The scene before me was something that struck me deep in my core. It was beautiful, and something that Kharie seemed to need desperately. I didn't see her for anyone less than who she was, even now. Many saw tears as a sign of weakness, but that was further from the truth than most realized. The strongest people can only hold their emotions in for so long, and finally letting them out was like a boon to the soul.
It also helped to have someone like Delphia here, showing warmth to those who had never had it, or in Kharie's case, who has been without for a while, and desperately needed it. My thoughts on the matter unfolding were cut off as Vikoss and Rory approached me, the other women present patiently waiting near the back with smiles on their faces.
"Elias... I cannot thank you enough... or apologize enough for how I've acted. Still... I hope you will accept both all the same." Vikoss said, his voice rough with feeling.
"We're good, Vikoss. You're not a bad guy, and you have a good heart. I would have saved Kharie regardless, but..." I said, then extended my arm to him, "I accept your thanks, and your apology."
The man hesitated for a moment, then he stepped forward, and we clasped forearms. He surprised me by pulling me in, and I let him as we did in one of those bro like hugs back from Earth. He patted my back hard, although it did not bother me in the least bit. I returned the gesture, a little stiffly, but I wasn't going to deny this man this, not after what happened. This truly was a different side of him than I've seen previously, although I much preferred this Vikoss than the one yelling his ass off every 5 minutes.
"Thank you. Kharie and Rory means everything to me. They are all I have left, and I will not see them leave before me." He said, and I chuckled as I pat him hard enough to make him grunt.
"Don't go talking like that. You never know what'll happen, but I'm sure they feel the same about you. Let's just stick to everyone living a long time, without putting themselves in unnecessary danger, yeah?" I said, and he laughed right back.
"Right. Yes, you're right. Gotta make sure neither of them do anything reckless." He said, finally letting go, and grinning broadly.
I decided not to comment on how he himself almost charged into the Dead Lands without any knowledge of the situation or the creatures that almost killed his sister. For right now, I'd give him this. Rory approached next, his eyes scanning mine, and I was happy to see that there was no longer than fear, or the wariness that he had been giving me since we've met. Now, he just looked grateful.
"Thank you, Elias. What you've done... I'll never forget it. Neither of us will." He said, and gave me a low and respectful bow.
"You're welcome, Rory. You don't gotta do that kinda stuff, you know? Your thanks is enough." I said, and he actually gave me the small, most inperceptable smile I've ever seen on someone.
"I appreciate you saying that, and I'll keep it in mind. You are a lot different, and far kinder than you appear." He said, and I just snorted and nodded at him. Did I really look that much like a bad guy?
With that, they both left to go stand by Delphia and Kharie, who were still locked in tight embrace as they both continued to cry into each other. I smiled again, and then turned to the girls, who were now approaching me at faster clip.
Cici and Clarissa walked side by side, while Sheila matched their pace just a few feet behind them. Both of my loves were smiling widely, both a little red eyed from the whole thing unfolding.
"Darling saves the day again." Cici said as her and Clarissa reached me, leaning up on her tiptoes.
"Seems to be my thing now." I said with a light laugh, leaning down to claim her lips in quick kiss.
"I'm so glad Kharie's okay..." Clarissa said as she repeated Cici's motions, and I kissed her as well, my hand going to the back of her head briefly.
"Me too." I said as our lips left one another's.
Sheila just stared at me as I got done greeting my women, and in a very cute and equally sexy move, she crossed her arms in front of herself, which emphasized and pushed her large breasts together, and gave me a small pout.
"No kiss for me?" She asked, her voice teasing, but her eyes betrayed her true feelings on the matter.
I thought about it for a moment. The longing she had always expressed was present like always, but she always held herself back from truly expressing what she wanted from me, although many times she had made her attraction to me clear. I had hesitated previously mainly because of how many women I had around me, not wanting any actions to cause hurt feelings. However, the more I thought about it, and the more I looked at the woman in front of me, I wondered... why not just let things happen naturally? Cici's voice only confirmed my thoughts a moment later.
"I can feel what you are thinking Darling, so just let me say this. No one will be upset, and no one has any thoughts of who will join you, or in which order. The limitations you've been putting on yourself is sweet, and your consideration is always appreciated, but don't worry about things like this. No one will be mad or upset, and most importantly... not a single one of them will leave. They all know the arrangement." She said, giving me a soft smile outwardly.
"They are like I was, Eli. You are a wonderful and loving man, and I'm grateful just to be able to experience life with the both of you, and anyone else that fits well with us of course. Even if you hadn't chosen me 2nd, I would have stayed, and my interest wouldn't have faded." Clarissa added, giving me her own cute little smile.
I once again couldn't help but think that no man alive deserved the life I was living, yet here I was. Two loving women, with more wonderful women that I could see myself with long term at my side. Mainly, I just wanted them to be ready for something like this. I would never force them, or even speed things along if it could potentially damage what we were building.
That whole exchange and thought process took mere seconds, and my eyes drew back to Sheila, whose eyes now looked more hopeful than I'd ever realized. Whether they were always like that and I just never noticed, or she sensed the shift in my thoughts, I couldn't tell. Still, I didn't want to deny myself or someone else what they wanted, and given the look in her eyes, not only did she want this, but she was ready. The question was, was I ready?
I looked at her beautiful face with those golden yellow eyes, her small teasing demeanor now gone as we had been staring at each other for a while. It didn't take long for me to decide. I walked up to her, and placed one hand on her waist, while I used the other to cup her chin and tilt her head up so I our eyes could stay locked on each other's.
"Would you like a kiss, Sheila?" I asked.
Sheila's eyes widened as her breath hitched. I absolutely loved how red this strong woman's face got whenever she was embarrassed or shy. Still, powerful with strong lean muscle or not, she was still first she foremost a woman. A woman I wanted to be mine, and would never neglect the wants and needs of my women.
"I..." Sheila said, her voice faultering only a moment before she gathered herself, and her face set into a look of both conviction and desire. "Yes... I do."
I smiled, and without wasting anymore time, I leaned down, and met her soft and inviting lips with my own. I let the kiss linger, moving my hand off of her chin and cupping the back of her head as the kiss deepened, our tongues briefly intermingling before we separated. I stared deep into those hypnotic yellow pools, her eyes unblinking as she met my stare.
"I'm sorry for making you wait for me for this long. Life has been... busy, but I also want to do better at making more time for stuff like this. I want this Sheila. I want to spend more time with you. I want us to get to know each other better, and most of all, I want you. If you'll let me, of course."
The smile she gave me was so pure, and so genuinely happy that it made my chest warm in with more heat than my own abyssal flames could produce. The water in the corners of her eyes on top of that was more than words could say.
"I would like that a lot, Eli." She said, before her smile turned mischievous, "But I demand a proper date, just like Clarissa... hmm, perhaps a few dates. I don't give myself away that easily..." She said, but then her smile softened again as she leaned in close and gave me another quick kiss, "With you though... I think I can make an exception... because I truly want you too. To join what you have... and to let myself feel things and do things I never thought I would. You're the first man to ever show me that I was wanted... at least, like this..."
I sensed something was there when she finished her sentence, as a flash of something painful went through her eyes. Perhaps she would tell me about that at some point, but for now, I decided not to comment on it. Right now, I just wanted to feel this moment. My women were on either side of her, with Cici rubbing Sheila's back, and Clarissa smiling warmly at her as she took her hand.
"It's about time." Cici said, although she was all smiles.
"I'm glad something good came out of today." Clarissa said, although she smiled as she turned around, and looked fondly at the scene still unfolding, "Although, this is nice too."
We all looked towards the others, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight. Delphia seemed to have gotten the two brother's to join them, creating a group hug where Kharie was at the center. Tears still fell from her eyes, but her expression looked grateful, and almost peaceful as she was shown more attention than she's likely gotten in recently memory.
Delphia looked towards us then over Kharie's shoulder, and despite the tears in her eyes and on her cheeks, she looked happy and relieved, mouthing the words "thank you" before she went back to giving Kharie and her brothers her full attention. All 3 of us just waited patiently, content to give them this moment.
"She really is nice... she treats me and talks to me like I'm one of her children too..." Sheila said, and her tone held fondness in it as she watched with a smile that showed off her fangs.
"Yeah. She's a special woman. One I'm happy to have met." I said, and put an arm around Sheila, pulling her into a side hug, "And she's not the only one."
Sheila's face only turned slightly red this time, but she leaned her head against my shoulder without any hesitation, and soon she fully relaxed. Clarissa went to my other side, making herself comfortable as well while Cici just pushed her back into my chest, and just leaned back into me. I was perfectly happy and content with how everything turned out today, even if it had started off pretty shitty.
With Kharie safe and sound, I had no more things to worry about, at least until I got back to Arbigold. For now, I focused not on the violence my future no doubt held, and instead, focused on something far brighter. I had my women by my side, a new one that I planned on getting to know far more personally, with even more I planned on bringing into our family along the way. I wouldn't deny what I wanted, and what I truly wanted was simple. To live, to love, and to be loved. That sounded great to me.