The General part 42

Long chapter!

JOAN

War rises to his feet. The hands that were just pinning me down as the rest of him pummelled into me, lift me off my knees and hands. He tugs my skirt down and turns me to face him.

I’m a filthy mess covered in mud, semen, and the sin of exhibitionism, but War smiles at me as if I’m the first breath he ever took— as if coming out of my pussy was his second, true birthing.

He looks at me like I hung the sun in the sky.

“Gods,” he exhales.

The word, the tone, the way he looks at me, makes me burn like the sun he accuses me of hanging.

I’m flustered, tired, but thrilled, because we did it. We had sex, and although he filled me like a fist and we danced on the edge of pain, it was the best thing I’ve ever experienced.

Even with the eyes of the world shooting shock, disbelief, jealousy, and anger at us, even as my own eyes stared at blurry dirt as I jerked up and down on him, I see what can’t be seen— and that’s love. I’m falling in love with War.

“Let’s go home.” I smile.

He reaches down to lift me, but I stop him.

“I’ll walk.”

He hesitates, but takes my hand and leads me away. There’s a slight limp to my walk as my legs struggle to remember how to function. I expected as much since War nailed my knees into the dirt.

I don’t care to lessen my limp because I want all that look to see how hard War fucked me. I want the Entertainers to know that they won’t ever walk like they’re intoxicated off their General’s dick.

I’ve come a long way. Months ago, I wouldn’t date to lift my head. Now, I’m turning heads as I walk past.

Yippy appears and hops beside us. When we enter the tent, he enters with us.

“We need to talk,” War declares.

I chuckle as he helps me into a tub with warm water. It seemed like a servant saw our show and figured I’d need a bath to wash off the many liquids War soaked me in.

“You think?” I chuckle.

“Yes,” he replies, not understanding my sarcasm. It’s rare, but sometimes Zolanos don’t capture rhetorical questions because they’re so direct in communication.

“First, tell me how you feel.”

I scrub my arm and watch the dirt flow off. 
“You made me orgasm. Of course I feel fantastic.”

“Is there any pain?” He’s kneeling beside the tub and looking more guilty every second.

I take his hand. “It was wonderful, War. I’m glad it happened and I’m ready to make our relationship public.”

He dips his chin. “It is time to meet my parents. I want to take things official. Are you ready?”

“I am.”

Fuck no. War’s parents are Elites. They’re high in status because they’re the parents of a General, and probably traditional because of their age. They’ll be horrified to see that the woman their son has chosen is a refugee from a foreign planet, and not a Zolano woman with powerful family ties. Meeting them will stress War, because it will force him to decide between me and his parents.

It’s a meeting that has to happen, but I know it won’t be a walk in the park.

We’re silent as he helps me through the rest of the bath. Once I’m dry and in a new dress, I hop to kiss his cheek. 

He looks surprised, as if he never had lips there. I smile at the thought of giving this experienced man one of his “firsts.”

“I know I interrupted you from work when I asked you to...”

“Fuck you in front of my Masters, Entertainers, and Servants?” He completes.

I fidget. My earlier confidence is shrivelling, because War is poking fun at me.

“Yeah… I did that, didn’t I?”

He touches my chin. “I normally get very irritated over interruptions, but yours was a very welcomed one.”

I duck my head. “I just wanted to tell you that you can go back to work. You don’t have to watch over me. I’ll be okay with Yenni.”

“Are you sure of this? I was planning on taking you to the Healer.”

“There’s no need for that. You didn’t hurt me. There was just a lot of stretching to accommodate your ridiculous dick.”

“But—“

“No buts. Shoo. Get back to work. I’ll be okay.”

“Did you just cut me off?” He laughs.

“Yup!” I slap his butt and point at the entrance.

“If you were anyone else, I would be tempted to take your head and put it on a pole for your insolence.”

“Yeah, but I’m your fiancé, so I get a free pass.”

He tips his head to the side, an adorable thing that makes him look like a cub instead of a lion. “Fiancé? What is that title?”

“One declares a person as their fiancé and then their wife or husband. In my culture, a person typically keeps the title of fiancé for one-to-two years.”

He frowns.

“Did I say something to offend you?”

“Two years?” He scoffs. “How ridiculous. Why such a long wait before declaring a female yours?”

I shrug. “Well, everyone has their reasons, but the most common ones want to save money for a wedding, or make sure they’re right for each other before committing to marriage.”

“If the male has no money to offer his female a comfortable living, then he should be using all the muscles The Gods gave him to work, climb ranks, win battles, and become rich. A broke fool has no business asking a female to dedicate herself to his home.”

I shake my head. “War, that is not nice. One does not need money to be happy. I would have liked you even if you were not a rich General.”

“If I were poor and set my eyes on you, I would shake off the laziness and work to near death to deserve you.”

I give up. Zolano warriors are dead-set on being ripped with muscle, honourable, deserving, and hard-working. I won’t try to change his mind over such a trivial manner. As long as he respects my opinions and wishes, then we will work out well.

“Although I have more wealth than the damn Queen, I will respect your odd culture and give you time. I will marry you next month.”

“Next month!” I gasp.

He nods. “You agree it is too far away, then? I am glad to hear this. How about two weeks?”

“Two weeks!”

He grins. “You are greedy and eager for marriage, just like you were for my cock. Fine, precious one. I will have us married this night. I will present your marriage gift tomorrow.”

“No. No, no, no, War. I need more time, not less. Uh— how about three months?”

“Three months?” He groans and pulls me to his lap. “I will die in anticipation. Do not do this to me. I need you to carry my name. You are like oxygen to me.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t be dramatic. If you can invade the Queen’s palace and walk out without a slap on the wrist, then you can survive three months.”

“Two months,” he negotiates.

I giggle because his insistence is endearing.

“Two months, General.”

He kisses me so hard that I’m convinced he’s trying to consume me.

“You disrupt me, order me around, and make me wait. Your power is incredible.”

I’m about to reply, when Yenni enters the tent. She jerks a little, not expecting War to be in here with me.

“I’ll see you later,” I tell War.

He nods and stops at a corner to step out of his soaked pants. He slips on a clean pair of pants and boots, tosses his weapon belt over his shoulder, and walks out shirtless. There’s a few specs of dirt on his back, and his cock is still soaked by my wetness. 

That thought makes my abused pussy clench. It’s ready to be pounded by him again.

Yenni keeps her eyes on the ground the entire time. When we’re alone, I smile at her sheepishly.

“Uh, hi.”

“Oh, miss. What a gossip storm you have stirred. You publicly got what The General has denied dozens of Entertainers for months!”

“Are they angry?”

She shakes her head. “Angry doesn’t cover it. They’re jealous beasts. Rumor has it that The General will marry you.” She clasps her hands together. “I’m so happy for you! It all sounds so romantic.”

I wrap my arms around her unexpectedly. “I can see why War chose you for this job. You’re a good person.”

She pats my back awkwardly, not used to embraces. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. How would you like to help me find a wedding dress?"

Her face lights up.

– • –

Three days later, I’m deliciously sore between my legs, and camp is weirder than ever. Entertainers approach me not to leer, but to start a conversation. They’re all fake as they try to befriend me. The only Entertainer I feel comfortable around is Yenni.

I spoke to War about helping Masters rehabilitate into the world after things settle down. Once we win the war, Masters should spend time getting familiar with females and each other instead of going rogue until the next war calls them back to camp. The medicine is the poison. It’s holding them back from wanting to develop friendships and romances.

War promised he would search high and low for a “mind doctor” — a Zolano that could provide therapy to the Masters that want to get off the drug. Although I know some psychology, the job of coaching Masters doesn’t seem right to me. I have no idea what feelings they repress, what cruelty they’ve gone through. I’m not even a Zolano. Although I fostered the idea of helping them with dating, I know my professional limits.

I’m excited about what’s coming. I hope Masters decide they want to try having what War and I have— something past lust.

Yenni is more than happy to help me plan a dating club. If a Master comes to us, we’ll jot down their characteristics and search for an Entertainer they could date. That will be interesting, because so far, the Masters are similar— cold, disinterested, and straightforward. I’m hoping that once they’re off the drug, their individual personalities will shine through.

Yenni are adding cruel Entertainers to a deny list when we hear activity come from outside.

We head out, and I find a carriage emptying in the middle of camp. A lady in a flowing dress steps out. It’s red, matching her skin tone. Her hair is up in elaborate braids and decorated with floral hair pins. She has makeup on, too. She’s an older woman, and she’s dripping in wealth. Behind her is a man wearing a long robe of the same color. He is more striking, because he looks like an older version of War. He’s strong like his son, and his face is just as hard.

Why in the world are they here? It’s too early, and I thought War wanted us to go visit them to spare their older parents the trip.

I check myself out. My sandals are well-worn, and I don’t have a spec of jewellery on, but I’m clean and wearing a nice tank top and trousers.

I don’t see War, so approach the couple to welcome them and hope I don’t trip over my nerves.

Entertainers and Masters part until I’m standing in front of War’s mother.

I smile. “Hello. I’m—“

I’m on the ground, gripping my aching jaw. 

She punched me.

a/n: Mafia’s Devil updates tomorrow