Chapter 33 - The Tent of Love Part 1

Was it two days or more?

Marcus wasn’t sure anymore how much time had passed since he was locked inside the barren place. If anything, he thought the demon, H, had transported him into another dimension or maybe in the entity’s own state of prison. H was a transporter demon anyway; it can always do that using its powers. They were both connected with each other still though since it was Marcus’ body that H was using. He could feel the demon’s blackened emotions, but couldn’t see through its mind. It was the same with H too towards him.

Marcus had tried and tried to call for H, trying his best to catch its attention so that he’d be able to take back his body. However, the demon had been giving him a silent treatment or was playing the Invisible God mode. Thoughts of how the dark entity was faring in the real world made him shiver, especially when the possibilities cross with Ysabelle and what the demon might do to her. It alarmed him, but so far, the demon had not laid a hand on her. He could feel that she was safe... or at least for now.

Being trapped in this kind of dimension had him debating day and night — or maybe just night since the sky was always dark — if this was real or not. He could feel everything though, from the sand in his feet to the breeze of the air. It was the same as that in the real world, so he had concluded that this dimension was a real one.

But sometimes, he thought of the place too as just a dream. Just like those times he had been in this place when H hadn’t taken over his body yet, where he would just find himself waking up in his bed, sweating.

A dream. Yes. A dream...

That’s what he thought about the place most of the time, and that was what he thought about it now... especially at this very moment that another illusion of Ysabelle had come into his makeshift tent.

Damn the demon for it. Marcus knew that H was toying with him... toying with his emotions and his feelings towards the woman.

But it wasn’t that hard to give in actually when he was in this kind of place. Just like the time when Ysabelle’s illusion first appeared in a cave where he was washing himself from the black sand that had covered his body. He gave in to the demon’s game of luring them into a passionate embrace. He gave in and ravished Ysabelle like how he desired to.

He wasn’t stepping on his priestly vows actually, knowing that it was just a trick inside a dream world.

Now, watching the woman standing in front of the large candle lamp to warm herself, Marcus’ loins grew hot.

Small candle lamps that had a gentle light, a line of soft pillows, yellow transparent drapes, a medium palm tree in the side, red carpets covered with white petal roses, a low-lying table with teacups filled with freshly-brewed tea, and a center mattress completed the definition that was the word romantic.

The interior was entirely the opposite of what it originally was before this image of Ysabelle came. It was gloomy and dark. No lamps to warm him in his do-it-yourself resourceful tent. No pillows or a mattress to provide him a good rest.

Damn this demon again. It seems it was really trying to get into his nerves. Whatever twisted game it was playing on him, it was trying its best to make the scene as realistic as possible.

“I had just come from the outside finishing the set-up of my tent, and now I found this, a stray siren, warming herself on my lamp, ” Marcus announced unheralded, standing a few feet away from his dust-covered visitor. He was able to divert his focus away from his growing desire... or at least for now.

Ysabelle jerked and turned to face him. “Marcus!” she exclaimed, blinking rapidly. What a surprise. She had never foreseen this at all. “You’re here? Is—is this your tent?”

Marcus saw how her eyes roamed on his features and then, it showed a look of relief. He was still wearing the same colored trouser, but at least now, he was clothed above, not anymore half naked like how she found him inside the cave.

“It is mine, for now, ” Marcus replied.

“Ah, uhm... it is lovely, ” she commented, examining the interior and smiled, “exactly what a dream is supposed to be like.”

Marcus curved a small smile, taken aback. “Yeah, exactly just like a dream, ” he managed to say whilst thinking how this illusion was as clever as the original Ysabelle. “Have you, by chance, just came in from the outside?”

He saw her flex her brows. “Ye—yes, why do you ask?”

“Because your, ” he stopped, scrutinizing her insufficient clothing without malice and continued, “dress is covered in dust and your hair is all messed up.”

Ysabelle blushed. “Yeah, it is obvious, ” she bit her lower lip and stared at a pail of water behind him.

How convenient.

Marcus need not be informed that she wanted to wash herself. It was clear already through her expectant face. He released a long sigh and surrendered to the situation. “You need to clean yourself, ” he stated, cleared his throat, and turned to reach a sliding curtain to divide his improvised washroom from the whole of the tent, “Here, I’m giving you privacy. Go and wash yourself.”

***

Ysabelle felt her skin rough and her face prickly. She does want to clean herself and take the dusty nightdress out of her. Since Marcus’ offer was reasonable enough, she nodded without hesitation, stalking away from the warm comfort of the candle lamp and into the cold division.

It was dark in that part of the tent, so she need not worry of her shadow making a sexy display while her host was on the other side of the curtain. Unintentionally, her mind drifted to the way Marcus looked at her before she entered the washroom, it made her remember the passion they shared inside the cave and that ultimately, spiked up her heartbeat.

God, if only this dream would end right now, she would feel relieved. At least in that way she could still guard her heart against an even greater suffering. Being with Marcus, even in a fantasy world, intensified her feelings for him, and she most definitely didn’t want that. She was not willing to magnify her emotions even more.

But the dream seemed to have a life of its own, and it was not permitting her to wake up.

Squatting, she washed silently, keeping the dusty nightdress damp until there came a time when she needed to take it off. Eyeing the shadow of Marcus some distance away from the curtain, she decided it was safe to do so. She turned her back against the curtain, brushed all of her hair to her front, and with a bit of effort, she unzipped the dress off slowly from behind.

She gasped then when she felt a slight tug of her zipper and a cool hand ran through her bare back before taking over the task.

***

Marcus chose to stay away from her, standing in the mattress with his hand tightly gripping the wooden beam. The whole time Ysabelle was in the washroom, his heart continuously drummed a wild beat. God, the burn in his loins was still there, increasing, and it was unceasing.

Back from the time in the cave when they almost made love, Marcus went almost insane when he realized that the illusion of Ysabelle disappeared so suddenly. He was already burning at that time, ready to direct all his ardor to her. He had his mouth wrapped up on her nipple and his fingers were already snaking down her folds, but then she just vanished... just vanished, and damn, because of that, it had kept him on edge in this God-forsaken prison.

Even until now.

‘So this is what it feels like to want a woman, ’ his thoughts remarked without any guilt. He turned to look at the mocking curtain and released a deep sigh. He finally concluded one thing to himself and that was he’ll play the demon’s game once again. He’ll allow himself to yield on the temptation. This illusion, he was going to ravish again, without hesitation, if that was what H hoped for.

He wasn’t going to let Ysabelle go anymore. No, not tonight, or any other night even if she was just a trick of his mind.

Groaning in surrender, he crossed the teasing space in quick strides and invaded the boundary of the washroom without making a sound.

Marcus heard Ysabelle gasp when he ran his hand in her smooth skin, and then shoving her fingers gently out of the way to finish the task himself.

“Let me accomplish this, Ysabelle, ” he whispered, voice low and velvety, as he stepped closer.

“No, it’s all right Marcus... I—I can manage, ” she answered through bated breath. Though she said that, her arms still embraced the remainder of her dress in her chest to keep it from falling.

Marcus was quick to run the zipper down to the end and shove the silk nightdress to the sides revealing her bare back for him to enjoy. He curved a pleased smile then.

He heard her gasp again when he palmed each side of her waist and ran them up through her naked shoulders. To continue, he leaned forward and kissed her nape gently. She shivered upon contact of his lips on her skin.

“You still haven’t answered my question in the cave, Ysabelle. You just disappeared without so much as a heads up.”

“Dreams—dreams are supposed to be like that, ” she struggled a breathy answer when Marcus ran his lips down the prominent bone of her shoulder. She wondered in the back of her mind how this version of Marcus still remembered the cave and the memories that come with it.

“True, but you are here now, ” he answered, whilst watching her blushing profile, “I want to know your answer now.”

Ysabelle closed her eyes and took in the tickling sensation. She tightened the grip of her dress and pressed her arm closer to stop the quaking of her breasts.

“Tell me, my lovely Ysabelle, if you could cheat, anything... anything at all... what would it be?”

***

If she could cheat, yes if she could, she would be out of his way and wake up back into reality, but that was just her sane, cowardly side complaining about the situation. The pain of losing Marcus would swell more if she were to yield herself to him, even in a dream. However, her heart was telling her something else. She loves him, she really does, and if this moment would give her the warmth that she had always yearned for centuries, then so be it. She would grab the chance wholeheartedly.

Ysabelle closed her eyes and focused on the sensations Marcus was giving on her back. He was using his lips and tongue, and his heavenly hands that moved like divine clouds against her skin. She moaned when Marcus licked her tense nape. That, at the same time, made her body quiver, and the heat in between her legs flare out.

He continued by slipping a hand in front of her chest to pull her closer and sucked heavily on her nape. She arched her back in response, shoulders both lifted, and when she couldn’t hold back the sensations anymore, she cried out his name.

“Marcus!”

“Your answer?” he muttered.

“Stop, please...”

“Your answer, Ysabelle, ” he groaned and continued on attacking her neck. God, she was so sensitive in that part.

“You...” she breathed out, “You!”

She angled her head to the side, breaking his sucking, as it was at least a short solace for her — a short relief for her already worked up breathing.

“If I could cheat... If I could cheat... I would want you—” she blushed even redder, “I would want you to take me.”

Marcus rejoiced, it was the only affirmation he needed. “Then I will, ” he said, holding both of her shoulders and turning her to face him. Their eyes made contact and it immediately ignited what was already a labile electricity of desire.

Marcus ran his hand on her arm, up to her knuckles, and then pulled the damp dress out of her. “Don’t cover yourself, ” he said still looking at her in the eye. “I want to see all of you when I make love to you.”

The nightdress fell on her foot, leaving her fresh body on display with only a lace undergarment to cover her womanhood.

“Marcus, this is my first time, ” Ysabelle voiced out her concern when she surrendered her arms to the sides.

“So is mine, Love, ” he concluded, and then went to collide his mouth on hers.