✧A FREEING DIVE✧

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While packing for Spain had been just as anxiety-ridden as before, actually entering their vacation estate had felt like a breath of fresh air. And Alphard had made it his absolute mission to distract his little Goddess from her impending exam results.

Thankfully, he had gotten in touch with her advisor and voiced that they would be on Holiday leave—Which granted him the decision of getting it out earlier, as apparently there were a few instances who would have to wait until after the holiday is over.

Alphard had no doubt that Rhea wouldn't enjoy this time out of the country if she stayed by the window waiting on Benny. So when he gripped her by the waist to pull her tighter to him, she let out a surprised laugh.

"Goodness, what are you plotting?"

"An entire celebration in the few days we have with one another, starting with showing my wife with praise, delicious food, a bit of entertainment...Relaxing and a whole bunch of other things. However, if you want to stay in, I won't argue on that front. You need your rest to recharge." Her lip twitched into smile, obviously infatuated at the idea that Alphard had spent his free time in coming up with this type of celebration.

"It's been a while since we've been able to do things together, I wouldn't mind exploring and doing what you planned. But leaving a bit of time to just relax too? I've heard that the second semester is worse, preparing us for the summer."

"Worse? Merlin, could it get any worse?"

"Well, I have a bit of a head start thanks to Maverick and my advisor. But that'll put less stress on the summer's actual work upstairs in the hospital setting. Oh, Alphard, I cannot wait to start working with the children!" She squealed, and that is the very reason he had pushed her as he had.

Screw her parents' ideals, the only thoughts he cared about were hers.

"You have such a big heart to want to take care of young children, I cannot be selfish to keep it within the family."

"I heard what you told Orion."

"Which part? I tell Orion a lot of things."

"That you'll spoil our children rotten...Once they come along."
"Oh, that's a given. And believe me, when I say this, I am not going to act like your father, and if I do. You have permission—"

"I don't think you could be my father if you tried. Besides, Corin says to threaten a man by cutting off their cock, so that's in my arsenal now—Alphard." The man had sucked in a breath, but nodded. Knowing that Rhea would take to trying to keep to that option.

"And that goes for adultery too, husband."

"Why would I look to another witch when I have all I desire in one?"

"Flattery. Good choice...Could we have a snack? I think my appetite is coming back with a vengeance after—"

"After you haven't eaten a proper meal in a full week? I understand, come. Let's get settled." And settled they sure did. Though nearing the first night, Rhea was rather taken aback that one of the first activities Alphard had planned was to spend a short bit of time in the manor's sauna.

One that she hadn't managed to use the previous time.

"Funny how the last time we were here, we were just getting used to being husband and wife."

"Being in each other's company for so long, Merlin. I must've been annoying with it all. You can tell me the truth, love, am I like that?"
"Annoying? Not at all, rather adorable to see you get flustered at times when I say that I'm in the middle of something or studying." She said with a grin, tipping back the bottle of butter beer that Alphard had secured just for this night.

And any of the following.

"Adorable? Awfully tempted to change that image of me you have there, Rhea."
"Tempt all you want, but you can show me Cronus later. For now, I will gladly take Atlas." She cooed, offering up her bottle for them to clink together once more.

Yet the thought dawned on Alphard, quite quickly—That Rhea had no knowledge of the secrets her family holds.

How her father is a lying and cheating bastard who had a daughter with another woman, a woman who—Funny enough—Is a Halfblood, and can barely afford to keep the roof over their daughter's head.

It angered Alphard so much, that he had to do something. That was Rhea's blood running through that girl's veins—Or so they think.

Given the state of Clarissa's infidelity, either she or Rabastan could have been the byproduct of such actions. Though in technicality, it made more sense if it was Rhea—Given that the potential father was a Ravenclaw, like themselves.

"Would it be greedy of me to ask if we can come here for our anniversary?" Rhea questioned in the midst of it all, and Alphard just chuckled at the thought.

"Not at all. Doubt you could be greedy if you wanted to be. Unless of course, we're talking about chocolate frogs, then that is when your deadly sin comes out." Having taken another sip had been a mistake as she sat up the better half that she hadn't finished.

"Damnit, Alfie. We all have our weaknesses. It's gotten me through these last few weeks, haven't they?" Oh, Alphard knew that her draw must be filled with boxes to spare and a separate box to try to hide the evidence.

"I've met my match for sure. Cigars are my chocolate frogs." She snorted, but didn't voice her disagreement and instead leaned further into the wooden bench she was sitting on.

"Perhaps I should have one installed in the manor, seeing you so relaxed is refreshing, love."

"I suppose I have been a bit of a fiery dragon these last few weeks, I promise I don't mean it."

"That's not an issue, I've dealt with enough stressful situations to know that under the pressure, things that are said or done are out of panic. Besides, I'd know if you were truly angry with me if you didn't return to our room at night." Rhea shook her head, her eyes still closed as she hummed along.

"I suppose the same goes for you as well. Besides the whiskey night you hosted."

"Ah that, Orion called me a 'lovey-dovey bastard' so I assumed that I was gushing about my beautiful wife. So in that instance, I remained in the guest room. Not as warm without you by my side, but well worth it considering you needed to sleep." He decided, and Rhea continued to smile up toward the ceiling.

"Do you think Corin and Orion will stay together?" The question was met with an unusual sense of confusion. Rhea was not one to gossip too much, and it was almost a blessing that she wasn't able to speak with her friends, considering they were all at the prospect of getting married.

"I do hope so, my brother is as happy as can be. And even though you found her in an unusual circumstance, it's decidedly still worked out. So I would say so." A nod had come to agree with him, and Rhea sighed once again.

"Are you falling asleep on me, Rhea?"

"No. I just can't get over this. The hot air is wonderful, 'specially when it's so damned cold out."

"Or it's the stress?" She hummed once more before her eyes hovered over him, catching him looking longly toward her.

"Caught you." She smiled once again. "That you did. Can you do something for me then, love?" She peeked an eye open and he chuckled, and so he went ahead and at the sound of her approval with a grin.

"Take that towel off."

"Alphard!" She shrieked, pulling her towel even tighter over her chest, and frowned. "I—I realize we haven't been that active I-in the bedroom as we normally were before the start of my semester but—"

"Rhea Amory Black, are you apologizing for not having enough time for a sexual relationship with me?" Her lips curved into a pout, as she most certainly did. "Did I ever say that I was upset or angry over this?" Sure enough, Rhea quickly shook her head and started to fiddle with the top of her towel.

"But a wife should always—" be open for her husband—Is what she had planned to say, but alas, Alphard had risen to his feet straight away and cupped her chin with a slight tug. "Absolutely bloody not. If you don't want this Rhea, just say so. You tell me when you're tired and I'll do the same. It's just that simple, I do not want this marital bullshite coming between us."

"I just feel like we've disconnected a bit because of my classes."

"Of course we have, we're growing together and this is a new change for either of us. Now, unless you say otherwise, I would like to worship your body before we take a relaxing dip. What do you say?" There was hardly an ounce of rejection, not when Alphard's lips had soon connected to her neck and shoulders, making her hold on the towel wither away as she instantly ensnared her hands into his long locks.

Her body was so sensitive that she felt as though she could combust right here, with minimal effort. But damnit, she had to fight her own inner feeling so as to not give Alphard the benefits of working for such a thing.

After hearing his devotion, embarrassment crept up on her cheeks right beside the rising temperature of her body, but seeing Alphard's focus and determination was what broke her self-will.

As the small steamed room had held the sound of his wife's release, it still didn't hide his eager movements—His hand rubbing the better part of her thigh and whispering pleasantries.

"Damn you..." She whispered, and Alfie playfully gasped. "I don't think I deserve your tongue-slashing, love."

"Oh? Would you like my tongue to do something else then?" It wasn't often that Rhea would tease her husband back, and usually, she would have a small tint to her cheek to entice the innocence she portrayed. But with her new position, it started to bring forth a very dominant side of Rhea that Alphard was absolutely melting for.

"I'm afraid I don't understand, Little Goddess...What might you be referring to?" He had hardly caught Rhea's eye roll it had been so quick, and so had the fact that she managed to go to her knees and yank down the towel that she couldn't believe managed to remain knotted—Not when Alphard's cock was tenting and pulsing red.

Perhaps it was the wine and tension that was driving her mad, slowly ease away. But Alphard's please had started with a simple stroke and his wife licking from the base to the mere tip.

In mere minutes, the two were now in eternal bliss that Alphard had forgotten his game plan. Yet when he fell down to the bench beside his wife, Rhea didn't hesitate to look for comfort in him. And he was all too willing to do the same, as their foreheads touched to center themselves and sigh in relief at their conjoining.

"I know you treated me after my party, damnit little goddess, you have me on such a tight hold." Rhea smiled and let her lips press against his, eager for him to feel her happiness—And Alphard devoured her lips, loving the combined taste of both of their releases on their lips.

He wasn't erotic for quite some time, but even now his cock was ringing back for seconds.

"Damnit." Rhea's smile appeared once more as she brushed her lips back against his cheek. "Nothing's wrong, we have all night."

"All night? Is that a promise?"

"Well, I did have a small plan when we were in bed—But we can wait until." Alphard's eyes had returned curious at her admission to having an idea to enjoy with one another, and it nearly made him speechless.

What did she have in mind?

"Care to share?" He questioned, eager to know the surprise and Rhea laughed as she shook her head. "We still have a bit until we can settle into bed, dinner too, Alphard."

"That's too long!" She rolled her eyes and cupped his cheeks as she shook her head. "Not at all, now I'll be taking a bath...Care to join me?" The offer had remained all for a moment before Alphard pried her hands down into her lap and quickly kissed her.

"I have a better plan, follow me through that door in a minute...It's part of your surprise." With that, Rhea was forced to watch her husband hurry through the door making sure to not leak what was on the opposite side.

To say Rhea counted to sixty wasn't entirely the truth, not when her urgency might have caught her to hurry up and speed up the time. Granted, she doubted Alphard himself would be all that displeased, and so she picked up her towel and followed him out—Mindful that he hadn't taken his, and thus she walked through the door in pure suspicion that something might pop out.

"Alfie?" She called out, following through the hallway only to push a few bits of greenery to the side, until the room had been opened up—And sweet mother goddess herself, Rhea's jaw and towel had dropped at the sight before her.

"Alfie..." She whispered, in complete disbelief. Her eyes darted from every corner of the room to capture the details. Alphard Black had built a sanctuary, a pool, to add to the Spain house.

It was utterly perfect.

The greenery had added to the atmosphere perfectly, leaving the smile to continue to grow wider and wider. Even more so when Alphard had swum up to the edge and leaned over, matching her grin.

"Honestly, love...It's so easy to please you."

"Please me? I didn't even know I ever wanted a pool until now! This is gorgeous, beautiful! How did you—"

"I can't take all the credit, can you guess?" Cory, you absolute bitch! Rhea shouted in the back of her head as she shook her head and eyed the staircase. "No need, I jumped right in and it was warm."

"Jump in? Alfie, I can't swim." He truly wanted to keep his calm, but hearing yet another area where her parents had failed her, he instead wiped a hand down his face and replaced his anger with a smile. Hoping she wouldn't notice.

"I'll catch you. We'll learn right now...Perfect introduction for the one I will be building in our manor." The sigh of continued disbelief continued once more and he couldn't help but wink before pushing off the wall with his arms open.

"Promise, it isn't that deep...You'll be able to touch the bottom here." This was where Rhea wished she had a bit of courage, as she wanted to be the type of gal to just go forward without help. But the fact that she hardly knew how to swim was a factor stopping her outright.

"You'll catch me?"

"Rhea, my beautiful and sweet little goddess, I wouldn't dare drop you." And thus, she had taken the quickened steps forward and jumped—Leaving Alphard to catch her within the first few seconds of her entering the water. Instantly she gasped up to the surface and kicked her head up, her hair drenched and holding her down—Much like Alphard was facing.

"See? Feels nice?"

"Hm, but do we really need one in the manor?"
"Absolutely. Besides, I want my sister to see that I'm spoiling you." With a quick roll of her eyes, she hurried back to the wall and held onto it as she tried her best to swim without instruction, but Alphard managed well in teaching her.

Within the next hour, Rhea was jumping without the support of him catching her.

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Date Posted: 12/29/22

Time: 9:11

Words: 2672