passed around farms. I was sold to someone and he-” Shae sits up and taps on my wing. I stretch it out and he hides himself underneath it.

“The kids were right, this is nice.” Shae murmurs.

“You don’t have to go on if you don’t want to,” I coax him.

Shae grunts. “No. I want to. I really do.”

“Then don’t force it. Take your time.” I squeeze my wing around him as he continues to hide. 

“I thought it would be nice. This guy was rich and had so many nice things. He gave me this great big room with a big bed. He gave me everything I wanted. I thought it was ok, but-” A grim look comes over his face. “On my back,” he whispers, motioning to the wrap he keeps around himself. “I was once a pegasus like you.”

A cold pain strikes through me and I rush towards him as he removes the wrap. I see the deep, horrible scars there, where wings should be. “He didn’t-” My voice is a simmering snarl. My hand quivers over the scars before I place my touch upon them.

Shae whimpers as I touch and he closes his eyes. “I don’t know which is worse,” he says. “That he took my wings or that he let all those things happen.” He whispers. 

I kiss Shae’s forehead. “My goddess, I’m so sorry, Shae! I’m so-” I hold him close to me and he cries for a moment before pushing me back. He pulls up the wrap again and steadies his breathing,

“The worst of it all was that it wasn’t just me. There were others he kept as well.” He sits underneath my wing again and hangs his head. “I helped them through births to children they would never see again.” He trembles under my wing.

“So that’s how-” I whisper as Shae goes silent. I wait on him to speak again for a long while. I’m not going to push him.

“I get possessive of anyone who shows me kindness.” He smiles sadly. “Like Eloise did today.” He squeezes my hand tight as he moves closer to my side. “Elan, Brieanna’s grandfather, saved my life.”

I brush his hair from his face and kiss the scar on his temple. “I wish I could have met him, to thank him for you.”

Shae kisses under my chin. “He sent me to school, he loved me as his own. That’s why I continue to work here for Brieanna and Clotaire. I’m grateful and I know how much that love means to those kids.”

I tilt my head down, meeting his soft, tear soaked kiss. “I can tell how much you mean to them,” I whisper. “Watching you, I saw something I never realized before with you. You have such a big heart, but it seems so sad.”

“Because I know the road those kids have,” he sighs. “I’m still on it myself.” He looks at me and touches my cheek. “You don’t have to be there if you don’t want to. I know it’s a lot to take and I don’t expect you to always want that. You make me feel safe, but it isn’t your responsibility.” He pouts at me. “Just one more day with me, please?”

I kiss him and hold him close. “I’m staying all week,” I whisper to him. “Even after that, I’m not letting you go.”

Shae whimpers happily as he hugs me. “Are you sure?”

“Very much so.” I kiss his tears and then smile at him. “Come on.” I stand up and hold my hand out to him. “Let’s go back home.”

Shae takes my hand and holds it. Once we get back to his cabin, we lay down in bed. Shae lays on his side and I cover him with my wing. He sleeps all the way through the night and deep into the morning.

Once Shae finally wakes up, he rubs his eyes and grumbles. “I overslept,” he whines.

I set down the book I was reading. “Was I supposed to wake you?”

“It would have been nice.” He sits up and frowns at me. “How long have you been awake?”

I check the clock on the wall. “A couple of hours,” I respond casually.

“Couple?” Shae balks. “You could have woken me up and we could have-” a slight blush comes to his face and the pink on him turns brighter. “Well, you know.”

I kiss him and chuckle. “Is that what you’re thinking about?”

“I think about it a lot with you,” Shae teases. “But now, since you let me sleep, we don’t get to do anything before the day starts.” He pushes me back and gets up to start his day.

We go back to the pavilion and help the kids finish their birdhouses. Eloise continues to buddy up with me, which I don’t mind at all. Then, it starts to rain. No big storm, no thunder, just a simple summer rain. It traps us under the pavilion for a while, which I don’t think the kids mind. We play games and share snacks while we wait.

Once the rain passes, the kids hop and skip their way through puddles. They bound through mud and eventually, when they get back home, they all have to go and wash up before dinner. It has been a long day and, by the time Shae and I get home, we are exhausted. 

“You still sure about that week?” Shae teases.

I’m laying on my side for once, looking at Shae as he looks at me. “All week, that was my promise.”

“Mmhm,” Shae inches closer. “You’ve said that before.” he kisses me and strokes his hand down my chest.

“Well, listen to this,” I whisper. “What if I told you I want to stay?”

Shae sits sup with a start and looks down at me in shock. “You what?”

“After being here and seeing the kids, watching you, I feel like I belong here.” I snuggle into the bed more. “I want to stay and help you and the kids.”

Shae huffs and lowers back down beside me. “You’re not just saying that, are you?” He scoffs. “Don’t toy with me like that!”

I tug him down, kissing him and kneading my fingers into the back of his neck. “I promise. No tricks.”

“You and promises,” he kisses me more, deeper. 

“I mean it, I swear.” I hold his chin in my hand. “I love you, Shae.”

“Marlivaur,” he whispers in awe. He grabs hold of my wrist with both hands. “Don’t just say that!”

“I’m not.” I press my forehead to his. “I really and truly mean it.”

Shae sniffles and kisses me as he starts to cry again. “I-I-” he whines. 

I chuckle and kiss his cheeks over and over. “Go on, you can say it.”

“Don’t rush me!” Shae pinches the tip of my nose. He then looks up at me with those big green eyes. “I love you too.”

I smile and kiss him, running my fingers through his hair as he pulls me close. I fall asleep beside him, my arms wrapped around him as we lay on the bed together. 

It is raining again when we both stir and we take the time like we should have before. We kiss and touch each other. I feel Shae begin to tremble and I soothe him gently. I let him take control of me so that he will feel safe. We let our passion overtake us. We touch and moan, gasping for breath as we don’t want to let go of each other. 

I let Shae bend me and move me as he pleases, showing him my complete trust in him and my desire as well. He speaks to me in a husky, dark voice, complimenting me and worshipping me. I return his words, coaxing him to take comfort with me. He doesn’t need to be afraid. What I want to give him is love and comfort, and he can have it in any way he wants to take it.

Shae’s voice becomes sweet again as he comes close to the edge. Our bodies rub together and I feel his power inside me. He cries when he finishes and I kiss him even more. He clings to me, begging sweetly for more of my love.

As long as it is raining, we make love to one another. The day slips past us, and when we wake again, the sun is setting and the rain has ceased. Shae rubs his eyes and sighs dreamily.

I kiss up his side and he moans gently. “How do you feel?” 

“Exhausted, more so than yesterday.” He smiles at me. “Thank you.”

I rub my thumb under his eye, catching a small tear that threatens to escape. “I’m glad you trusted me like that.” I sit up and realize how sore my body is. “I know it’s probably been a long time for you.”

Shae nods. “It was. In a way, you’re my first.” He smiles shyly at me. “Did you enjoy me at all?”

“I’m sore, aren’t I?” I chuckle as I press our foreheads together. “I dreamed about you too.”

Shae rubs his nose to mine. “What did you dream about?”

“Just us,” I whisper. “Like this.”

“Wake up then,” he presses close for another kiss. “So that you can kiss me.”

I close the gap between us, pressing a deep loving kiss to his lips. I know this isn’t a dream, but I still never want to wake up from it.

I leave the palace guard, retiring and appointing my replacement. I return back to the ranch, where I start taking classes so I can properly help with the therapy and taking care of the kids. I start teaching self defense classes as well. 

The kids, slowly and surely, begin to get adopted. Each time one leaves, my heart breaks terribly, but I am happy they’re with a family who loves them and wants them. Then one day, Shae shows me some papers.

“What is this?” I ask.

“Well,” Shae tucks his hair behind his ear. “One is our wedding certificate,” he smirks sneakily. “The other is Eloise’s adoption papers.”

I gaze at him in shock. “Are you telling me you’re proposing and we’re knocked up?”

Shae snorts and kisses my cheek. “Yes and yes.”

I grab him up in a tight hug. “You tricky son of a-” I kiss him as he places a pen in my hand. 

“You have to sign the wedding certificate first,” he laughs. “Then sign for Eloise.”

“How long have you been planning this?” I gasp as I hurriedly sign.

“Since I first saw her,” Shae sighs. “She reminds me so much of myself, I knew there was no way she wasn’t mine right away. Same for you.”

I kiss him and touch his cheek. “I can’t wait to tell her.”

Tears roll down Shae’s cheeks. “Our daughter,” he leans in. “My husband.”