Quinn
When I groaned and fluttered my eyes open, I was greeted with the morning light and the other side of the bed was still warm but empty. Ah, damn, I had missed Aldric again.
It had been like this since we had moved into the penthouse, me climbing onto the bed, planning on waiting for my gorgeous husband to join me, only to fall right into a deep slumber before he even shows up. Then when I'd wake again, it was to find the other side warm with the duvet scrunched up but the space empty.
I groaned, disappointment once again aching in my chest. There was always tonight, I thought, and was determined to stay up and wait for him again. I wasn't going to give up just like that.
I knew Aldric had been busy, training himself and his men hard in the gymnasium. With all the fancy new equipment he and his men had never seen before, why wouldn't they be pumped and go all out, getting absolutely ripped and powerful? Not that they weren't already ripped and powerful now, though.
I got out of bed, and after brushing my teeth, I took a quick shower. Done and donning a winter dress, long and flowing and a mixture of this world and Earthly modernism, along with a pair of heeled boots, I thought, why not? Thus, I started applying makeup, adding eye shadow, liner, and mascara, rosy blushes on the cheeks, and a deep-red lipstick to go with the burgundy-colored dress.
I fluffed up my curls and turned this way and that, liking my looks. Wow! It felt like ages since I made myself look this chic.
Turning on my heel, I headed out the door into the sitting room, only to come to a sudden stop when my gaze locked on a hunk on the other side.
Tall, lean, and chiseled body dripping with sweat, Aldric was... So. Damn. Hot.
I lazily and appreciatively drifted my gaze down his body, liking very much what I saw. My fingers itched to touch and caress, and my lips begged for kisses.
Working hard to control myself, I strolled to him, and once I stood in front of him, I said, "Good morning, Aldric." Then because I damn well couldn't help myself, I lifted my hand and placed my fingertips on his bare chest. Trailing downward and lightly caressing his toned muscles, I gazed up into his eyes and said, "You're so sweaty. You must have been working hard at the gym, huh?"
His gaze still locked on mine, he nodded. "Mm-hmm."
Our faces inched closer, and with my lips lingering near his, I said, "My man is getting stronger every day. I'm pleased." Then I sweetly and seductively kissed him, my hand gently touching the side of his face. When I moved back, I said, "Mmmm. Aren't you tasty?"
He said, "You're very beautiful today."
I felt delight rushing through me. Ah, he noticed I had put in an effort, eh? I said, "Thank you, husband, for the compliment." I planted a light kiss on his lips. When I moved back, I changed the subject. "Aldric, I'm wondering if perhaps we can do a banquet?"
"A banquet?" he asked.
"Mm-hmm." I nodded, circling my fingers about the middle of his hard, firm chest. "It's like a fest. I think since everyone has been through a lot and now that we've moved into the lodge and everything has kind of settled, a banquet to celebrate would be good. It's like a new beginning for everyone sort of thing. What do you think?"
He looked at me for a moment and then nodded. "I'd love to have a banquet," he said.
"Do you like wine?" I asked. "I mean, I can't drink, obviously, since I'm underage, but do you and the men like wine? Beer? Brandy?"
"The men do like beer and ale," he said. "Wine? We don't usually have that. It's too expensive and needs to be imported."
"Is that so? Then you and the men are in for a treat." I touched his face again and then kissed his lips for the third time. When I moved back, I said, "I think within a week's time would be good. It has to be a Saturday night so the men can have Sunday morning to cure their hangovers."
Since we've moved into the lodge, we had established workdays, which were Monday through Friday, and rest days, which were Saturday and Sunday. The younger folks loved this idea, but not so much the older ones, especially Robert, Darell, and Kent. They continued to spend their time in their workshops despite the new routine being firmly established, with Mr. Morton—whom I now called Jacob, his first name—having the paperwork written up and Aldric signing and having it sealed as an official Norsewood decree.
It appeared the men loved and were married to their work and workshops, not that they weren't already married to their beautiful wives, of course. But I couldn't really point fingers because I was also one who continued to work even on the weekends, and most times until very late into the night. Aldric, too. There was much that needed to be done, after all.
"I'll get everything prepared," I said. "See you downstairs for breakfast." Another kiss followed that, and turning on my heel, I left the penthouse.
When the announcement that there'd be a banquet was made during breakfast, there was a lot of cheering. When I declared that there'd also be liquor, the cheering got even louder. I suspected they hadn't drunk any sort of alcoholic beverages for a long while.
Of course, I wasn't going to let the Norsewood people attend a feast in their sweatpants, sweaters, and sneakers, which were the only style of clothing they had been wearing since I had started distributing them and continued to do so at the Residential Supply Center, which was basically a store-like facility containing essentials the residents needed for everyday living, apart from the food.
It'd be a while yet until garments made by the Norsewood people were launched, since those working in the textile department were still getting used to the sewing machines and learning new techniques and designs. Hence, I opened the garment hall on the fourth floor of the textile department in the service building, which was loaded, via my magic, with formal wear such as three-piece suits, ties, socks, and shoes for men, and elegant dresses and heels for women.
Even before I could finish the preparation and had the door open, there were already lines with eager shoppers. Not that they were shopping, of course, but I thought it was fun seeing the girls excitedly picking out dresses and heels while the men were hesitantly checking out the suits. Luckily, I had Liam, Vincent, and Theo to help on that side. As for this side, Maria and Elizabeth were already experts and gladly giving out advice, picking out which dresses better suited the girls. I bet they'd be great stylists.
Throughout the morning while I was going about my duties, I didn't miss that many of the young women and teenage girls such as Rosie and her friends, Emma and Vanessa, were eyeing me with interest. Oh, I was used to being watched, being the lady of Norsewood that I was, but this time felt... different. Was there something on my face?
It was at lunch when I leaned in close to Maria and asked, "Why are they looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?"
Maria said, "Of course you do."
I was flabbergasted and said, "Why didn't you tell me?"
She burst out laughing. "I mean your lips and eyes and blushing cheeks."
"Oh..." I expressed. "My makeup?"
"Yes," Maria said. "Now that I think about it, you only wore it once before and that was during your wedding ceremony to Lord Norsewood."
I nodded. "Yes, but now that we're living in such a nice place, I thought I might as well dress up. I am, after all, the lady of Norsewood."
"Indeed, you are," Maria said.
"And you should, too," I said. "I know a certain person will appreciate it." I nudged her shoulder and nodded toward the other side of the dining hall where Vincent was with a horde of other soldiers.
Blushing crimson on the cheeks, she said, "Stop that!"
I said, "You have to dress up on the night of the banquet, got it?"
Maria nodded, and I saw her sneaking a peek at Vincent who was watching her, a smirk on his lips. I wondered if he was still mercilessly teasing her. As for me, I was glad he had stop calling me pipsqueak.
I was nearly done with my lunch and was about to leave when Rosie, Emma, and Vanessa finally came up to me, and I could see they were quite nervous. Why? For sure, I had been nothing but gentle, kind, and generous, so why did they act like I'd bite their heads off?
Rosie said, "My lady?"
"Yes, Rosie?" I asked.
"Uh..." She licked her lips. "You see..." Emma nudged her shoulder, and Rosie nudged back. Clearing her throat, she said, "My lady, we were, uh, wondering how you get your lips to be so beautifully red and your skin so flawless and your eyes... so mesmerizing?"
I widened my eyes, and then smiled knowingly. Of course, they were girls, and girls—women—were interested in making themselves look pretty.
I said, "It's makeup, Rosie. Would you like me to teach you? Since next Saturday night is going to be one of the special nights in Norsewood, I think the women should look beautiful, don't you agree? I mean, it'd be meaningless to wear a beautiful gown without wearing makeup."
"Makeup?" Rosie said.
I nodded. "Mm-hmm. Makeup."
"We'd love to learn makeup from you, my lady," Emma said.
"Yes, my lady," Vanessa said.
"Then how about you girls get the women who are interested together for a skincare and makeup lesson in one of the classrooms upstairs? Let's say about two o'clock?"
The girls nodded their heads enthusiastically.
"We'll make sure to call everyone who isinterested, my lady," Rosie said, and then she and the girls left, rushing overto the other tables to enthusiastically spread the news. It looked like myafternoon was going to be packed again.