Page 108 of Bloom
“I’ll talk to them myself,” said Aleric. “And if they agree, since they’d be starting soon due to my condition, they can come by later and speak to you.”
“All right. Does everything feel alright?”
“I’m fine.”
Father looked at Jaime. “Do you know his wife remarried? I mean, ex-wife.”
“He told me.”
“Do you want me to announce these things separately?” Father asked, and Aleric nodded. “It hasn’t been a full four years, so a few might complain. Not everyone is going to think it’s right that he’s remarrying. You and him can discuss things, but if he doesn’t want you saying anything, don’t blurt out that he’s pregnant just because a cousin or whoever makes a snide comment.”
“I understand.”
“Can you give me a few minutes alone with my Father?”
Jaime hesitated. “Are you going to be all right returning by yourself?”
“I’m not helpless,” snapped Aleric.
Jaime leaned in and whispered so fast, Aleric barely caught his wording. “I don’t think he’s disappointed in you.”
Father’s expression, pinched with surprise at the whole thing, looked a bit disappointed. A baby before marriage wasn’t the end of the world, and it wasn’t like the Goddess would smite him. Still, he must have thought it wasn’t anything his child would have to worry about. Jaime gave Aleric a quick kiss on the cheek, which he hadn’t been expecting, and left the room.
“I need to ask you something.”
“What, son?”
“If anything happens later, and I need him gone and out of here, promise me you’ll do it.”
Father tilted his head. “What do you mean? Do you think he's unfit to marry?”
“No.” There was nothing Aleric could say against Jaime. His being on the pushy side didn’t count, but all Aleric could think of was Jaime changing later. He needed reassurance.
Face’s expression darkened. “Has he hit you or done anything you’re not telling me about?”
“No.”
“Did he force you into bed? Don’t lie to me. I’ll break his arms if he hurt you.”
“No,” said Aleric. It hurt that he cared so much right then. Why couldn’t he have been suspicious about Gautier before? Fucking Zacharie had run to blab. “He hasn’t hit me or anything. I swear. I’m afraid for later.”
Father sighed and picked up his wineglass. “Son, I know you’re nervous about getting married and having a baby. It’s sudden, but you’ll be fine, and-”
“I’m afraid because he didn’t have many choices besides coming here. I should have pushed him out onto the street. And if William complained about him potentially being guilty, I could have told him to kiss my ass. Instead, I made him come here.The sex was just a one-time thing. It was a separate thing, and we haven’t done it since.”
Father squinted. “Wait a second…are you asking me to kick him because he’s terrible in bed? Teach him.”
Aleric flushed. “No! I mean, it was just a bit of lust. What I’m trying to say is that he was supposed to stay a year or so in case he had committed a crime, and he’d be paid and all that because I wouldn’t want a real slave anyway. Now, I’ve basically put an iron ball and chain on his ankle that won’t come off for years. Even after the child is grown up, it doesn’t really go away. He has an obligation, and he might start to resent us soon.”
“He doesn’t seem upset.”
“Now. The baby isn’t here, and nothing’s truly changed for him yet. After a year or two, he might start thinking that he could have left and gone elsewhere. Marrying me and raising a kid wasn’t his life plan when he came to Côte. We fucked once, and he’ll feel trapped. I’m afraid it’s going to make him angry and he’ll take it out on me.”
Father peered at him for a long moment. “Has he done anything so far that you’re not telling me?”
“No! It doesn’t mean things won’t change later. When we fucked, we weren’t thinking about kids and marriage! I don’t want to be trapped with a man who hits me and is abusive because he sees me as a ball and chain too.”
Aleric hadn’t been thinking of anything else besides cumming on Jaime’s cock to get relief that afternoon.
