#romacne

Chapter 40

I wrapped up another wounded soldier and glanced over at Misa. She was helping with stitching wounds. I wasn't surprised at how well she was able to treat the soldiers. She'd been learning the medicine of the times from Ieyasu as well as had her own medical training. There were plenty of things she knew that the healers of this time did not. What had me surprised was how well she was holding up mentally and emotionally. She'd never been in war before. I remember how scared I had been at my first battle.

"I'm not gonna fall over from fright or anything." She told me. "You do remember that I'm a nurse as well as a midwife. I had to train in the emergency room too you know."

"Hey, I'm still going to worry about you." I replied.

"Well stop and worry about yourself." Misa countered.

We both continued to look after the wounded soldiers that came in and still looking out for each other. She was very adamant about me taking frequent breaks. I followed her instructions, but didn't take very long breaks. There was too much to be done and when paused my work, my mind began to wander, wondering where Motonari was and if he was alright.

I was bandaging up another soldier. "You just rest and take it easy. Can't have you reopening that wound." I told him, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Thank you, Princess." He told me. "Though you shouldn't worry much about me. You make sure you're getting plenty of rest, too."

"Yes, you better take care of yourself, Princess." Another of the soldiers I had helped spoke up.

"I know my sister would box my ears if she knew I were letting a pregnant woman tend to me." Another said.

"I'm fine." I assured them.

"Don't you guys worry, I'll make sure she doesn't work herself too hard." Misa said, coming over to me.

I rolled my eyes. "I promise, I am fine. I'm used to this kind of work now, you know."

A messenger came with news from the front for us just then. "The battle is over with our victory!" The messenger declared. "Lord Motonari defeated and captured Kicho."

I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders to hear this news. "That's the best news." I declared.

"More wounded will be arriving shortly and then after they finish wrapping things up on the field, everyone should be returning shortly." The messenger said.

We prepared to take in the last of the wounded and then got to work as they were brought in. I was beginning to feel the fatigue, but was pushing through. I couldn't let the soldiers see me weary. Misa was coming over to me. "Ava, come on you need to rest." She said. "You've been working all night."

"But there's still more to do." I countered.

One of the healers was coming over to me. "Lady Ava, you should listen to your midwife. Besides, we only have those with less serious injuries left. We can handle things from here. We do not wish to see you collapse from exhaustion."

I sighed. "Alright, if you're all in agreement, but just for a bit. Then I'll come back in to check on everyone."

I was then exiting the tent, Misa coming with me practically pushing me out. I lifted my arm and wiped the sweat from my brow. Just as I brought my arm down, I could hear the sound of hoofbeats approaching. I turned my head. I saw Motonari on horseback looking ever so much like the hero of a romance novel.

He smiled at me as he brought his horse to a stop and was vaulting off the back. Seeing my love after so long apart erased the weariness that had been beginning to take over. My feet were already moving and I was soon racing towards him and if it wasn't my imagination, he was racing towards me.

He caught me in his arms as we met in the middle. I threw my arms around him. "Motonari." I spoke his name as if it were the only word in the world, the only thing to matter. Then before he could even think of saying anything back to me, I was crushing my lips to his.

He responded, his lips moving with mine as his arms tightened around me. I could have cried for the joy I felt at being reunited with him. Feeling his arms around me once again and his lips on mine. It didn't even matter to me that we were in the middle of camp and that there were others around...at seeing him again, I was only vaguely aware of everyone else's presence.

We broke our kiss, both of us breathless, but we still held on to each other. Motonari gave me a grin. "Ya miss me that much, flower girl?" He asked the teasing in his voice softened by the tender look in his eyes.

"What kind of question is that? Of course, silly pirate boy." I answered.

Motonari smiled at me and gave me a gentle peck on the lips. Then he pulled back slightly to look at me, his eyes travelling down my body. "Yer lookin' awfully sweet." He said, bringing a gloved hand to rest on the gentle swell of my belly.

I placed my hand over his, my cheeks reddening. "I've been wondering what you were going to think when you saw me again."

"Never seen anything more beautiful, m'lady." He told me.

"Did you suffer a hit to the head?" I asked, teasingly. "You're not always this sweet."

His eyes narrowed playfully. "My head's just fine. You tryin' ta tell me I can't be sweet to my girl after bein' apart for so long?" He was then wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer and nuzzling my neck.

His hair tickled my neck and brought forth some giggles. "M-Moto-nari..." I got out between my giggles as I playfully swatted at him.

"Ugh, this is a sickeningly sweet display." Came a familiar prickly voice.

"You guys do realize you're not alone right?" Misa asked.

"Come on guys, the lass hasn't laughed or smiled this big in the last several weeks." Masamune said.

I felt my cheeks reddening at the realization we had gotten so caught up, but I wasn't about to leave my husband's arms.

"It is good to see that happy smile on your face once again, Fireball." Nobunaga said.

"Even Hideyoshi is keeping quiet right now because he's glad to see Ava so happy again." Mitsuhide said.

Hideyoshi sighed. "I mean...I could have gone without witnessing that, but...yeah it is good to see you this happy again."

Motonari was laughing and man if I hadn't missed that sound. "What's this, Hideyoshi? Ya thank me and compliment me on my plan...and now ya don't gripe at me for showin' my girl some love?"

"You must be an imposter." Mitsuhide added, that teasing smile on his face as he looked at Hideyoshi. "The Hideyoshi I know could never hold his tongue like that."

Hideyoshi gave Mitsuhide an exasperated glare. "One of these days I am going to punch that smug smile off of your face."

"We have a victory to celebrate." Nobunaga declared.

"Yes, victory sake tastes the best." Kenshin agreed.

"While that's all well and good, Ava really needs to get off of her feet and rest." Misa said, looking pointedly at me.

"I'm fine." I said.

"You been workin' with the healers all night?" Motonari asked, looking at me.

"Well...I mean...I couldn't just not help." I replied, sheepishly.

"I had to force her to take as many breaks as I could, but she wouldn't rest for long." Misa said.

Without warning, Motonari scooped me up into his arms, sweeping me off of my feet. I looked up at him, surprised. "W-what are you doing?" I asked.

"Gettin' you off yer feet and takin' ya to get some rest." He answered. "Now where's yer tent?"

"Back that way." I answered, pointing to the back of the camp.

"Make sure she actually rests." Misa said. "And I've got one word for the two of you, gentle."

My face began to glow, but Motonari was grinning. "I don't need anyone tellin' me how to take care of my girl...besides, there's some things I ain't gonna do in the middle of a camp. Wanna save that fer when no one else can hear." He said before walking off, still carrying me in his arms.

With my face still glowing, I directed him to my tent, he walked inside and then sat down on the bedroll and settled me on his lap, his arms wrapping around me. I smiled at him. "I'm glad you're back and that this is finally over." I said, leaning in to give him a kiss.

When we broke the kiss, I felt Motonari move his arms, and then he was lifting his now naked hand to cup my cheek. "I missed you, too." He said. "And I ain't leavin' yer side fer a second now that I'm back."

I smiled as I leaned into his touch. God, it feels so good to feel his touch again! I thought. "Good because I'm not going to let you. I'm staying stuck to you like glue."

Motonari was grinning at me. "I can think of a few other ways fer ya to be stuck to me."

"You're terrible." I said with a blush and giggle.

"Yeah, and ya wouldn't have me any other way."

"No, no I wouldn't." I agreed.

Motonari's thumb gently traced under my eye. "Ya look exhausted." He said.

"Just a little tired." I replied.

He gave me a look before gently pulling my head towards him until I was resting on his shoulder. I didn't fight him, as I relaxed against him, just happy to be in his arms. I felt his lips brush the top of my head. "Rest on me." He said.

"I...don't wanna go to sleep though." I said. "I've missed you, you know."

"I know...'cuz I missed you, too. Worried about ya. Wonderin' if you were eatin' enough. Gettin' enough rest. Or if you were overworking yerself like ya tend to do when yer trying to avoid thinkin' about somethin'."

"I doubt you worried nearly as much as I did about you." I replied. "I mean the last time I saw you, you were wounded." I pulled back to look at him. "And Hideyoshi told me you two planned on wounding each other. That was really stupid and dangerous, you know."

Motonari chuckled. "Are ya lecturin' me now?" He asked.

"Yes. There had to be another way to convince Kicho...I think you just wanted to have an excuse to shoot him...or now you can hold that he's stabbed you over his head for forever now."

Motonari laughed. "That ain't a bad idea."

I gently smacked his chest. "It's not funny. I was really worried about you...and...I couldn't see you know you were okay...and then it was weeks before I finally heard anything from you again..." The tears were stinging at my eyes.

Motonari's face took on a gentle look. He opened his shirt, baring his chest for me. He then took my hand in his and placed it over the scar that stretched over his chest and abdomen. "I'm alright, Ava. This was nothin'. Didn't even hurt that bad."

My eyes traced over the scar even as my fingers traveled its length. "It didn't? You looked like you were in a lot of pain though."

"That...wasn't to do with this." He confessed. "No wound could hurt as much as havin' ta leave you did...as much as even pretendin' to betray ya hurt."

My breath caught in my throat at his confession. Of course it had to have been hard on him. Pretending he was betraying me to learn Kicho's plans. "I never doubted you, you know." I told him. "I hated being away from you, but I never once doubted you would succeed."

"I know...and that's what kept me goin'...knowin' you believed in me." He said. He was then reaching into the inner pocket on the front of his now open shirt and pulling out a folded piece of paper.

I recognized it as the letter I had written for him and placed beneath his pillow the last morning we had been together. "You carried that with you this whole time?"

"Yeah. Kept it right here next ta my heart...like I was sayin' yer love is in my heart...like you did with the chatelaine I gave you." He replied, his cheeks taking on a bit of a pink tint.

I smiled at him. I was then reaching into the folds of my kimono and pulling out the letter he had sent with Shingen's spy. "Well, it would appear we think alike."

Motonari grinned at me before leaning in for another kiss. "I love ya, Ava."

"I love you, too Motonari."

We were then drawing in to share more kisses, both of us not able to get enough. Motonari stopped the kisses but then laid us both down on the bedroll. "Come on, you need to get some rest." He said.

Laying down really let me feel how tired I was. I snuggled closer to Motonari. "I still...don't...want to sleep...just yet." I said around a yawn.

Motonari chuckled and kissed my forehead. "Get some sleep, flower girl. Ya need it...not just now, but so yer nice and rested up fer when we get home, because once we get home ain't neither of us gettin' much rest. We got a lotta lovin' to make up for."

"Hmmm...yes we do." I agreed. "When you put it like that...I'll make sure to get nice and rested up."

"Good."

We snuggled closer still. Motonari began to run his fingers through my hair as he held me close. The weariness seemed to catch up to me and I was quickly falling into a peaceful sleep wrapped in the arms of my love, finally reunited.

Chapter 41 below!

Whatever Remains: 408 - 415

Romance, the genre we all love, but pretend we don't. The steamy relationship between two characters. But why are they interesting? Why are we on the edge of our seat when these two characters are finally together, and alone? The answer is: Romantic Chemistry. Forming a bond, triggering attraction, falling for each other. There are several ways to show it, but what makes it interesting is the dynamic or trope. I've chosen my favorite tropes I like to read. I want to see more of these stories and how to identify them. We can use these tropes for almost any character. The romantic structure is; the set up, falling in love, retreating from love, and fighting for love.

Enemies to Lovers:

The most over hyped trope yet the most interesting. Two forces at each other's necks just before making out on the next page. Romantic chemistry is important in this trope. Showing that the characters are changing and liking each other is key. There are a few books that latch on to this trope. Most of the time, it drives the entire plot. My favorite book of this trope is, “Serpent and Dove”. A witch hunter falls in love with a witch. There is a whole trilogy dedicated to these characters and how they fight their own enemies. There's magic, monsters and hunters. It's pretty wild.

Beauty and the Beast:

This trope is very much like the fairy tale, but your romance story doesn't need to be a retelling. This trope is a metaphor. The Beast is corruption. Whoever is the Beast brings the beauty or innocence into their world. And vice versa. They don't have to be good or bad. Your beauty can either become corrupted by the beast, offer redemption to corruption, or help the beast find acceptance. Seeing the characters react to new worlds and people provides interesting conflict. A good example of this trope is Scarlet. This story is a retelling of “red riding hood”. Scarlet isn't exactly innocent, but she knows nothing about the world coming down on her head. On the other hand, Wolf must learn how to love. A humanized monster. This trope is my favorite and the most rare among YA books. I would like to see the girl as the beast or see both characters fall to corruption.

2nd Chance Romance:

Is the most difficult trope to write about. The audience has to like and know both characters. Writers will sometimes drop the audience in the middle of the relationship so they will remain confused about what's going on. How did they break up? Why did they break up? How did they get together in the first place? It is refreshing to have characters reconnect. This trope is most effective when writing trilogies. A book that has a brilliant use for this trope is “Where the Rhythm Takes You”. This story takes place in Tobago. Childhood sweethearts who seem to only light with each other attempt to find closure. They have to choose between each other or these new people in their lives. Love triangles could fall into this trope depending on how the couple has broken up.

Fake Dating:  

This has gotten a lot more attention lately, or at least I've been paying more attention to it. I would find it interesting to see dating to enemies. The ultimate villain is born. If the reasons for fake dating are interesting, so will the story. The best part of romances are the build-ups. I can’t mention this trope without mentioning one of the best romance novels. I adored, “To all the boys I've ever loved.” When Laura Jean needs to hide her true feelings, she relies on an old crush to avoid her current crush. There are several difficulties in the story that make the story enjoyable. The slow burn of characters' connection in a wild environment and for ludicrous reasons is always worth a read.

I have seen my fair share of shitty movies, we all have, but I think the one that stands out for 2021 so far is Trust. It stars Matthew Daddario and Victoria Justice, and a few other notable names. It’s like Shadowhunters meets Naomi and Eli’s No Kiss List, in terms of actors, but the movie itself isn’t something that should have been made because I’m sure it is going to give people a bunch of…

It was a reasonably quiet night at Club Oracle. A few regulars were scattered around the room that usually was littered with the youth of the city, sweaty bodies gyrating to whatever DJ was playing here that night. As much as you favoured the tips you'd receive on those nights, you much preferred the familiarity of the aging men sat at the bar. They made friendly conversation with you and their glassy eyes were kind as they pestered you for refills.

When you were sure the small number of occupants were satisfied for a while, you took a moment to rest. Settling your elbows on the polished wood of the bar and watching the television from the back corner of the room. It was the news so it only served you some mild entertainment, that was until you heard the door chime, signalling a new customer.

You broke your stare at the television and turned to greet them, surprised to see that the newest customer was younger than forty. The same could not be said for the rest of the Oracle's inhabitants. Not only was he young, he was very handsome. Yellow-tinted glasses rested atop a sharp nose, accompanied by thick waves of chocolate brown hair. His lips curved into a smirk when he caught you observing him. You only smiled in response, not keen on being seen eye-fucking a stranger, or a customer no less.

"Hola, ¿qué puedo ofrecerte?"

He took a moment to look you over, then at the taps nested beside you.

"I'll have one of those sweetheart" he pointed to the tap of Aguila, before taking a seat at the stool directly in front of you.

You nodded at his request, not expecting his perfect American accent. As you poured the drink, you felt his eyes on you. If you weren't so used to the men in this place gawking over you, you would have been flattered.

"Busy night?" he joked, nodding his head to the empty room as he pulled a cigarette from his breast pocket.

You smiled as you slid his drink across, "I prefer it like this, on weekends I can barely hear myself think, let alone hear peoples orders"

He nodded, "You work a lot?"

"I'm paying my way through school at the moment, so I take all the hours I can get. One sec." you rushed your answer, noting a customer swaying slightly as he made his way to the bar.

The man seemed to have overheard your conversation, pitching in with a drunken smile, "I tell her this mi hermano, she is too pretty for this bar. I tell her she should model"

You blushed furiously at his comment, laughing along with a slight shake of your head as you refilled his glass.

"You are too kind to me, Samuel" you smile, he nods as he retrieves his filled glass, slipping a few coins into your tip jar.

You make your way back to the younger customer, noting how he is nearly finished with his drink. You grab a wet rag and begin to work the wood surface.

"He isn't wrong" he spoke through a thick cloud of smoke.

You smirk a little, "Who, Samuel?"

He nods, a similar smirk gracing his lips.

You shook your head, muttering under your breath, "El esta loco"

"Not as crazy as you think" he openly scanned your body now, his gaze like fire to your ice. It made you squirm a little for him to be so brazenly flirtatious.

A tense silence passed between the two of you as you resumed your cleaning, only looking up when he spoke again.

"What's your name, hermosa?"

You smiled at the compliment, telling him your name. "And yours?

"Javier"

You weren't really sure how you two went from innocently conversing as you worked to making out against the brick wall of your place of employment, but you weren't complaining.

Javier had manged to woo you enough that you felt comfortable telling him to wait outside for you as you finished your shift. And sure enough, when you left the front door, there he was. Leaning with his jacket around his shoulders and another cloud of smoke reverberating from him into the night sky.

It had took you mere seconds to approach him, rip the cigarette from his mouth and replace them with your own lips. And to say Javier was a good kisser would be an understatement, a massive one at that.

He tasted like smoke and alcohol but all entwined with a peppermint flair. He must've chewed gum whilst he waited for you. The combination made your head spin a little as his tongue explored your mouth. His large hands encircled you as he brought you closer to his body, the heat from his body encompassed you as you pushed yourself against him.

You were so caught up in him, you couldn't hide the breathy sigh you made as you pulled away from you. His eyes looked almost black under the harsh fluorescent streetlights as they scanned your face.

"Come back to my place" his breath fanned against your neck as he began to place feather-light kisses to your throat.

You could only nod, too scared that your voice wold waver in response to the sensation of his teeth grazing the skin on your neck. He looked up once more at your bobbing head, then his lips were gone. Instead he took you by the hand, leading you to what you could only assume was his car.

Arriving at Javier's apartment was a blur of messy kisses, torn clothes and breathy sighs. It was so dark when you two arrived that you couldn't really make out much of your surroundings.

That was until he broke apart from your lips to flick on a light. Even then, you had little time to snoop before Javier was back on you, planting feverish kisses to your lips and lifting you by the thighs to wrap them around his waist. You let out an excited squeal as he lifted you, watching as his orange couches shrank in the distance as you moved towards his bedroom.

He near enough threw you into the mattress, greedy hands grabbing at your work attire. There was no words uttered from the both of you, only the lust filled tension that was hanging heavy in the air.

Javier reached behind you and unclipped your bra. You arched at the feeling of your nipples standing erect in the cool air. A moan escaping you when Javier's lips worked their way down your neck to your chest. His plump lips pecked at your breasts, until he took it between his lips, rolling the soft flesh of your nipple against his warm mouth.

You let out a moan, the feel of Javier's teeth nipping at your sensitive breast sent jolts of pleasure through your whole body.

"Javier.." you moaned when his attention turned to your other breast. You were getting impatient.

"What is it hermosa, tell me what you want" he spoke through soft kisses to your chest.

Not being able to bring yourself to say it, for fear of cringing. You took to pushing his head down slightly, hoping he'd get the idea.

And boy, did he get the idea.

You could practically feel the smirk on his lips as he worked his way down to your underwear. Taking the lace between his teeth and pulling it down your legs. You couldn't help but moan at the visual of him spreading your bare legs across the bed.

"I've barely touched you.." he started, his voice thick with lust, "And yet.."

You jolted when you felt two calloused fingers slide up your pussy.

"You're already so wet, hermosa"

You squirmed again when you felt him repeat his actions, missing your clit by mere millimetres, he was teasing you.

"Please Javier" your voice was breathy and at risk of breaking.

He spread you even wider, exposing every inch of yourself to him.

"Since you asked so nicely"

And then he put you out of your misery, he ran his warm tongue through your slit, you gasped at the sensation.

He took to gently nipping at your clit before he encompassed it into his mouth. His tongue swirling enough to make you release a deep moan.

He groaned at the noises you were making, sending vibrations into your pussy, bringing you dangerously close already. But it was when he inserted those same two calloused fingers, that you really lost it.

Your thighs squeezed him as they shook. His fingers curled right at your walls in the most sensitive spot. You felt like you were stuck, the pleasure rendering you immobile apart from the rise and fall of your chest.

"Javier i'm gonna cum"

He didn't answer, only intensified the pressure on your clit. You couldn't help yourself from grasping at the thick waves of hair as you ground your hips against his mouth. Muttering expletives as you came.

Whilst you were still coming down from your own orgasm, Javier was stripping himself of his tight jeans. You thought about suggesting a break for you to calm down but at the sight of his thick cock being released, you just about whimpered.

"You taste so good hermosa" Javier reattached his lips to yours, you could taste yourself on him, it made you dizzy.

"Fuck, fuck me Javier" you whined, wrapping your legs around his waist, pulling him down.

He didn't seem to oppose as he sank into you, letting out an unrestricted moan as he did. God he was big, your eyes widened at the realisation that you already felt so full yet he wasn't fully sheathed in you.

His thrusts began slow, giving you a chance to adjust to the intrusion. But soon enough his pace became relentless, he fucked you into the headboard of the bed, causing an awful creaking sound to occur. You didn't care, you were already close again.

"Fuck, you feel so good around me" Javier groaned, muttering whatever came to his head as he fucked you faster.

"Javier, oh fuck" you moaned when you felt him hit that spot within you once again.

"That's it baby" Javier sped up his ministrations when he felt you begin to tighten around him.

You snaked your hand down to circle your clit, and soon enough you were coming again. Javier followed seconds after with a guttural groan, shielding himself in your neck as he pumped a few more lazy thrusts into you.

The air was heavy with sweat and sex. And it took you both a good few minutes before you could even begin to think.

Javier pulled out and settled himself at the top of the bed, where your head had been violently thrashing against the frame not minutes before.

You watched as he placed a cigarette in his mouth, offering one to you which you shook your head. You were content to just watch him. He made it look so sexy.

"You can stay the night hermosa" he spoke through an inhale, brushing a few stray hairs from your eyes.

"Okay" you smiled, happy he wasn't just kicking you to the curb after a quick fuck.

He reached for something in his bedside drawer, tossing you an object. You were glad to see it was once of his cotton shirts. Thanking him, you slid it on.