#pero tovar fanfic

[chronically-ghosted]

iron and charcoal

rating: explicit 18+ pairing: pero tovar x f!reader word count: 6.9K summary: Sana sana culito de rana. Si no sana hoy, sanará mañana. But there would be no tomorrow. No future, no light of dawn – not without –  Her. He’d never heal because tomorrow would never come.  OR Pero falls hard for a princess and doesn’t know what to do with himself on your wedding night. warnings: angst, brief classism/xenophobia two very stubborn people, pero experiences one Human Emotion and cannot fully process it, arranged marriage, yearning, smut LIKE WOW, soft!pero that i broke my own heart with a/n: Thank you so much to @perotovar for this request: "congrats on your milestone, my love! so happy for you <33 i'm sending a little astrology 💫 + pero & #6 on the fluffy list OR #1 on the smutty list (whichever is speaking to you), because i wanna see your take on him 👀” – of course I chose the slutty one, just for you 😉 I’m actually pretty proud of this one - please consider reblogging if you like it too!

*the image in the header is for aesthetic purposes only and does not reflect the appearance of the reader*

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Sana sana culito de rana. Si no sana hoy, sanará mañana. 

Sometimes before battle, the clatter inside Pero’s head goes silent. It listens. It waits. 

Other times, it roars. Memories of family, of dead amigos, of mujeres he fucked – they all buck and scratch for a chance to blaze across his mind like a dust storm kicked up by an unbroken mustang. 

He doesn’t know which one he prefers or which one will win out. They both have their uses, necessary states of mind to survive whatever is barreling towards him – an ax, a monster out of legend, some other drunken mercenary he intentionally pissed off. It’s an unconscious decision, yet one that has served him well so far. He wouldn’t be alive today if some deep, primal part of him knew what he needed to live through another battle. 

And yet, his own trunk knocking against his hips as he climbed the sickly ostentatious stone steps to the top of the parapet, the handles starting to pinch his fingers, the barest – nearly invisible – tremor in his knees, he cannot fathom, for the life of him, why that singular phrase from his abuela played in his head like water swirling around and around a cenote. 

Sana sana culito de rana. Si no sana hoy, sanará mañana. 

Sana sana culito de rana. Si no sana hoy, sanará mañana. 

His inner voice, taking on a myriad of forms, of sounds and voices, never quite standing still, the one companion he could always rely on. 

Maybe it was warning him. Dust yourself off, boy, you know exactly how this was going to end. 

Sana sana culito de rana. Si no sana hoy, sanará mañana. 

But there would be no tomorrow. No future, no light of dawn – not without –

Her.

He’d never heal because tomorrow would never come.

He feels sweat escape from the nape of curls at his neck, his cheeks warm and chest hot. Two more flights, he can manage two more flights. 

His abuela also liked to tell him something else: if hell doesn’t get him, his pride certainly will. 

It’s certainly what got him into this ridiculous farce in the first place. Because he can’t alchemize whatever is in his gut into vocalized syllables, he instead has to climb a truly incalculable amount of stairs, while carrying a ragged, torn trunk that weighs as much as his armor. 

Because he can’t form the right words, any words, about what he carries lodged beneath his breastbone for her. What draws him up and up and up and up because it’s lighter than hope, makes him lighter than air, and yet it clogs him up, chokes him out all the same. His pride, his vanity, cuts through it, through her – enough to keep him tongueless and dry but not enough to offer this lightness in his chest to her, for her. He can’t take the light out of him or else he fears what he will truly become.

So, he walks, he goes around and around on unforgiving stone steps until finally there is a door. He thinks about waiting, to catch his breath, but he knows he will just as easily turn around and go back the way he came, trunk still heavy and knocking against his hips, and that pride will be the death of him. So he keeps going, opens the handle, and makes abrupt eye contact with the two guards outside her door. They seem uninterested and unamused in his sweaty, stilted breathing, but by his less-than-royal attire, they easily clock him as one of their own; a man who fights to make his way in the world. The one on the left nods jerkily at him. 

What they see him as, what he will always be, is nearly the reason he kicks that fucking trunk all the way back down. Instead, he nods back, shoulders rounded, eyes down. 

“The princesa - the princess - is requesting the last of her things, to be b-brought up from the stables –,” he clears his throat, “drop this off for her and –,”

“Can’t let you in. King’s orders.” The one on the right sees him as something else – a foreigner first and foremost, their similar stations in life irrelevant. His bright blue eyes rove over Pero’s dark skin, dark hair, jagged scar, distaste and disgust smearing his already ugly features. But he had been dealing with men like these all his life.

“Bueno, you can explain to the King himself why his daughter’s belongings were lost and disregarded. I hear she’s very fond of the Italian prints at the bottom of this . . .”

The guards glance at each other, calculating way above their paygrade. Pero jostles the trunk as if to show he is not above throwing it out the window. 

“Fine.” The second one snaps. “Drop it inside and come back immediately.”

He drops his head, a good little foreign boy. “Gracias, señor.” 

The heavy wooden door opens beneath the iron lock and the instant he is through, he bolts it behind him. Waits to see if the guards notice. They don’t. Perfectamente – all the time in the world. 

All in the time in the world – for what? 

To fail? Again?

He stows the trunk in front of the door, extra time, a few seconds maybe – as if she wouldn’t just tell him to get out the instant she laid eyes on him. Only time will tell. 

Out of the atrium, another door, this one set deep into the wall. A last line of defense. He knocks, once, then twice, then waits. El orgullo chokes him again but fuck it, he’s come this far. He knocks again, knocks something in his chest free and, with it, spill the words:

“Princesa? It’s me. I –,” it throttles him, “princesa, can you open the door?” 

Silence. His heart sits, buried in that trunk. Then –

“It’s unlocked, Pero.” 

His heart in his throat, he opens the door to presumably what will be your marriage bed. And yet, by the state of things, you could have been moving out of it. Trunks and bags stack high against the far wall – those fucking trunks he made such a scene over because the unnecessary weight would slow them all down remain untouched, arranged as they had been when they had been first brought in. He didn’t quite know what to make of that, his thumb absently pressing into the callus of his other hand as he glanced around. It is a beautiful room – tall windows, etched in scarlet drapes, to match the scarlet curtains around the bed. With gold thread and impossibly detailed paintings of the countryside, it is fit for a princess, a some-day queen. This is where someone with royal blood deserved to be, not in the back of a hot carriage for weeks on end, surrounded by dirty, loud, rough men. 

And yet, with your hair down, expansive gown from the ball tonight replaced with a simple cotton dress, you could not have been more out of place. Pero’s heart lurches briefly, moisture seeping from his mouth, as he realizes this is the same dress he bought you when the two of you had been accidentally separated by the caravan and your previous dress had been ruined in the mud. He had no idea you still kept it, much less wore it ever again. 

But if anyone asked him, you look more beautiful in this than any silk or velvet. 

Instead of unpacking, settling into your new home and eventual role as wife, you sit hunched over at the intricately carved mahogany desk, eagle feather quill scratching against parchment. You finish with a flourish and look over your shoulder at him, your eyes annoyingly unreadable. 

“Yes?”

A stupid brute some may call him, but he wasn’t entirely without awareness. Observation of your customs and what you considered inappropriate only encouraged him: if you really didn’t want him here, you would never have let him see you in this state.

But it’s hard to remember that under your icy stare. 

“Y-your things, Princesa. The last from the caravan.”

Your eyes slide over him, to the trunk in the shadows of the atrium. He can tell from a single glance that you know as well as he that trunk is not yours, that no one told him to come here with it, and yet he did it all the same. Something flashes over your eyes but it’s gone by the time you meet his gaze again. 

“Thank you. I am, as always, indebted to you.” 

He hates your words, but warmth spreads in his gut at the way you say it. That’s how it’s always been between you and him – saying one thing but meaning another. He’d never appreciated a sharp mind like yours until he realized you wield it as he wields a sharp sword. 

There are many things he’d never even dreamed of before he met you.

“Then, this means you’re leaving, I suppose.” You draw your sword against him. The metal flashes in your eyes as you stand, one hand against the curved tip of your chair. A bronze halo rims your outline, the fire behind you burning bright and hot. He knows if he touched your shoulder, your neck, your skin would be wonderfully warm. 

He wets his lips. “Si. Our contract with your father is done.” 

You drop his gaze, your lips tightening for a minute, your fingers running through the carvings of wood on the chair. “Even with William in his state? Would it not be better for him to stay and recover? The journey home is –,” you pause, as though someone had thrown a hand over your mouth, “– the journey back east is long.” 

All the longer without you.

“William, he is not an idle man. Two days of bedrest is often all he can take.” 

You grin, in spite of this thing circling you both. “Unless he finds the nun attending to him beautiful.

“He finds them all beautiful.” 

Your smile expands wide across your bright face when you find him smiling at you too. 

This – if this is to be his last memory of you (his heart wrenches at the thought) – this is the you he wants imprinted on his soul: smiling and glowing by firelight. 

But as quickly as it came, that grin that warms him down to his bones, fades. In an instant, your eyes grow soft, your mouth twisted, jaw tight.

“Where will you go?” you ask, in the quietest voice you’d ever addressed him with. 

It pains him, physically aches within him, to hear the distress in your voice. He hasn’t even thought about the next contract, the next royal cabrón who intends to yank him all across God’s green earth to perform a task he can’t be fucked to take on himself. How can he possibly answer you? Nowhere, without you. To rot in a dark hole in the ground? Off a cliff? What answer would provide you or him any sort of satisfaction?

“Wherever the coin goes,” he says and the words scrape his tongue like bile. That ache in his chest spiraling rapidly, deep into his gut – like a poisoned limb he cannot amputate – he does the same thing he always does when he’s hurt: he makes others hurt until they leave him alone. “You do not have to worry, princesa, your new husband will keep you in such comfort you will never wonder where the coin comes from.”

He must be a truly sick man, for the knife-sharp glare you throw at him only knots arousal around the base of his spine. It tugs on something attached directly to his groin which, in turn, yanks the next words out of his mouth.

“He looked especially happy with you in his arms on the dance floor tonight.”

The icy shards in your eyes go brittle and crack. His heart races; he’s overplayed his hand. 

“You watched me dance?”

“All guardsmen were required to –,”

You shake your head, eyes bright and searing through him. “No. It was only the King’s Knights there in attendance.” 

Your hand trailing off the edge of the chair, you take a step forward and he feels his weight shift back onto his heels. But he remains firm. 

Sana, sana.

“Pero, why did you come here tonight?”

“To return the last of your things, princesa. What else is there?”

You flinch, as if he had raised his voice to you. What else is there indeed?

“Not even to . . .  say goodbye? Sixteen weeks on the road is an awfully long time to be around someone, only for them to . . . leave so soon.”

He locks his knees to keep them from shaking. “Do you wish for me to tell you goodbye, princesa?” 

There’s something painfully sad about the way you smile at him. “I wish for whatever would make you happiest.” 

Anger roars within him, hungry and hot, like a burn from a white flame. Why can’t you just admit it? Why do you avoid it time and time again? He knows he hasn’t misread anything you’ve sent his way, so why? Why are you so vested in torturing him this way? 

“Coin makes me happy and, now that I have it, there’s nothing to keep me here.”

There, that hurts you too, just as he meant it.

“Then leave.” They could make ice fortresses out of the strength of your bone-cold stare. “If you have nothing else to say, then take your goddamn trunk and get out of my sight.” 

The flame scorches him, ripping him apart and in his anger, making him cruel.

He bows to you.

“I imagine you will be very happy with your new husband, ranita.”

The term slips from his lips before he can stop it, but his throat and cheeks blister so badly, he physically can’t open his mouth to correct his mistake. Instead, he turns and strides towards the door.

He thinks he hears a gasp from behind him, a sharp sound like breaking glass – small, tinkling, tragic. It spears him through his chest, pierces his heart. 

He gets to the door and pauses.

If you have nothing else to say . . .

Of course he has something to say – words in English and Spanish and broken dialects gathered like poisonous lichen all churning in the boiling cauldron of his mind, but nothing will suffice – nothing reflects or compares to the grief he is already feeling, the despair, the anguish that has settled into all the fleshy joints in his body. Not his pride, but this, saying goodbye to you, this is what actually will kill him.

Every word imaginable crawls up his throat and rages in his mouth, presses up against his teeth, begging for something, anything to be let out, to be free, to tell you that he cannot fucking live without you–

Nothing comes through, but one single word.

“Don’t.” 

The fire crackles in the silence, a wicked god pleased at the display of carnage.

“What did you say?”

A dull thud echoes from where he drops his forehead against the wood of the door, all anger flooding out of his system. Do you have any idea the power you hold over him? One request, one tremor in your voice and his knees all but buckle at your altar. 

Fuck it. 

He always thought he’d go out in a blaze of bloody glory, but he’d never expected to be so exposed, so flayed like this.

“Don’t,” he repeats, his throat as dry as sand. “Do not . . . marry him. Please.” 

The vision of your great warrior slumped against the door frame, his neck bent, shoulders curled up to his ears has your already pounding heart leaping forward into a gallop. He is defeated, laid low. You watch his guts all but pool out on your hearth. 

He looks about as hopeless and anguished as you feel. 

Your soldier, your man of iron and charcoal, goes blurry in your eyes.

“And what would you have me do, Pero?” Your plea is damp, malleable at the edges. You press your hand flat against your chest, near your throat, as if you could pull the grief lodged there with your fingers. “I have been engaged to this man before I was even born. How can I stop this?” 

“Fight.” The word snarls against his bare teeth. He turns, his eyes liquid ink, and suddenly he has you by the shoulders. His thumbs nervously skitter around the curve of your shoulder, gaze just as unsteady and unfocused as it wavers between your hands, your earlobe, your neck. "Where is my brave girl who fights for what she wants, hm? Fight – for me, please.”

Fight, he asks – but in spite of him or because of him?

You lay your hands on the silver shine of his breastplate, watch as they rise and fall with his steady flow of breath. How many nights had you woken up against that shine, in the crook of his arm for warmth, or protection? You didn’t cherish it at the time because you never knew when it would be your last. 

“Why won’t you fight, princesa?” His voice is low, strained, the groan of a wagon wheel before it breaks. You meet his gaze and the exposed look on his face, softening every line on his mouth and around his eyes, nearly sends you into hysterics. You swallow the tears, swallow the hook in your throat as your fingers curl around the clasps of his cape. 

"Because if I don't fight then I can't lose.” His fingers slip from your shoulders, to your elbows, to your waist. You inhale and the scents of warm leather, oil, and ash flood your mouth. The tip of your nose is inches from the scruff of beard against his cheek, the ruddy brown of his sun-drenched skin. He has curled you into him and this, you do not fight either. His massive palms map your back, against your skin, but without any urgency or control. “If I can’t lose, that means I don’t lose you. You'll just be . . . gone."

That last word is a lie. It hangs in the air like a sweltering humid rain and you both know you’re lying. He has you wrapped up in his arms, you didn’t stop him even for a second, and you are all too aware that it would take some great, insidious alchemy to ever truly tear him out of you. 

You stare at his silver collar, defiant against the waves you had managed to shackle down until this very moment: a wave of hopeless crashes into you, a wave of heartbreak, a wave of helpless that fills your eyes to the point of spilling with that very same salt water.

He touches your cheek delicately, fingers rough with callouses, and the floodgates break open with a sob. 

“Preciosa,” he rumbles softly against your hairline, “hush. You break my heart with your tears.” 

“Do not mock me, Tovar. Not now.” you sniff, trying to turn your face but his wide hands catch you around the cheeks.

“You are beyond mocking. I’d show you my heavy heart but I do not wish that weight on anyone.” The snag of his rough thumbs against your cheek draws your watery gaze to him. His mouth is a flat line, barred against whatever climbs his throat, but his eyes move like mercury across your nose, your eyelashes, the arch of your cheek. Your fingers wrap themselves around his wrists, a grounding agent against the waves that threaten to pull you under. 

“Pero, I –,”

“I have fought you, tooth and nail, for days without end. Every favor, every breath, you have forced them from me. I fight my own mind when I sleep at night. Sueños, always of the same woman.” He smears away the tears with his thumbs, gently, sweetly, before pressing his lips to your wet flesh by his knuckle. He inhales deeply, eyes closed, mouth hovering stationary above the skin of your cheek. “You fight me every step of the way . . . and I am so tired of fighting.” 

For all your struggling, for all your tearing and clawing and snarling against the blooming in your chest, nothing is as easy as it is to turn your head and press your lips to his. 

The brush of his bristled mustache against your upper lip. His warm, rough palms holding you steady. His lips soft and hot. You are overwhelmed by the scent of him.

There is nothing like, and nothing will ever be like, finally kissing Pero Tovar. 

All it takes is the movement of his hands from your cheeks to your lower back, the light trace of his tongue against your lips, and the yearning you’d been smothering for weeks now roars to life. His hands squeeze your hips and you can suddenly barely breathe. 

“Pero–,” the noise in the shape of his name that escapes you is near a whine, begging. He nips at your lips, hand firmly at the cup of your jaw, mouth now rough and insistent, and your fingers claw up his neck, wrapping themselves in his dark curls. You tug, nails scratching his scalp, and he groans into your mouth as if you’d just kneed him in the gut.

A thread-bare gasp of your name from his lips splits you from him, then his hand on your hip and the back of your neck pushing you backwards gives you enough air to breathe – to think.

"Your husband will know you're not a virgin,” Pero warns, breathing hard and fast, his eyes like black flints, “if we go on." 

You curl your fingers around his neck, dragging your mouth near his jaw, the soft skin at the edge of his ear.

"Then he will also know my heart is not his either.” You ask everything of him with this. His armor blocks his warm body from you – you want to sink inside his hard shell. “If you’ll have it.”

He is not himself, half-human with an inhuman want, with the snarl that leaves him. 

“Don’t make such promises, dulzura –,” A threat, a dog forced to expose its underbelly, fear radiating like the pain from a broken bone. Your fingers dig into the buckles of his cape, steadying you against a sudden terrible awareness that bloomed, purple-bruised. 

“Unless you don’t want –,” 

The desk rattles when your hips break against it, the force of his kiss enough to topple over your inkwell, spill rolls of parchment to the floor. The wood groans under your weight when he gathers the thick swell of your thighs in his hands, heaves you onto the flat surface, and spreads your knees around his waist. He is as hard as the iron on his chest. 

“Can you feel how much I want you?”

A frantic sigh of relief, a groan shared between two pairs of lips, seeking skin and warmth and other hungry places. 

He drags you onto his chest, your skirt bunched up around your hips, the rings of his armor digging into the soft flesh of your thighs, his mouth covering yours in wet pulls, and he stands up right, as though you weighed less than his sword. 

A stumble, and he spreads you out on the velvet covers of your marriage bed, his hands imprinting on your hips, your knees, the supple meat of your calves. The touch of him on your bare skin feels like the licks of flames, the smoke of arousal blurring your awareness and dragging your eyelids half-closed. On his heels at the edge of the bed, the flint shards of his eyes drift over the bones of your ankles, the bend of your knee, your heaving chest, hair in snarls around your neck and caught behind your back, and finally to your cunt, hidden by the folds of your dress. 

Velvet hums as you slide your ankles to the curve of your ass, widening your legs, parting your knees. His lips part open, dark want etching every line of his face. You feel the wet linen of your dress cling to your achy cunt. He swallows, unbuckling his cape one latch at a time, his eyes nowhere else. The metal clatters as it falls to the floor.

Piece by piece, the chinks in his armor fall away. Piece by piece, he is revealed to you. Your hands rise up, up your thighs to your knees, your thumbs rubbing soft circles. He watches, never tears his gaze away from your sticky hole, his nimble fingers working away the buckles and knots with practiced precision. You can see it in his eyes – memories of bedrolls by firelight, of such a deep painful, yearning ache, separated only by thin tarp, they are a physical weight beside you in this marriage bed. 

You see them because they’re there for you too. You see them because you've been here a dozen times, on your back, legs spread wide, your hands circling but never dipping, waiting. Wanting. For him. 

His bare chest is warm, the wings of his ribs expanding around short, half-drawn breaths, as he crawls up into your pliant mouth. The kisses are slow, like before, with a crackle of heat just beyond them, his hips slipping into the cradle of your thighs, the wet warmth of you separated by the thin linen of your dress. He sucks the tendon below your ear, a whine slipping out of your mouth, fingers spreading over the harsh planes of his back, and his cock bobs against your thigh. 

Pero is bare and warm and entirely yours. All man beneath the sweltering armor. 

“Amorcita,” he drips into your ear, kisses smeared against your collarbone, your mouth, your earlobe, “amorcita, amorcita . . . ranita, let me take you.” 

He starts to use teeth, a harder nip behind his kisses, when he dips down to your chest. A wide palm with stocky fingers grasps at your breast and it’s a startling sensation for you both. 

“Soft,” he moans before licking up under the supple curve of your breast, mouthing at what his tongue missed. He slips your erect nipple into his mouth and twists it between his teeth. “Sweet,” he murmurs with your nipple firmly between his lips. 

This is unlike anything you’ve felt before. You deliriously thank the gods that he hadn’t touched you like this on the road; you would have kept him, your own wild animal, in bed without rest for days on end.

Pero plucks just as aggressively at your other breast, the spit-wet nipple that preoccupied his mouth verging on purple and aching. He cups you from the outside this time, squeezing and massaging, ringing your nipple with his tongue until your back bows and you let out a whine that has his eyes flickering up to you, the scent of wounded prey filling his nostrils. 

That whine of pleasure elongates into a whimper: “please.”

“Tranquila, ranita.” His touch is softer around your bruised tits, but he keeps one hand bagging the weight of your breast while the other slips beneath your skirt.

The pads of his fingers brush your creamy cunt and with a yelp, you grab him by the wrist, your eyes open with a familiar emotion he draws out of you: rage.

“Pero Tovar, if you value your life you will take me under the covers and put your —,”

He chuckles, his cheek against yours, nose rimming the velvet hairs on the ridges of your ear. The vibrations liquify the tension in your bones, loosening your grip. Your eyes flutter, slick obviously running down his fingers. “Ranita, I don’t think you know how you want to end that sentence..”

His words roll like honey over the heat of your skin. It makes your skin tremble. Your grip tightens on his wrist and you roll your hips, your swollen clit finally relieved by the pressure of his palm. 

“Oh, oh, Pero—,” 

With a grunt, he shuffled closer, elbow by your shoulder and he cups your entire wet cunt in his hand, pushing the heel of his palm flatter against you. You cry out, a sparkling kind of pleasure radiating out from where his hand rests. You buck your hips faster, complete release flickering through your outstretched hand. 

“Can you come like this?” You nod, eyes squeezed shut as you barrel towards escape, and you feel him shudder next to you. You are intimately aware that he’s rubbing his cock on the crease of your hip bone but that only drags you faster towards the light. “Then come, ranita, come and I’ll fuck you.” 

The wet, curling heat growing between your legs descends, then in a bright snap, explodes across your body. 

“Fuck!” You tear open your eyes to find them damp, Pero’s massive hand cupping your cheek towards him, his stallion eyes dark as his fingers drag on the soaked material of your dress, your hips slowing. 

“Amorcita, breathe.” The words are torn from his chest, all cock-suredness gone from his frantic gaze. You gulp in air, the weight of his body over yours grounding and smothering you all at once. He pulls his hand away from you, rides it up your thigh to your waist, looking for something to hold onto. He strokes his thumb once against your overheated skin and you’re wriggling up out of your dress. 

“Help,” you hiss and his fingers nearly tear the fabric off you.

With a few undone buttons, you shiver out of your dress, the slick-drenched spots catching on your warm skin. He flings it behind him, near the fireplace. 

He takes you barely beneath the thick covers before you welcome him back to the heat of your open legs. 

But instead of reeling back and plunging his aching cock into you, he takes the time to kiss you. To praise you in all the ways he fears his mouth will end up short. He kisses you, grateful, reverent – wonderful to be swallowed by but also a distraction.

When he lifts your knees by his waist, your hips automatically tilt towards him and for the first time, you feel his red, sore cock between your tacky lips. The dual sensation nearly drags you over the rack of delectably delicious pleasure, as does his worn, broken groan in your ear. 

“More, please, don’t stop.” You cry against the bristles of his beard, his hand dropping between your sweat-slick bodies, finding yours already there to guide him. The press of him spreads you open, filling you one sinking notch at a time. The sensation of your pink, dripping walls moving to take more of him in has you arching up into his chest, nails dragging into his back. His dry lips stifle the moans escaping from your mouth. 

Pero takes both of your hands in his, dragging them above your head, his fingers locking your palms together as his hips roll forward. “Cálmate, amorcita, cálmate,” he murmurs between distracted presses of his mouth against your chin, your cheek, his breathing heavy and stunted. You writhe, pinned open by his hips and his hands, his cock filling you all too slowly and not fast enough. 

With the last few inches, you take him completely, your cunt throbbing, heart pounding, intoxicated by the sensation of being so maddeningly full. Pero drapes over you, his head tucked into your neck, forearms straining with the tension of gripping your hands tightly. 

“Santa madre . . .” He is not a warrior right now. He is but a man, cunt-drunk and heaving. 

His name is pushed out of the bottom of your lungs with the first swing of his hips. You cling to him, knees at his ribs, unwilling to let even an inch of space between your bodies. But this becomes increasingly difficult as his thrusts gain speed. His flushed lips stain a sticky line against your jaw, down to your throat, and he releases your hands, the oak of the bed creaking beneath the force of him drilling down into you, he props himself up on his palms, his shoulders bent and curled over you, biceps straining, hairline damp, eyelids fluttering. The scar on his cheek is flushed pink.

“Look, amorcita, look how well you take me.”

His words tear you from your nebulous high, the grit of them forcing your head down to the obscene squelch beneath the sheets. The thatch of rough curls over his groin is drenched in slick, his thick cock soaked to the point of shine as it drives into you again and again. The heavy draft of breath the sight steals from him, the tap of his cock against a place so deep you didn’t know your body possessed, draws the spooling bliss as tight as a wire. 

Your trembling thighs squeeze him tighter, that hot pressure rendering you speechless, except for the most pathetic whine. Please, Pero, please, you think, you mutter, you whisper, your body rocking damp against the sheets. 

With a sudden snarl, he takes the chunk of your hair at the base of your head flat in his fists and tugs. A shoot of bright pain sparks bliss down to your tight and bruised nipples, and you cry out again. 

“Stop fighting, puedo sentir cuanto la quieres. Let me have it.” It is the following word that splits you open like lighting carving apart a tree. “Please.”

The wail that you release is the rush of gooseflesh over your skin alchemized into audible sound. Heat radiates through you, sucking the air from your lungs, your vision going blurry, then black as you clamp your eyes shut against the rush, the final release, that curls you into his arms. His warm, flushed arms, shaking with strain. A final wobbly thrust or two and his elbows are buckling, sweat-drenched chest pressing into your own.

Distantly, you are aware of the warm, slick drip down your thighs, his cock pulsing the last drops into your cum-flecked cunt, and the dangers this sort of intimacy poses. You can’t gather enough breath, enough sense to settle the spinning room, to worry or even care. 

Your his, and he is yours. That is all that will ever matter. 

The crackle of wood burning is the only other sound than your ragged breaths, the silent roll of sweat from sticky hot skins into the bedsheets. The stone walls of the castle’s room entomb you together for a brief stretch of infinity.

Pero moves and you think he’s going to back out of you, but instead, he merely adjusts, his head fully on your chest, thick fingers clutching your bruised waist, the shift of his cock pushing more of his release out of your oversensitive cunt. But you’ll take overstimulation over his absence every time. You run your fingers through his damp curls and he hums. 

“I’m sorry,” he huffs into your humid skin. “I’m sorry I let my pride keep us apart for so long.” 

You grin lazily to the ceiling, your breath settling as affection takes its place in your chest. 

“You were not the only one blinded by vanity.” 

“But I’m not blind. Not anymore.” He lifts his head, eyes as dark as your spilled inkwell. “I am never letting you go.” 

You smile at him, fingers soft against the back of his neck. “I don’t plan on wandering away.” 

His oil-black gaze drops to your lips and he leans forward to take your mouth against his. Gentle, but with the promise of more. 

“Mi ranita,” he purrs to break the kiss. 

“You call me that all the time, Pero. What does it mean?”

At that, a nearly shy expression crosses his face. He shakes his head, shifting onto his elbows to lift off you. “I can’t tell you. It will ruin your good mood.” 

You gasp, offended, and you grab him by the ear and twist. He chuckles through a grimace. “You will tell me what that means, Pero Tovar, if you value your appendages.” 

“Órale, princesa, retract your claws and I will tell you.” 

You release your grip and settle against your pillow. Grinning bashfully, he kisses your neck briefly.

“Remember that I love you after I tell you this.” 

Your heart nearly stops, the absence of a steady beat nearly drawing tears to your eyes but you hold firm. You breathe deeply against the fluttering in your stomach and pin him with your glare. Of course, this is how he would profess his love to you – when he’s trying to get out of trouble. 

“Tell me, Tovar!”

He chuckles again and preemptively picks up your hands. He kisses the inside of your palms, settling himself between your thighs. 

“It means little frog.” Your mouth falls open in a gasp and you struggle to yank your hands back from him, hissing like a tea kettle, but he uses his weight to press down on you. He nips at your nose. “I call you that because when you’re upset with me, much like you are now, you puff up like a bullfrog, your cheeks like this–,”

He rounds his cheeks full of air, crossing his eyes, and you simply cannot take the slight anymore. You push roughly against his gut, the breath trapped in his mouth escaping in a hot puff, and you twist him onto his back. He lets you, of course, his bold, full laughter rendering him defenseless. His body shakes beneath you, his beautiful eyes squeezed shut, his mouth open wide as he laughs and laughs and laughs. You take him by the wrists and push his limp hands over his head, pinning him as he had you. You pinch his chin with your teeth, your messy cunt over his stomach, as his laughter subsides. 

“Have you had your fun yet?” 

“Barely,” he chuckles, turning his big nose against your cheek and inhaling. He hums.

“Is that all I am to you? A joke?”

Pero opens his eyes, sober as death rattle. He takes you in, not in a hungry, all-consuming way, but in a look that speaks of awe and rapture.

“You are everything to me.”

You sigh, releasing his hands and curling into his chest. He kisses the top of your head, your eyes on the roaring fire. His thumbs rub your shoulder blades, trace the lines of your spine.

“You’re so very lucky I love you too.” 

His wandering against the expanse of your back stills, just for a moment, before his fingers slide into your hair, around the nape of your neck, holding you to him with the intention of keeping you there forever.

“I know, ranita, I know.” 

He watches you sleep as the sky lightens beyond the tall windows on the opposite side of the bedroom. The dying fire traces your edges in gold, settling heat in the curve of your lips. 

His heart lurches with the wanting of you.

There’s more terrible things to come, he knows that. The plan the two of you concocted in the early morning hours will be dangerous, deadly even. But dying together instead of living apart would be much more tolerable, you told him earlier that night, your hand on his chest. 

He would kill if you asked. He would kill, even if you didn’t, to keep you safe and by his side. You’ve proven yourself capable of living a life away from this spectacular opulence, but it pains him to know he will never be able to give you anything nearly as lovely as the velvet dresses in the closet, the gold jewelry in your trunks. 

Instead, all he has to offer is himself. His strength, his hands, his heart. It’s his own fear that tells him that’s not enough, because you remind him again and again that’s more than you ever wanted. 

He traces the curve of your cheek with the hovering pad of his finger, brushing your hair away from your face. How he ended up so lucky with your love, he’ll never know, but he will spend the rest of his days proving that he’s earned it. 

You stir in your sleep, sensing him above you, and he hates to steal even a few minutes of blissful sleep from you, knowing the endless nights that are coming. When he steals you away from all that you’ve ever known. 

The sleepy grumble in your throat resembles his name as he curls around you, but your eyes remain gently closed. He pulls you against him, the air that leaves your mouth and sits between your chest and his something he covets with his whole heart. 

I love you and I’m disgustingly lucky and I love you. 

He is a man made of dust, serving men made of silver. He is a man of dust, loving a woman made of gold.

El orgullo? No, Abuela, his ranita will get him first, last, and every time.

+

Translations:

Sana sana culito de rana. Si no sana hoy, sanará mañana. - This rhyme is typically said to children when they have just hurt themselves. The parent (or grandparent) usually rubs the part that is sore and sings this little tune. Literally translates to: "heal, heal, little frog’s tail. If you don’t heal today, you will heal tomorrow."

el orgullo - pride

dulzura - sweetness, romantic connotation

amorcita - little love, romantic connotation

Tranquila - quiet, as in "be quiet" or "relax"

Cálmate - take it easy, or take it slow

puedo sentir cuanto la quieres - I can feel how much you want it/love it

Órale - okay, or an exclamation expressing approval or encouragement.

ranita - little frog, but you knew that already ;)

the rest are cognates (or familiar words) which you can probably guess the meaning of, but feel free to message me if you don't know!

[absurdthirst]

A Marriage of Convenience {Regency!Pero Tovar x F!Reader}

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 20.5k

Warnings: Dying parents, arranged marriages, mentions of dying in child birth, fear, anxiety, panic attacks, poor Pero has PTS, virgin reader, vaginal sex, oral sex (female receiving), conversations about birth control, mentions of spousal beatings, pregnancy, childbirth

Comments: When your dying father sends you to Spain to wed Don Tovar, you know nothing about the man besides that he is a widower with two small children who will never love you. Finding your place in his household will take a stiff spine and a loving heart, making peace with your marriage of convenience.

Co-written with @storiesofthefandomlovers

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|| MasterList || Pero Tovar MasterList ||

Click Keep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says 'creator chooses not to use warnings'. You also agree that you're the right age to be consuming anything here.

“Father, you cannot send me away.” You shake your head, dread welling in your stomach and you press your hand to the silken material of your day dress, the stays of your corset the only thing keeping you upright at this moment. Not that your stays are as tight as most of the noble ladies that come and go on the marriage mart. You have no desire to be married, to be chattel to a noble man and birth his children. Even though your father has just informed you that the man you are to marry already has children. A widower who is not so choosy as to a new wife that he is willing to take on an old maid who is nearly set upon the shelf and discarded at every social function during the season. 

Pero Tovar is the name of the man you are to wed. Not only are you to be married off, but you will be shipped away from your home. Sent to Spain with no one that you know around you. Completely without allies and unable to easily go home if you are unhappy. Your father had met him in London and arranged your marriage before returning home to inform you. “Please.” You beg softly. “Do not make me marry a man I have never laid eyes on.” 

“You have no choice. I am dying, daughter. You heard the doctor. I have months left. I do not wish to leave you without stability. The time has come for you to marry. I cannot allow you to delay it anymore. Tovar is a wealthy man. He has a large estate and two children from his late wife. He doesn’t need some young maid to birth children for his heir. He is stern but he has very strong morals. You’ll be safe with him and that’s all that matters. Please do not argue with a dying man.” Your father begs and you choke, tears stinging in your eyes as you embrace him and he rubs your back, knowing these moments before you go to Spain will be the last you spend together.

The day has come for you to leave your father, and despite your best efforts, you weep. Over the course of the month, he had grown more frail and could not even accompany you to Spain to see you wed in person. Embracing him in his sickbed, you know word would come that he had passed, your cousin inheriting the home you had grown up in, and all the wealth your father had accumulated. Your dowry is carefully packed into a large trunk, generous enough that if it had been known, several in London would have made you their wife. Instead, you will be Lady Tovar. “I love you.” You murmur, wishing you could stay until he had left this earth. “I love you father, I am sorry I was not the boy you wished to carry your legacy forward.”

Your father tuts, “don’t be silly, child. You are my life. After your mother died…you are everything to me. My world. I love you. If you could have everything, I’d give it to you.” He promises and cups your cheek, his hand shaking. 

Your eyes sting with tears and you grip his hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “I know.” You promise, reluctantly pulling back. 

“Go. Go live your life. Just promise me you’ll be happy.” He orders and you sniff, wiping your cheeks and you nod. It takes everything in you to leave his chambers but you do and you make your way down to the carriage to begin the start of a very long journey to Spain.

The trip to the ship takes nearly a week. A broken carriage wheel, a broken axle, and a thrown shoe from one of the horses. It seems as if the entire trip is cursed. You occupy yourself by writing letters and reading a few of the books you had packed into your reticule. Wondering if your father has passed already and praying that he has not. When you finally reach the ship, you sigh as you stare at the sails. Rather than just a short journey across the channel, it will be another week, sailing up the coast of Spain before you disembark. Your betrothed’s men should meet you there to carry you to his summer estate in the country.

When you step foot on land, you are relieved and exhausted, anxious and ready to be in your new home. Your husband to be doesn’t come to greet you, not that you expected that anyway but you are greeted by his secretary. “Señorita, I am Carlos. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Come this way, the carriage awaits us.” He says, gesturing to the horses behind him as the staff begins to gather your things to secure them for the final leg of your journey.

The carriage seems to be sturdy and soon you are pulling away. “Tell me about your lord.” You beg, having heard very little from your father beyond the rudimentary information. You want to know more about the man you are supposed to wed. “What is he like?” How a man treats his staff says a lot about him. That is what your father always told you.

Carlos looks at you, appraising you for a bit until he answers. “He is stern. Unforgiving but fair. He knows wrong from right and is only violent when the need occurs. He loved Maria, his first wife, but after she died, he has become a recluse. His children are cared for by the staff and he rarely interacts with them. If you want my honesty, señorita. The house needs life and love once again. It’s cold and lacking happiness.”

You bite your lip, repressing a small shiver. He sounds…..austere. Unyielding. You feel for the children who seem to have lost both their mother and father at the same time. “How old are the children?” You ask politely, aware that if he was not giving love and attention to his children, it would be your job. You remember how terribly you had missed your own mother, though your father had been your rock through grieving.

“They are five and seven. They do not remember their mother. Both too young. Luis - the youngest - was the child born when Maria lost her life. She doesn’t remember her mother. Alejandra, she - she doesn’t remember her either. They are - needing love and attention as all children do and their father - he is a busy man. That’s why he wanted a wife who was capable of nurturing his children when he is unable to.” Carlos explains and you glance out of the carriage as the Spanish port city turns to countryside.

“I see.” You wonder if the children are too painful a reminder of his late wife. If that was the reason he could not be around them. “And his holdings?” You ask. “He is a lord, is he busy with his lands?” 

Carlos nods and sighs. “My lord works long hours to make sure that the estates and the lands that are used by his people are properly maintained.” He tells you, making you feel a bit better about the situation. 

“Then I will make sure that he has a comfortable home and well behaved children to come home to.” You promise. 

Carlos nods, appreciating your compliance and he watches you as you look back out of the window. You are beautiful, have an air of maturity the other girls, the local ones, had lacked. His lord has been searching for a wife for a while, but no one has fit his criteria. He doesn’t want a simpering girl who wants romance, he needs a partner who can assist him with his home and his children. Carlos knows that Pero’s heart is cold, iced over after the death of Maria and he doesn’t know if anyone can melt it.

The good thing about you is that you know that love and romance are not expected, nor required in most marriages. You aren’t a starry eyed little girl who will wish that her husband falls desperately in love with her. From everything you are hearing, that would be quite impossible. You will settle for mutual respect. The rest of the journey is spent quietly thinking, making plans for your new home that could be tossed out the window the moment you arrive. You do not even know if your future husband will be there to greet you.

When you pull up outside of the summer home of Don Pero Tovar, it’s beautiful and instantly takes your breath away. It’s picturesque and grand but when you have a closer look, you can see the cracks, the work that needs to be done. The shutters are crooked and need new paint. The flowers are gone and the paint is peeling everywhere. “Oh. I- it’s beautiful but-” You start and Carlos finishes your statement, “it needs work. After Señora Maria died, Don Tovar just let the place go, too preoccupied to maintain it.”

You nod, understanding that he might not have had the heart to continue to look after the details that make his estate a home for his family. “Then I will hire workers to restore his home to its former glory.” You decide with a smile, eager to get to work and contribute.

Carlos hums as the carriage comes to a stop, “if he allows it. He - it’s - it’s almost like he is stuck in the past, never moving forward.” His eyes widen and he shakes his head, “please señorita, don’t - he mustn’t know I said that.” He murmurs and you nod, “it’s our secret.” The secretary exhales and reaches out to open the door to the carriage, stepping out and holding out his hand to assist you down.

There is no staff lined up to greet you. No betrothed waiting at the door to introduce you to his household. The pots next to the large double doors of the house are empty, filled with dirt and sticks. Providing an unwelcoming air and you try to think of it as some kind of omen. “Well, it is late.” You excuse, biting your lip as you look around.

Carlos looks guilty as he opens the door to guide you inside to find the housekeeper, Señora Garcia. “Come, let’s take you to your quarters and we shall start fresh in the morning, you have had a long journey and I’m sure you’d rather meet everyone after resting.” Carlos says and Señora Garcia nods, “also, your lady’s maid, Carmen, will be waiting in your room to help you prepare for tonight. We will bring dinner to your room.”

You tilt your head. “Prepare for tonight?” You ask, confused by what he means. “What is happening tonight?” Surely he does not mean that Lord or Don Tovar meant to wed you tonight after you’ve only just arrived? You have not even met the man, you had hoped to have a conversation before he becomes your husband. 

“The wedding.” Carlos says like you should’ve known. “Did no one inform you that Don Tovar wanted to be married as soon as you arrived?” You shake your head and Carlos sighs. “You are to be married tonight. Carmen will help you dress and we will bring your trunks up to your quarters. The wedding will be at eight. We will bring food to your room beforehand and a bath. You’ll be the lady of the house tonight.”

Closing your eyes, you try to suppress the tremble that races through you. Stiffening your spine and taking a breath before you open your eyes and nod. “I will be ready when Don Tovar says.” You agree, making Carlos nod in approval. “I would also like a cup of tea to be brought up, right away.” 

Carlos nods, “sí, señorita. I’ll make sure you get your tea.” He assures you and you sigh, following Señora Garcia up the stairs to your quarters. The house is dark and damp and there seems to be no sign of life anywhere. You immediately feel alone and cold, regretting leaving your home, your dying father for this pitiful estate.

****

By the time your tea arrives, it’s accompanied by your meal. Cold and unappetizing, you wonder why the cook would send you a plate such as this. Investigating your room, you find that it has not been properly aired out, dust still sitting on the window sills and the candle holders not refreshed with new candles. It seems as if you are to be un-welcomed or the staff who works here is completely unskilled in how to run a house. 

“Señorita, bienvenidos.” Carmen says as she walks in, “I am sorry I am late. I am your lady’s maid and I am here to assist you with getting you ready for your wedding to Don Tovar. Was your dinner acceptable, señorita?” She asks and notices your frown, “what is wrong?” She prompts, wanting to be there for the soon to be lady of the house.

“The meal was cold,” You explain, understanding that she is not to blame for that. “As was my tea.” You tilt your head and look at the lovely young woman. “Have you worked for the household for long?” You ask. “Is this how meals are normally delivered?” If it is some kind of custom, you would try to be more understanding, but you don’t think that it is. 

Carmen shakes her head, “absolutely not. I- you shouldn’t have had a cold meal and cold tea. Please, señorita, let me get you a new, hot -” 

You interrupt her, “no. It’s not - I’ve eaten it now and I do not have time to waste. I need to bathe and get ready for my future husband.” You inform her and she nods, “I will go fetch the hot water and we will get you ready.” She promises and rushes off.

You are grateful that your trunks have been delivered, your dress you had made clean, if slightly wrinkled from being packed. Airing it out, you had hoped you would wear this while marrying a man that you had met before, but it seems unlikely to happen now. You had not even heard any movement in the large house. 

Carmen works diligently to clean you up, washing your back and making sure the dirt from the journey has been washed off prior to your wedding. Once you’re dry, she works on styling your hair and soon enough, it’s time for her to help you into your dress. “What’s he like?” You ask her as she buttons your dress and Carmen bites her lip. “He’s…direct but fair.”

“That seems to be what everyone says about him.” You hum. “Is he a handsome man?” Carmen glances at you nervously. “He- some think him handsome. But-“ she glances around your empty bedroom and lowers her voice. “He has a - a scar. Over his left eye.”

You inhale sharply, wondering how a man like Tovar got a scar over his eye. You’re worried now, scared that he is going to be a rough man. “He’s a good Don, fair and harsh but I think you will be good to have in this house. We need light, we need love. It’s been missing for far too long.”

It doesn’t take much longer for Carmen to declare that you look perfect. Your nerves flutter in your stomach and you press your hand to it in a meager effort to calm them. “Then perhaps you can show me a little of the estate while we walk to the chapel?” You assume that there is a chapel on the grounds that you will be married in. Giving your maid a weak smile, you try to hide the fear. 

Carmen nods, “of course, señorita. Come, let us go now. Your intended will be waiting.” She says and you exhale shakily, trying to gather yourself to get married to a man you’ve never met before.

The estate is beautiful, the ground neglected like the house, although you can tell someone had once cared for them a great deal. You wonder if that was your soon to be husband's late wife. It doesn’t take long for you to see the stone chapel, overgrown and yet the soft candlelight coming from the windows gives it an enchanting glow. You take a deep breath and glance at the maid for some reassurances. 

Carmen squeezes your arm and winks at you, “everything will be fine.” She promises but you both know she has no way to assure that. You stand in the entrance of the chapel when the violin starts to play and you swallow harshly when Carmen gestures it’s time for you to go. You exhale shakily and step foot into the main hall of the chapel. 

**** 

When you step into the chapel, Pero keeps his back turned. Your father had shown him your miniature so he knows you are a beautiful woman. Not that it makes a difference. He has far exceeded the socially acceptable grieving period for Maria and now he’s expected to get a wife. He needs a mother for his children and a woman to maintain his estate. The music plays as you walk down the aisle and when you approach him, he turns around and inhales sharply when he sees your face. You’re gorgeous. A woman most men would kill to wed but he doesn’t care about looks, he cares about you filling the position that has remained empty in his home. He wonders if you like the look of him.

Your steps forward stumble briefly, but you recover. Catching your breath and smiling softly, you find him to be most handsome in a visceral, viral way. Rough and not exactly tamed, although many would say that you were possessed to think that way. HIs eyes are dark and watching you, making your skin heat and you wonder if your future husband approves of you. Stepping closer to him, you stop directly in front of him and take another breath. “Don Tovar.” You murmur, curtsying prettily. 

You curtsy so perfectly, it’s almost enough to make him smile but he doesn’t. He hasn’t since Maria died. His life is now black and white, his love taking all of the color in the world with her when she died during childbirth. “Señorita.” He greets you and takes your hands, turning towards the priest who was called to marry you. Pero’s secretary and Carmen are to bear witness to the marriage and Pero is glad there’s no audience to see him remarry a woman he doesn’t even know.

The priest recites the vows in Spanish and you follow along closely. Listening as he proclaims that marriage is a sacred duty to your husband and you can barely look at your intended. Sneaking a glance and trying not to fidget. “I do.” You murmur quietly when you are asked if you take the Don as your husband. Your eyes meet his and you bite your lip, wondering if he is unhappy. He is frowning, he must be unhappy with his decision to marry you. 

Pero remembers his wedding day to Maria. How excited he was. Young and eager before the days of war to marry the woman he loved. He was ready to have a future with her and it was ripped away from him on one fateful winter day. Tovar recites his vows and when the priest declares you husband and wife, he leans in to kiss your cheek. “Welcome, mi esposa.” He whispers once you are married.

A kiss on the cheek was not what you expected, turning to find his lips when he pulls away leaves you flustered. “Gracias, husband.” You murmur quietly. His secretary and your maid clap quietly and you turn back to them with a smile, thanking them for witnessing your vows.

Pero takes your hand to guide you out of the chapel and to the carriage awaiting to take you back to the main home. Pero doesn’t say a word as you are carted back and when you arrive, the housekeeper takes your hand to assist you inside. “There’s no need to arrange our bed chamber. My bride will be spending the night in her own room.” Tovar reveals with a grunt.

“Yes, Don Tovar.” Carmen nods and you are left feeling rejected even if you had been nervous about the wedding night. It is silly to think of, but you hope it’s because he wishes to get to know you before you become intimate. 

“Then I wish you a good night, husband.” You nod politely to him and wait for him to speak.

Pero turns to look at you, reaching for your hand and he bends down to kiss the back of it but it’s cold and emotionless. “Buenas noches, señora Tovar. I will see you tomorrow so we can discuss your duties. Carmen, escort her to her room. Garcia, vamos. We have much to discuss.” Tovar says to his secretary who nods and steps beside him as he strides over without a glance back towards you.

“I see what you mean.” You murmur to your lady’s maid as she starts to guide you back up the stairs. “He is devoid of much emotion, although at least he is polite.” It is better than some men that you had met. “Is there a library in the house?” You ask curiously. “I fear that I had brought many of my own books when packing my trunks.” 

“There is a library, señora. It- it needs organizing. It has been neglected for many years but the children do study there during the day. It needs a refresh. Perhaps you may ask Don Tovar if he will provide you with the tools to refresh the room where the children learn.” She says and you hum, letting her escort you back to your chambers. 

**** 

“She is beautiful, no?” Carlos asks his employer who grunts as he sits down in the chair, working on removing his shoes and his wedding attire, wanting to be comfortable. “She is but you know I don’t care for beauty. I need a woman to run the house. To show those fools in society that I have fulfilled their requirements. I don’t need her company, I just need her presence. Her father was desperate to marry her off before his death and her dowry was enough to keep her without spending my coin. She’s suitable for the role and I’m hoping the children will attach to her.” Pero says and Carlos nods, “we shall see.”

You wake up shrieking as a pitcher of cold water is tossed on your face while you lay in your bed. Bolting upright, you flail your arms, hearing giggling as you try to blink and see what or who is attacking you. Finding two children grinning at you in defiance as the oldest holds the empty pitcher in his hands. It is still dark outside, at least you think it is, for the curtains are still drawn over the large windows. Pero’s children. Your husband’s children have woken you up by throwing water on your face. You leap from the bed right as you hear the pounding of footsteps and the door to your room bursts open. 

“Alejandra! Luis! Mierda!” Pero growls as he storms into the room to find his children standing there with their hands behind their backs. “What is wrong with you?” He growls, turning to face you when he sees you are soaking wet, his eyes dipping down to the white gown you’re wearing, now see through and he swallows harshly at the sight of your nipples. Carmen rushes in and he turns towards her. “Gather water for a bath to warm her up and get her a robe.” Pero demands and turns back to his children. “I was walking past when I heard the commotion. You cannot do that. Why would you do that?” Pero hisses at his children who stare at him defiantly. 

“We thought it would be funny.” Alejandra answers and Pero inhales deeply. 

“That is not acceptable. You will miss breakfast and today, you’ll be writing lines - saying you will not abuse your new mother.” He says lowly and Luis shakes his head, “she isn’t our mama. We don’t want her. We want our real mama.” Luis stomps his foot and Pero pinches the bridge of his nose. 

“Go to your rooms before I get the belt.” He threatens, knowing he wouldn’t actually hit them but every day they test him and push him closer to physical punishment. 

“Papa-” Alejandra chokes and Pero hisses, “do not test me girl. Now get out of my sight.” He hisses and the children rush out of your room.

“I am sorry.” You murmur quietly, covering your arms over your chest and shivering in the cold. It is chilly in the room since there is not a fire laid in the grate and you wish that you did not feel so exposed with his eyes on you. “I- I do not know what happened.” you shake your head. “I was sleeping and then - I just - they do not wish for a new mother?” You had expected that the children were accepting of your new husband marrying again, but it is apparent they do not want you here. That will make things more difficult for you if you expect to forge any kind of bond with them. 

“They are loyal to their mother.” He answers curtly, wanting to add that he is too but he feels that would be too insensitive. “They will come around. They have been troublesome and I am hoping a female presence will help them adjust.” He says and Carmen rushes over with your robe to help you cover up.

“Thank you.” You wrap the robe around you and find that your husband does not seem to care for you being here any more than his children and you swallow harshly, feeling incredibly alone. “I see.” You nod and decide that you might as well broach the subject since he is here. “Then I have permission to discipline the children?” You ask him. “If they are to respect me, then they need to see me as an authority figure as well as a motherly one.” 

“Yes, but I do not physically punish them. You are welcome to discipline them as you see fit. I have struggled to control them. They do not seem to want to be around me and I - I must admit I am a little hopeless about how to handle them.” He confesses, “if you can control them, you’ll have my admiration.”

You nod, thankful that he will allow you to curtail his children’s rambunctiousness. “I also wish to reorganize the library and freshen up the house to make things more homey.” You add. You do not tell him that his home is desperately in need of repair, but that would be something that you would be able to tackle with a good scrubbing and a good airing out. “Would that be acceptable to you?” 

Pero nods, unable to argue with you when you are doing exactly what he wants to be done. He needs his home to be returned to its former glory and his children to be nurtured and loved in ways he has failed. “Very well, señora. I will let you prepare for the day. Breakfast will be brought to you and you are permitted to explore the house as you see fit. It is your home now.”

“Thank you.” You murmur quietly, wondering if you would ever have a meal with the man you call your husband. “However I will order dinner to be served in the dining room this evening.” It will be the first time you will have imposed your will and you wonder if he will dismiss your wishes. “Perhaps the children can join us?”

Tovar nods, “very well.” He doubts he will eat dinner with you. That implies that you are having some kind of relationship and that isn’t what this is. You’re here to fill a position like if he were to hire a new housekeeper. Pero stares at you for a moment before he steps back and makes his way down the hall to his office.

You blow out a breath, happy and yet slightly discontent with his answers and you feel like he has no intention of trying to get closer to you. It’s like he does not actually want you here, but needs you. “Well, good morning to you as well.” You huff sarcastically under your breath.

Pero continues on with his day, attending to the finances due at the end of the month for the tenant rents and salaries for the staff, signing off on the accounts for the food and necessities. It’s a laborious job but Carlos can only do so much. Your presence here will alleviate the household requirements from him but the estate needs maintenance. The day gets away from him and he is soon preparing for lunch.

You sigh, exhausted and wipe your brow as you collapse into a dusty couch and look around the room. The library will be days in the making to turn into a lovely place to read and teach the children. Who have been watching you warily and not paying attention to their tasks. They are seated at a table, their books open, but neither one of them has completed an assignment. “How do you like the gardens?” You ask, looking over at them. “Is it lovely to have picnics there for lunch?”

Alejandra glances at her brother before she answers you, “we don’t have picnics in the garden. Papa doesn’t really like for us to go outside.” She tells you and Luis nods his agreement, making you frown. “He says it’s dangerous to go outside in the gardens.”

You purse your lips, not remembering any kind of warning about staying out of the gardens. “Perhaps your papa means that it would be dangerous for you to go out there by yourselves?” you offer, standing up and wiping your hands on your apron that you had covered your day dress with. “Why don’t we see about having the cook make up some picnic food and we can take lunch out there? Explore and take in the fresh air.” It was obvious the children were bored and isolated, running around in the gardens would be good for you and them. Perhaps it would even help them like you.

Alejandra is cautious as she watches you, placing her pencil down so she can look at you properly. Luis tugs on her sleeve, shaking his head, and she pushes him off. “The garden, Luis.” She says pointedly and the little boy giggles, making you tilt your head. “What’s so funny?” You ask and Luis shakes his head. “Nothing.” Alejandra answers, “a picnic would be lovely.”

You frown but nod. “Alright. Put your books away and we will venture into the kitchen.” You smile. “Perhaps the cook has made cookies for us to have.” You shouldn’t bribe the children with sweets but you want to break through their prickly exteriors. They are still young and it has been a long time since their mother has been lost to them. “How does that sound?”

Luis nods, cautious but easily swayed by cookies. Alejandra is more reserved, offering you a look as she closes her book and you smile at her, trying to disarm her cautious nature. The children soon have their books stored away and they rush towards the kitchen, calling out for the cook who has become a mother figure for them. Señora Lola. “¡Ay niños!” She exclaims as they practically slide into the kitchen.

You can’t help but smile as the children greet the cook with obvious affection and your complaints about your first dinner being cold are forgotten for the moment. They hug the cook excitedly and both begin talking at once, turning and pointing to you. When the older woman looks up at you, you nod your head politely. “The children and I would like to have a picnic luncheon in the gardens.” You explain in Spanish. “Would we be able to put together a suitable fare for this?”

Lola nods, “of course, señora. I can prepare a basket for you and the children.” She assures you, “would you like a cup of tea while I prepare lunch?” She asks and you nod, moving to sit down at the kitchen table while the children tell Lola about their lessons. You can sense that she’s like a mother figure to the young ones and you’re glad they have had someone since their mother passed. Lola works fast to get you a cup of tea and the children a glass of milk while they wait.

“Thank you.” You watch as she moves about the kitchen, finding her to be quick and decisive as she gathers her ingredients. This is not a woman who is sloppy or resentful it seems. It makes you wonder why the food was so horrible the day before. When the kids are busy drinking their milk, you smile. “Tell me about yourself, Señora Lola. It is obvious you have been with the Don’s household for many years.”

Lola smiles, “my mother was the cook before she retired. My father was the Tovar’s butler and they fell in love and had me. Mi mamá taught me everything I know and we have been in the Tovar household for three generations. My son is a gardener. My husband is the groundskeeper. Maria - bless her soul - was the heart of the home. She lit up every room she was in.” Lola sighs and glances at the children.

“I understand that I am new.” You venture softly. “And I cannot replace Señora Tovar, but I would like to bring some comfort and happiness to her family.” You know that you can’t just force these people to accept you. Not when they had lived for so long with the ghost of the woman who had left them broken. You bite your lip. “Will you help me do that, Señora Lola?” 

Lola nods, “if you can bring hope and light back to this home, you will forever have my admiration and gratefulness, señora. You are Señora Tovar now.” Lola tells you and you bite your lip as she prepares the lunch.

Once the lunch is packed away in a basket along with a large bottle of lemonade, you have Carmen bring you a quilt to spread on the grass to sit on. Guiding the children out of the large, glass doors into the garden, you smile at the bright sun and fresh air. The weather is beautiful and you can see yourself bringing the children out here often. “Where would you like to sit?” You ask, looking around the neat but barren gardens. It’s obvious Lola’s husband keeps them up but there has not been any new flowers or plants added for some time. 

The children point to a spot near the pond and you allow them to guide you towards it. Carmen spreads out the blanket and you settle down with the children. Pero is standing up to stretch when he sees you and the children on the lawn. He tilts his head and wonders how you managed to get them to sit down for more than five minutes. Maybe he did make the right decision.

Eating outside seems to have been a magical treat for the kids. They ate politely and minded their manners after the promise of running around after they finished was made. You can tell they enjoyed it and by the time you had to pack up to go back to the house to finish their lessons they were sleepy. Making you smile at the way they leaned against one another.

**** 

“Señora, is this the color you prefer for the drapes?” Carmen asks you as you appraise the different materials and pattern samples. It’s been a month since you’ve been in Pero’s home and you have been slowly working on bringing the home back to its former glory. The children have grown closer to you, wanting their meals in your company, yet still no sign of your husband.

Pero walks down the hall, the portraits of his ancestors lining the walls and he notices the change of the decor. Everything seems dusted and shiny, and the rugs are pristine. It’s fresher and brighter. He knows it’s your doing and that makes him smile, assured he made the right decision to marry you.

“I think it will look lovely in the breakfast dining room, don’t you?” You ask, finding Carmen to be a wealth of information and a good judge of character and design. As the two of you had grown closer the more time you spent going through the house room by room. Even the kids were helping when it was time to scrub walls and beat rugs out in the garden. You had turned it into a game where you covered their eyes and spun them around before they whacked the rugs with a broom. They had giggled and fallen down, but it was worth the extra time it had taken to freshen the rugs. “Perhaps, even if he does not dine with me, Don Tovar might enjoy reading his paper and drinking his tea in a bright and cheerful room.”

“Papa! Papa!” Alejandra rushes up to her father who is shocked at her cheerful greeting. 

“Sí, mi tresoro.” He answers and she grins, “we are going into town today.” She declares and Pero frowns, not liking the idea. 

“Whose idea is this?” He asks lowly and Alejandra says your name. Pero sighs and tells his daughter to lead him to you. She takes his hand and guides him to the kitchen where you are sitting with Lola. “Hola.” He greets his cook who smiles at him and says “hola señor.” His dark eyes turn to you, “Alejandra tells me you are taking the children into town today?”

“I am.” You nod as you set down the book you are making notes in. Carmen hustles to put the fabrics away and you send your husband a small smile. “The children need new shoes and I have several merchants that I wish to visit.” You glance at Alejandra with a proud look. “The children have assured me that they will be well behaved, and they are excited to spend their own pin money.”

Pero frowns, “I do not like them going into town. I do not want you going into town. It is dangerous.” He says, remembering when Maria went into town while with child and was knocked over. She went into labor early with Luis and that’s the night that she died. His hands shake a little and he shakes his head, “you are not going. I forbid it.”

Your brow arches and you look towards Carmen and Lola. Both women quickly bow and disappear. “Alejandra,” you urge his daughter. “Go and find your brother.” You urge her as you stand up and brush your dress down. If you are going to disagree with your husband, you are not going to do it in front of the staff or his children.

Pero meets your defiant gaze and he clears his throat, “I will not allow you to go into town. It’s dangerous. If you need something, you can tell the staff and they will go and get it.” He compromises and you glance around to make sure no one is around.

“Don Tovar, I appreciate your concern for my well-being but I am not a child and I will not be held hostage on your estate.” You declare. “I will take a footman and a driver with me, and exercise all caution. But I am going to town. Now….is there anything you wish for me to get while we are there?”

Pero clenches his jaw, remembering that moment Maria was carried into the house, her screams still echo through the halls of his mind. “No. I forbid it. You won’t be leaving this estate. That’s an order.” He growls, reaching for your wrist to grip it, his hand shaking as he remembers the night Maria died.

You wince when he grabs your wrist, squeezing it hard enough that your breath catches in pain. You wrench your wrist away from him, yanking your arm down and stepping back, your eyes wide with both fear and anger. "I am your wife. Not your servant." You manage to keep the fear from making your voice tremble.

“You can’t go. I - I can’t - Maria - she- please. You cannot go.” He shakes his head, his chest starting to heave and he hates how anxious he’s become at the thought of losing more from his life. He has barely spent a moment with you since the wedding but the idea of his children losing another woman from their lives makes his chest tighten.

Fear turns to worry, making you step forward and reaching for his arm. “Pero?” You do not use his Christian name often, but you use it now. “What is wrong? Take a breath.” You urge him, frowning at the way that your husband has turned from cold and demanding to panicked. “Talk to me.”

He pants, unable to calm himself down, and he clings to you, pulling you close and he can’t control his thumping heart, remembering the night he lost Maria, the night he lost the light of his life. He closes his eyes, trying to control himself but he’s failing.

You nearly stumble, but you don’t resist him. Holding onto your husband’s waist while he trembles. He’s obviously horrified by the idea and you can’t understand why but you don’t want to make him do this. “Alright, alright, I will not go into town.” You give in, hating that you are but perhaps you can talk to him and come to agreement later on when he has calmed down.

Pero inhales deeply, remembering what his doctor told him to do, and he tries to calm himself down, grounding himself with your touch. He takes several moments before he opens his eyes, his gaze meeting yours. “I- I’m sorry, esposa.” He murmurs, his hands still gripping you.

"It is alright." You murmur soothingly, wanting nothing more than to make him feel comfortable around you. You are supposed to be here to help him, and it seems like he needs help with this. "I am here, I am right here." You assure him with a smile.

When you smile at him, he jerks back and lowers his hands, the shield back up as he gathers himself and clears his throat. “I, uh, I am going to go - go back to my office. I trust you will send Carmen in your place to town.” Pero says and quickly turns to rush back to his office, away from you and the children once more.

You stare after your husband, completely flabbergasted and frustrated. The man dictates that you must stay at the estate, not go to town and has an apoplexy before fleeing back to his study without giving you a reason why you must be a hostage. Blowing out a frustrated sigh, you turn and curse your husband's stubbornness. You need to know what happened to Maria and why town is forbidden.

Alejandra and Luis shake their heads when you tell them you are no longer heading into town. “Please. Tell Papa we must go!” Alejandra whines, clinging to your skirts. 

“I’m sorry, amor. He won’t allow us. We must listen to him.” You say and she shakes her head and looks up at you to stomp her foot. 

“I hate him!” She cries and runs off, followed by Luis. You sigh and sit down just as Carmen comes over with a tea tray. 

“Señora, I do not wish to speak out of turn.” She says and you shake your head, “when do we hide our feelings and thoughts, mi amiga.” You smile at her and she smiles back, glancing around when she takes a seat beside you. 

“Don Tovar has - has a lot of fears about you going into town because that was the night he lost Maria.”

You frown, unsure of why going into town would cause a woman to die in childbirth, but you take your tea and listen. “I do not understand.” You shake your head. “Maria died giving birth to Luis, I thought?” You frown, knowing you will need to soothe the children’s feelings later on, but you want them to be able to calm down before you try. If you know why your husband fears it so, you can explain better to disappointed young children who don’t understand why they cannot have fun. 

Carmen glances around again, “Maria was far along with Luis when she wanted to go into town to fetch more yarn for knitting. She - she was an independent woman and Don Tovar, he - he worshiped the ground she walked on. She loved him and he loved her. When she went into town, she was robbed for her jewels and coins and thrown to the ground and it sent her into early labor. The thugs were never apprehended and she was rushed home and the doctor was called. That was the night Luis was born and Maria died. They thought Luis was going to die too but he survived. Don Tovar was never the same.”

“Oh.” Your shoulders slump and you can understand why Pero is fearful of his wife going to town now. Even if he does not love you, the children have grown close to you and it would hurt them to lose you. “That is so sad.” You look down into your tea with a sigh and wish for a moment that this had been explained to you sooner. “I better understand why he is so hesitant, but he cannot think that the children will be kept here forever, does he?” 

“He has…attacks when he has concerns about the children’s safety. I think - I do not wish to speak out of place but I think that’s why he has pushed the children away.” Carmen says and you nod in understanding. “I think he wishes he could connect with them but it’s hard since all he sees is Maria. He loved her. She was his childhood sweetheart and they married young before he left to fight in the war.”

You sigh softly, knowing you would find it romantic if he didn’t push his children away. To close himself off from pain. “Then I will make him.” You decide with a firm press of your lips. “I will go talk to the children. Inform Lola that the children and I will be taking lunch in Don Tovar’s study.” You decide. “Since he refuses to take his meals in the dining room, we will come to him.” 

Carmen won’t argue with you, knowing it is futile, so she nods. “Very well, señora. I will tell Lola now and will let Carlos know.” 

You shake your head, “not Carlos. I want it to be a surprise.” You say and she nods, “sí, señora.” You smile and she stands, bowing her head before she exits the room, leaving you with the news to tell the children. 

**** 

Pero looks up from his papers when there is a knock on the door and he calls out “come in.” When you enter followed by the children, he’s shocked. “Señora?” He frowns, setting his pen down.

“Husband.” You send him a smile and guide the children over to the table that sits in front of the sofa and they sit down. Alejandra is still pouting, but her tears have dried and she is not so angry when she was told her papa feared for her safety. “Carmen will be bringing in our lunch soon.” You explain with a cheerful smile. “I thought that since you work so hard and are so busy, we would join you here to have lunch together.” 

Pero’s frown deepens, “lunch together? Are you not able to have lunch in the kitchen?” He asks and you raise your eyebrows at him. 

Pero bites his lip and you answer him, “the children would like to spend some time with their father seeing as we are no longer going into town.” You say and Alejandra stands up to walk over to Pero, reaching for his hand, “please papa. Let us have lunch together.” Her pout is Pero’s unraveling as he nods, standing up from his desk chair to walk towards the sofa.

Luis grins, unaware and still too young to understand his father’s hesitancy, but he begins to tell his father about the Spanish Armada that the governess is teaching the children about lately. “Sí, mijo. The English defeated us.” His dark eyes meet yours as he answers questions Luis excitedly asks him and he seems to relax a little. Lola and Carmen bring the meal in and the four of you begin to eat.

“I have decided to ask Carmen to direct any traveling merchants to our house when they are going through town.” You take a sip of your tea and look at your husband. “As well as inquire about children that are near Luis and Alejandra’s age that might wish to come play with them. Soon the house will be ready for visitors.”

Pero frowns, “why would we require merchants to come to my home?” He asks as he picks up his glass of wine. “And for the other children…I suppose it will be good for them to mingle with others.” He concedes that point, glancing at you and he’s taken back once again by your beauty, especially when the light hits your face.

“We require merchants to come to your home because the children need new shoes, their own are pinching their feet and the cobbler cannot make their shoes without measuring their feet.” You point out. “Also, I enjoy socializing and since I am not permitted to go to town, I will simply have town come to me.”

Pero sets his wine glass down, “I suppose that is for the best. I want the children to have everything they need, I want you to have everything you need. You - I am guessing one of the staff told you about Maria?” He asks, curious if anything has been said about his behavior.

You could lie to him, but you don’t. “I was told about the night Luis was born.” You admit softly, understanding how such a thing could haunt the man, especially since he was a soldier in the war. You wonder if the poor boy you have come to love even gets any acknowledgement on his birthing day, or if grief is too overwhelming. “You have my deepest sympathies.”

Pero swallows the lump that always forms in his throat when he thinks about Maria and that fateful night. In a way, he’s glad he didn’t have to discuss it with you, to relive that horrid night, but another part of him knows he needs to discuss it with you, to tell you why he brought you here and has yet to consummate the marriage. That time is not now though with the children here. “Gracias, mi esposa. I- I would like to have supper with you tonight…if you want.”

Your head tilts in surprise but you don’t voice it. “That would be lovely, Don Tovar.” You murmur softly, aware that he is asking for a dinner that is apart from the children. “I will ask that Lola makes your favorite dish.” You offer, smiling slightly. “Do you have any preference for dessert?”

Pero’s gaze dips down to your cleavage. You are a beautiful woman and he has not indulged in pleasure since Maria died apart from a few times where he had spent his coin and then felt incredibly guilty after when he felt like he was betraying his beloved wife. Tonight is about giving your marriage a chance, giving you a chance when he’s been so closed off from you since your wedding night.

You don’t miss the way that your husband's eyes dip down to your breasts and you wonder if he has finally decided to acknowledge that he has a wife. You aren’t ignorant of the relationship between man and wife and yet you have still retained your chastity well into your marriage. Pero mumbles something about a sweet and you nod. “I will make sure that is what you get, if you so desire.”

He nods in appreciation and Luis takes his attention by handing him a cookie from the tray. “Gracias, mi amor.” Pero smiles at his son. 

“Papa, will you come and ride with us tomorrow?” Alejandra asks, wanting him to join them for their riding lessons. 

“I- I am busy, mija. I-” 

Alejandra shakes her head, her lower lip trembling. “Papa. I want - please.” She begs and Pero looks at you, a little lost.

“Your Papa is a very busy man, sweetheart.” You remind her gently. “Although, I believe that he should be able to join you for at least one hour? Yes, Don Tovar?” You ask, glancing from Alejandra to your husband. It will allow the children to see their father and still not take too much time away from his busy work. Although you feel as if he spends much of his time working so he does not have to grieve. “How does that sound?” 

Alejandra nods, “please papa. Just an hour. Por favor.” She pleads and Pero nods, not wanting to see his daughter so pouty. 

“Sí, mi amor. An hour. Let’s go riding for an hour.” He compromises and she surges forward to hug his arm, “¡gracias, papa!”

You smile at your husband’s shocked face when his daughter smothers him in affection. Nodding when he looks over at you, asking if he is doing things right or perhaps seeking help. He’s doing something that will make his children very happy and it’s a good thing. “Now we need to finish eating.” You tell the children. “Papa needs to get back to work, so finish your lunch so we can leave him to it.” 

Pero nods, rubbing Alejandra’s back and he leans down to kiss her head. He can’t deny the way his heart twists at how much he’s missed out on with his little girl and his son. He knows he needs to be a better father to them. “Let’s finish eating.” He says and Alejandra nods, letting go of her father to settle down to eat. Lunch is finished in companionable silence and Pero is soon kissing his children on the head, promising them he will have dinner with them tomorrow.

“Go start your studies again.” You tell the children, smiling when they rush off and you turn towards your husband, slightly flustered to be alone with him for the first time. “I will clean up and get this mess out of your hair.” You promise. “Thank you for not turning them away. They talk about their papa every day and want to spend time with you.” 

Pero smiles, watching the children rush off after kissing his cheek then yours, and Pero watches them with his heart thumping. “Gracias, señora. You - you brought me back to my children and I- I never knew how to bridge the gap. I- I cannot repay you for that.”

“There is no need for repayment, Don Tovar.” You assure him, still calling him by his formal title since he has never permitted you to use his Christian name. “That is my job.” You know that he would rather be quit of your presence so you nod and quickly turn around to gather the meals up onto the trays to be carried back to the kitchen. 

Pero swallows harshly, “please…call me Pero.” He says and reaches for your hand. He squeezes it, and his heart twists as he thinks about you and how beautiful you are yet he feels like he’s betraying Maria.

“P-Pero.” you murmur, feeling shy now that he has stopped you from your task. You bite your lip as you stare into his dark eyes, wishing that you could tell him how handsome you find him. “Is there - something else you wished for, Pero?” You ask quietly. 

Pero stares at you for a moment before he withdraws his hand. This is progress but he knows he shouldn’t venture into his attraction to you. It will only lead to heartbreak, either his or the children’s. “No. That is all. I shall see you later for supper.” He says and clears his throat.

You are disappointed, knowing that he wanted something else but you don’t push him. He had shown that he had no wish to have a relationship with you. “Yes, Don Tovar.” You revert back to your formal politeness and you pick up one of the trays and you will send Carmen in to gather the other. “Good afternoon.”

Pero frowns, wishing to hear his Christian name from your lips and when you carry the tray out of the room, he leans back against the chair, sighing and rubbing his face. He wants this to work. He needs this to work. For the children’s sake. Dinner tonight will be his chance to redeem his terrible behavior.

The rest of the day is spent with the children. After asking Lola to make the Don’s favorite meal, you had finished their lessons and then took them down to the kitchen for both their dinner and their baths. Laughing when they pouted when getting into the water, and then pouting when they had to get out. Once they are clean and in their nightclothes, you chatter and joke with them as you take them back upstairs to put them to bed. Leaving you little time to get ready for dinner with your husband, but it is for the best. You had no time to think about why he wanted to have dinner with you now, so long after your marriage.

Pero adjusts his jacket - not the latest trends but well made, none the less- and he paces in the dining room, wondering if you aren’t coming as the minutes tick by. When you finally appear, you look beautiful and his heart flutters in his chest after laying dormant for so long. He strides forward, taking your hand in his and leans down to press his lips to the back of your hand. “Esposa, you look beautiful.”

“Forgive me for being late, Don Tovar.” You curtsy for him and hate how handsome he is in his evening jacket. “The children were begging for another story before bed and I could not say no.” Your own preparation for dinner had been rushed and you hope that he is not disappointed by your appearance.

Pero shakes his head, “don’t be silly, esposa. The children come first. I trust they are in bed?” He asks and you nod, “they are asleep and in bed.” You smile and Pero keeps your hand in his so he can guide you to your chair. He pulls it out and helps you sit before he makes his way over to his own seat.

Once you are seated, Pero sits across from you and Carmen immediately marches into the dining room with the first course. “Don,” you venture, smiling your thanks to Carmen as she sets down the soup. “I believe that we should hire more staff.” You tell him. “My maid also acts as the housekeeper and now she is serving our dinner. I believe that we need a butler and perhaps a full time housekeeper. That way we are not overworking our staff.”

“You are in charge of the household. If you wish to have another, I will have Carlos and Lola ask around in town.” 

You lift a brow in surprise, your soup spoon nearly to your mouth and you take your bite and swallow before you respond. “Thank you, I will have them ask immediately.” You smile at him again and Pero glances back down at his own soup as if he is shy. “The children are excited about riding with you tomorrow. I was surprised they had not learned already but they have come so far in their lessons.” If it is a rebuke, it is a small one. The children had been very far behind in their lessons and some had not started at all. You had been working diligently to get them on track to where they should be. “They are very bright children. You should be very proud of them.”

Pero’s stomach twists with guilt. He barely knows his children. He doesn’t know that they are behind in their studies when you mention they have much to learn. The guilt twists in his stomach again and he knows he can’t hide from them anymore. “I am.” He answers softly, offering you a rare smile. You are so kind, he doesn’t want to tarnish you with his sins.

Surprised by the smile, you offer one of your own and hope that he is starting to care. You continue to eat in silence, waiting for Pero to talk to you but the silent sounds of eating settles between you. It’s sad, really. This man doesn’t have more questions about his children and doesn’t seem interested in them. When you are done, you set your spoon down and quietly wait for the next course.

Carmen brings in the next course and Pero is struggling to find the words to make conversation. It’s been so long since he had dinner with someone and he’s a little out of practice with his etiquette. “Are you liking Spain or do you miss your home?” He asks you after rubbing his hands together.

“Truly?” You shrug one shoulder and look down at the plate in front of you. “I have not seen much of the country since the carriage ride to your estate.” You remind him, trapped here by your husband’s wishes. “But what I have seen is beautiful. Carlos is very hopeful we can restore the gardens and the greenhouse to their former glory.” You had learned that Pero had ordered that the garden not be planted, just maintained. As flowers would die off, they would not be replanted. At least until you had arrived. You suppose it was because Pero’s first wife had loved spending time in the gardens. The little pond of water had apparently been her favorite spot. 

Pero wants to bite out that the gardens are not to be touched but then he remembers why he brought you here to marry him. He needs someone to maintain his home. “Perhaps we can take a ride soon, I would like to show you my country.” He says softly and looks up after he cuts into his meat.

“I would like that.” He might not mean it. Might not ever do it, since he seems to blow so hot and cold, but you smile. “I have missed riding.” You haven’t gone for rides since the children would want to come with you and they were not accomplished enough to go so far and you do not know the area. “But there has been plenty to keep me busy. Have you any opinion on the changes, Don Tovar?” 

Tovar looks out of the window to the beautiful gardens, now full of flowers after your dedication to the garden, and he turns to look back at you. “The gardens looks gorgeous, mi esposa.” He says and turns back to his meal. “You are bringing the estate back to its former glory.”

“Thank you.” You feel proud that even if he is a man who does not interact with you much, that he sees your improvements to his home. “Was there anything that you wished to discuss with me?” You ask quietly. “I thought that might be why you asked me to have dinner with you?” 

Pero sighs, setting down his cutlery. “I wanted to discuss…if you were looking to have children of your own. We never got a chance to discuss it and I wanted to address the matter as it would mean us…consummating our marriage.” He says, trying to be as matter of fact as possible.

“I had hoped to one day have children.” You confess setting your own cutlery down and hate how handsome he is despite how aloof he acts. “I have put those dreams aside, now.” You look away, back down at your food and you aren’t hungry anymore. “It does not seem that you are interested in….consummating our marriage.”

Picking up his glass of wine, Pero knows he has failed in your marriage already. He’s been selfish and he isn’t sure how he can fix it. The thought of betraying Maria in this final way has his stomach twisting. “Are you- are you interested in consummating the marriage?” He asks softly.

You need to be honest with him. So you are. “I am not interested in being used.” You admit bluntly. “I have no experience with intimate relations, but I do know what to expect.” You assure him. “However, I would not accept being used to fulfill your needs and then ignored until the next time you have use of my body.” You could very well ruin your chances of any kind of relationship with Pero, but he asked. “You are a very handsome man, and I have found myself thinking about you often, but if you have every intention of satisfying your lust and then pretending I don’t exist until the next time you want to touch me, I would rather you just leave me untouched.

Pero nods, appreciating your candor and the way you hold yourself. It makes you more attractive to him. He sips his wine as he contemplates his answer. “I do not wish for you to feel used and I am not capable at this time of more than physical release. If you wish to experience pleasure, I will ensure you are satisfied with our marital bed. However, if you yearn for an emotional connection, then I would suggest we permanently place any relations on hold.”

You smile, albeit sadly. “Don Tovar, I have never expected love in an arrangement. I am not a silly, romantic girl. However, I will require you to respect me if we were to share our marital bed. Take your meals with me and perhaps some evenings beyond our pursuit of pleasure. I don’t require your heart, I know your first marriage was one of love and your affections still lay with your late wife.”

Pero is taken back by your refute to his offer but he appreciates your directness. “Very well. I assure you that I will try my best to ensure you are satisfied physically. Shall we - would tonight be appropriate or do you wish to wait until it happens naturally?”

You hum, amused by the idea of physical relations happening naturally with a man who has not spent more than two hours in your presence since you have been married to him. Perhaps it is foolish, but you want to know what it is like to be touched. “Tonight is fine.” You assure him and pick up your cutlery again. “Do you have any preference for physical intimacy? I do not have any reference, so I will need to be told if there is something I should not do. Or should do.”

Pero nods, “very well. Let us finish our meal and I will allow you as much time as you require to get ready for our consummation.” He assures you and continues to cut into his meal so he can finish eating. Dessert is soon served and you eat in companionable silence before the dishes are cleared away. “Take your time.” He tells you as he stands and waits for you to gather yourself from the dining room table.

You nod. “Give me twenty minutes.” You ask as he takes your hand to walk you to the stairs. “Then I will be ready.” You noticed that he did not answer you about his preferences but figure that he would just show you tonight. After all, it is a husband's job to teach his wife about how he prefers love making.

Pero watches you walk up the stairs and he exhales shakily, realizing that this will be a big step towards cementing your marriage as husband and wife tonight. He clears his throat and makes his way to his chambers to clean himself up. It’s been a while since he’s been intimate but he remembers that women do not like being with men who smell like a long day. He washes and dresses in his linen nightshirt, deciding to keep things simple for the act. Inhaling deeply, he makes his way down the hall to your chambers.

Tovar knocks on the door, heart thumping in his chest, and when you call out for him to come in, he slowly opens the door. “Hola, esposa.” He murmurs after he shuts it behind him. He takes in your figure, glowing in the firelight and his cock twitches under his shirt.

“Hello, husband.” You bite your lip and wonder how he will approach you and this. “What- what do you want me to do?” You ask, watching him carefully, more nervous than you had expected to be. You don’t think he will hurt you, but you had been told the first time is painful and that you would learn to enjoy it. “Do you wish me to get on the bed?”

Pero shakes his head, walking over to you to take your hands in his and he exhales shakily, suddenly nervous. It’s been so long since he’s been with a woman, especially his wife. His heart clenches when he briefly thinks of Maria but he pushes that aside. “Esposa, eres hermosa.” He murmurs, letting go of your hand so he can reach up to caress your cheek. You are beautiful and any man would be lucky to have you as their wife. You deserve better than him, than some half shell of the man he used to be. He slides his hand down to caress your neck and your collarbone, his fingers playing with the edge of your gown. “Can I take this off?” He asks, his dark eyes meeting yours, burning like embers in the flames of the fire.

Mouth dry from that simple touch, you nod. Watching him as his eyes seem to shine like a dark flame and you can help but to think that he is most handsome. His hands skim down over your waist and he tangles the material of your nightgown in his fingers and slowly starts to drag it up. Exposing you to the warmth of the fire and it makes you even hotter as your skin starts to burn from the simplest touch. Tonight you will just let him touch you, hopefully show you what he likes. Maybe you can help him by letting him find pleasure with you.

Pero tosses your gown to the floor and steps back, his dark eyes running down the length of your body. His eyes focus on your tits, swallowing harshly as his gaze lowers to the thatch of curls at the apex of your thighs. “Hermosa.” He murmurs, stepping closer to you, and he reaches out to caress your waist, pulling you up against his body. “Tell me if you want to stop. Or you don’t like anything.”

You nod, wanting to touch him but you don’t ask. Knowing you would hate feeling rejected if he pulled away. Your breathing stutters as his fingers slide up and brush the underside of your breast, nipple hardening and you bite your lip so you don’t moan wantonly. “Pero….” Your whisper is soft, pleading and you wonder why you are so eager to have this man touch you.

His hand squeezes your breast until he notices that you want to touch him so he reaches for your hand, bringing it to his chest. “You can touch me, esposa.” He assures you, inhaling the scent of your bath oil as he leans in to run his nose along the length of your neck.

His own dressing gown is hanging open at the neck and your fingers slide inside to touch hot, tanned skin. Biting your lip and trying to concentrate as his fingers brush over your nipple and make you gasp. Looking down, you see the gown tenting over his cock and your cheeks burn, but you are curious to see what it looks like, reaching down and brushing the fabric close so you can see better.

Pero hisses when your innocent fingers brush his cock. He reaches down, guiding you to wrap your fingers around him. His skin is hot and velvety and you explore him with utter lack of knowledge but he enjoys it. He likes that you have no expectations of him. He can just feel. He murmurs your name and his hand lets go of yours, letting you explore him while his palms continue their own adventure, palming your ass in his grip.

It feels wicked and yet you know that it is perfectly natural to touch him. You need to learn how he feels since he is perhaps the only man you would ever sleep with. Unless you remarry and your husband is obviously a hale and hearty man. “It is so hard.” You murmur in wonder. “And yet so soft.” You gasp when you feel a wetness on your skin and look down to see a smear of liquid on your finger.

He refrains from chuckling at your virginal observations. “Take your time, esposa. We are in no rush. No rush at all. I want to make sure you feel good.” He assures you and he slides his hand down between your legs, finding you wet and wanting him. He loves that and he is going to make you cum. From his fingers, from his cock. He finds your clit and loves the gasp that escapes you as he starts to rub the bundle of nerves.

Your eyes flutter closed and you hand to cling to his shoulder before your knees buckle. “Oh…ohhhh my….” You whimper, your grip on his cock loosening. You don’t know what he’s doing to you but you need more of it. “Pero.”

Pero grabs your waist, keeping you upright and pressed against him while he works your clit. His lips brush your neck by accident and you shiver against him. He rubs your clit a little faster, wanting you to cum for him for the first time. “That’s it, esposa.”

He doesn’t seem to mind touching you, increasing how fast he is rubbing but he’s groaning against your ear and encouraging you. For what you don’t know, you just know that your stomach is fluttering and clenching right up until stars burst behind your eye and you gasp as your cunt clenches on its own and a wave of heat floods your core.

Pero keeps you upright, working you through it and groaning when you bury your face in his neck. He groans your name softly and slides his finger back to gently push it inside of you, wanting to stretch you out so you feel less pain when he finally fucks you.

“Ohhhhhh.” Your eyes wide, mouth hit against his skin as you moan. Surprised to feel his fingers inside you and your body jolts when he pushes them up and presses against something inside you, “oh Pero.” You whimper, closing your eyes and unable to help yourself, you kiss his neck.

He curls his fingers, knowing he needs to make this good for you. He pushes his fingers a little deeper, loving the way you kiss his neck and he knows he should stop you but the intimacy makes his heart twist, his stomach clench. It’s been so long since he enjoyed the touch of someone else. “Fuck.” He curses, his cock twitching.

“Is this- is this how it feels?” You pant softly, your hips rocking up to his hand. Chasing the feeling that he pulls out of you. “All the time?” You are surprised that there aren’t more babies in the world if sex feels like this.

“Sometimes.” Pero chuckles softly, adding another finger, “sometimes it feels good, sometimes it’s just a physical release to relax. Quiero - I want you to feel like this all the time we are intimate, mi esposa.” He murmurs, his hand squeezing your ass to encourage you to rock down onto his fingers.

You feel so good, rocking on your feet as you wantonly move in your husbands arms. Kissing along his neck every time you grind down onto his finger, you feel that sensation start to build inside of you again. “Pero.” You whimper, clutching his shoulders and clenching around his fingers. “Pero- I- again- it’s- it’s-“ you cut yourself off with a small cry, another wave of pleasure and heat flooding you and making you forget about everything but the bliss of his fingers.

The way you clamp down on his fingers has his cock leaking. To hear you so unabashedly enjoying yourself has him groaning and he works you through it. His fingers soaked and he knows you are ready to take him. “Mierda.” He hisses, pressing his cock against your hip as you come back down to earth. Soon enough, he’s withdrawing his fingers and he wipes his fingers on his nightgown. “Come on, esposa. Lay down. I want to fuck my wife.” He says with a slight smile, knowing it’s taken way too long to get to this point in your marriage.

You hum, nearly floating on a cloud as you walk over to your bed and pull the covers back. Climbing into the bed and knowing that you will come out of it properly wed is thrilling and you lay back amongst the pillows. Watching as he walks towards you. “Are you going to remove your shirt, husband?” You ask softly, wanting to see your husband as fully as he has seen you. There is no love between you, but there will be passion and you wish to know what he looks like. 

Pero bites his lip, wondering if he will be good enough. If you will like the scars on his body from his battles won in the war. He exhales shakily and nods, reaching for the hem of his shirt so he can lift it over his head, fully exposing his body to you as you lay in your bed.

He is strong, you can tell that from the corded muscles that spoke of your husband doing much more than just being an idle lord. Bunching and rippling as he stands still for you inspection, you don’t hesitate to let your eyes roam over him. Widening slightly when you get your first look at his cock without some fabric blocking your view. “You are…handsome.” You admit breathlessly. “It- you make my core throb.”

Your words surprise Pero and he smirks, slightly cocky that you are satisfied with his appearance. He shifts closer to the bed until he is kneeling on it, his fingers caressing your ankle bone and up your leg. “That’s good. That’s lust, esposa. Do you desire me? Do you want me inside or you?” He asks, kneeling between your thighs and he doesn’t touch you so you can make the final assessment before he consummates the marriage.

Even though you are innocent, you are aware of what should happen. Feeling bold by the lust that is in his own eyes, you spread your thighs to reveal the thatch of curls covering your core. “Please, Pero.” 

“Mierda.” Tovar mutters and caresses your thighs. When he looks into your eyes and sees your certainty, he nods and reaches down to grip his cock. Shuffling closer, he notches himself at your entrance and slowly, so slowly, pushes inside of you. “Fuck.” He pants, trying to control himself but you’re so wet and tight. He exhales shakily and pushes deeper, wanting to make sure you are as comfortable as possible despite him taking your innocence.

You squeeze your eyes shut, feeling a pinch but it is not the painful experience that you had been led to believe that it was. Moaning softly as you feel him deep inside, seemingly deeper than his fingers had been, and throbbing. Your fingers dig into his shoulders again and you slowly open your eyes as you breathe out. “Pero.” 

The urge to bury himself inside of you is strong but he remains in control, slowly rocking his hips so he can work his cock deeper inside of you until he is settled inside of you. He knows you are a keen horse rider so your innocence was likely taken during a saddling but he doesn’t care. He’s damaged goods himself and he knows some men would want you to be intact but this is kinder to you and to him. He closes his eyes once he’s fully inside of you, his fists clenched as he tries to not spill his seed before you can experience the pleasure of sex.

“I- I feel so full.” You whimper, your fingers dragging across his skin and your legs shuffling slightly. He’s so still on top of you and it makes you want to move, need to move. To chase the same sensation you felt when you had his fingers inside you. You gasp when you think of what you heard your maids back home giggling about. Riding a man as if he were a horse and you clench down around him thinking about riding Pero like that, his cock deep inside you. 

Pero hisses when you clamp down on his cock and he inhales deeply. He reaches down to grab your thigh and he lifts it higher so he can sink deeper inside of you. “Fuck.” He pants and starts to move slowly.

You moan again, eyes widening at how well you feel him. “I- oh Pero.” You whimper, trying to roll you hips down but he has you nailed to the bed with his cock. “I-f-fuck.” You stammer out, the curse unfamiliar on your tongue but it feels like it is necessary for what you are feeling right now as your husband moves inside you. 

Your curse has his cock twitching inside of you and he groans when your walls squeeze him. “Fuck, esposa. You feel - it’s - perfect.” He allows you a minute access to his thoughts and that seems to make you wild. Clamping down on his cock and arching your back to egg him on. He starts to move faster, lowering his hips and groaning your name as he tries to make this good for you.

You enjoy the rough sound of his voice. Moaning again as he starts up a rhythm to his movements and making you nearly gasp every time he pushes deep. You slide your hands down your back, playing over scars and working muscles rippling under the skin. You feel like he approved of your curse so you do it again, followed by his name. “It’s so intense.”

He likes to hear that because it’s a lot to him too. To be intimate with his wife. He never imagined he’d remarry but he starts to think it’s possible to have a marriage with you, to be able to survive without Maria…perhaps even be happy. He enjoys your touch and slides his hand up to cup your breast, squeezing and he shifts so he can lean down to take your nipple into his mouth.

You hadn’t expected his mouth. Wrongly assuming that kissing being too intimate meant any part of your body and not just your lips. “Pero!” You cry out loud enough that the servants might hear and arch your back up, wanting more of the pleasure of his mouth at your breast. “Oh fuck, oh fuck.” You whimper, shivering.

He loves hearing you curse, his cock twitching inside of you, and he switches over to your other breast. He bites down on your flesh, nipping and sucking, and he moves inside of you, grinding deep. “You like this, hermosa?” He asks, lost in the pleasure of being inside of you.

“Yes, yes Pero.” You moan, closing your eyes and lifting your legs to wrap them around his waist. You know that you are making him feel good. At least you hope you are. Feeling his thrusts start to build faster, his breathing catching and starting to pant against your skin. “So much.”

He grunts when he feels you starting to clench around him and he drops his hips so he can press his pelvis where you need him more. “Cum for me.” He pleads with a groan, needing to feel you cum before he finds his own high. “Por favor, esposa. Cum.” He demands and drags his tongue along your sternum.

You shiver at the feeling of his tongue on your skin. “Ohhhh Pero!” You cry out, body starting to shake underneath his with the next thrust of his hips as you start to fall apart. Pleasure whipping through every inch of your body as you moan.

He clenches his eyes shut when you clamp down on his cock and he bites down on your shoulder as he barely manages to pull out of you, his hot seed spilling on your thigh. “Fuck.” He pants, cock twitching against your hip as he rides his orgasm.

Your eyes open and you frown in confusion as you feel the wetness of his seed on your skin. “I- is something wrong?” You pant quietly, wondering if you’ve somehow disappointed him.

He frowns, pulling back to look down at you. “What are you talking about? I- nothing is wrong.” He’s trying to catch his breath and he shifts to lay down beside you. “It was good.” He assures you, “did you not enjoy it?”

“You-“ You bite your lip and look up at the ceiling. “You spilled your seed on my thighs.” You murmur quietly, wondering if there was something wrong with you that caused him to do that. He was supposed to finish inside you. That’s what everyone said.

Pero closes his eyes, trying to conceal the pain. “I know - I know we aren’t - tonight was our first night but - but I can’t risk you being with child so soon.” He admits, reminded once again of Maria dying during childbirth.

“I-I am so sorry.” You close your own eyes, mortified that you had brought up something so personal to him. “I understand. Forgive me for being so thoughtless.” You know you have ruined things and you swallow down a sigh.

Pero shakes his head, shifting to swing his legs over the side of the bed. “Don’t worry, esposa. I- I’ll leave you to clean up. I have work to attend to.” He declares as he stands and reaches for his nightgown. “I shall see you tomorrow.” He says, turning to look at you after he edged towards the door.

You nod. “Yes.” You know he wants to leave and you sit up, his seed cooling on your skin. “I will clean up and then choose another book from the library before I go to bed. Goodnight, husband.”

“Buenas noches, esposa.” Pero says and swiftly leaves your room. Tonight, he gave in to his desires and left you upset after he pulled out of you. He knows you will urge him to have a child soon and he isn’t sure he is ready for that conversation but for now, he will retire to his quarters to read over the accounts before he falls asleep. He’s not entirely sure how long he can continue keeping you at arms length but he has to try. He cannot lose another wife.

**** 

The next morning, you are surprised to find your husband in the dining room when you come in. “Buenas días, husband.” You see that he is reading some papers, so you move to your normal seat with the cup of tea you had retrieved yourself when you had gone in to see Lola. “I hope your night was restful.” You had decided that you understood where Pero stood on getting you with child and you wished to speak with him about it. “Have you ever used a- a condom before?” You ask him. “My maid back home said they can be purchased from the chemist. Perhaps that would be a good solution?”

Pero raises his eyebrows over his newspaper, watching you for a moment until he chuckles. “Is that what you wish for us to use? I am happy to let you manage our…situation if you wish.” He trusts you and he isn’t sure when that changed.

“You said that you did not wish for me to be - to have a child.” You don’t add the ‘yet’ portion because you feel like he would rather that be ‘at all’. “So a co-condom would help.” You shrug, slightly self conscious now. “We don’t have to use one.”

Pero nods, understanding what you are saying and he appreciates your planning. “Let us have Carmen fetch us some things and then we have the choice.” He says, knowing that it will be hard to keep away from you now that he knows how you feel. The passion inside of you scares him and he knows if he allows it, he will lose himself in you. He can’t put his heart back on the line and the children need a mother. With a nod, he goes back to eating his pan con tomate and knows that you will take care of the issue of birth control.

Carmen brings you a plate of food and you thank her, eating in silence with your husband. You had not expected grand conversations with him, at least at the beginning, so you do not try to disturb him with idle chit chat and when you stand after finishing, you give him a small smile. “Have a good day, husband.” You wish him softly.

Pero watches you go and realizes that maybe he doesn’t just want this to be a marriage of mutual benefit. He finishes his breakfast in peace and decides to spend the rest of the day near the children.

****

“Where is my wife?” Pero asks Carmen, who frowns, “she’s in her chambers, Don Tovar.” She answers and Pero frowns, making his way to your rooms and he is even more confused when he enters and calls your name, only to find you aren’t there.

Biting your lip, you urge the horse faster. Knowing that you are breaking your word to your husband, but it cannot be helped. Luis is feverish, and Carmen and Lola had been nowhere to be found when you had gone searching for them. Frantic about your husband’s son, you know it would destroy Pero to lose the last bit of his wife that she had given him. So you broke your promise. Currently racing to town to fetch the doctor, you pray that the instructions you had given his sister were working and that you will be able to bring the doctor back from town in time.

When Pero finds the children, he’s frantic when he’s told that Luis has a fever and you have left to go to town to find the doctor. He can hardly contain his anxiety, his hands shaking, and he growls at Carlos, “I’m going to fucking find her!” He feels like he’s losing control, his heart pounding and his breathing is heavy. His legs feel like lead and his brain focuses on you and his children. Is Luis dying? Is this his punishment for his time in the war? Is he going to lose you? He pants and collapses to his knees, Carlos reaching out to steady him as his vision goes cloudy. “I- I - can’t save them.”

It is to your detriment that you haven’t been to town, wasting precious time to find the doctor and demanding that he come with you back to the Tovar estate. Shaking with fear and praying that you make it back in time to help your little boy. You didn’t give birth to him, but you have grown close to the children and you have come to love their personalities now they are being taught and challenged, time being spent with them. The mischief of your first meeting was long gone. Rushing to your horse and as soon as the doctor is mounted on his own, racing for home.

Pero manages to stand up, shoving Carlos away as he demands to know where you’ve gone. “I - Alejandra said she’s gone to the town.” Pero doesn’t waste a second, rushing to the stables and swinging his leg over his stallion, no saddle, he pushes the horse to the limit as he gallops towards town. Images of you injured or dead flash in his mind and he realizes how you have wiggled his way into his mind and heart. Your kindness and the feel of you beneath him have his heart twisting at the thought of anything happening to you.

Frowning, you spot a rider in the distance on the road. Unsure of who it might be, you glance back at the doctor who is on your horses heels and then forward again. Recognizing the haste in the way you see the horse being pushed, dread knots in your stomach, realizing that it must be your husband. Lifting a hand, even though he is too far away to shout to, you wonder if he will beat you for disobeying him.

Pero sees you as he gallops and he nearly falls off of the horse when he pulls on its hair to slow it down. “You - what the fuck do you think you are you doing?” Pero yells as you approach him and the doctor’s horse skids as he comes to a stop.

“Luis! Luis has a fever!” You cry out, panting for breath as your horse stomps and shakes underneath you, “I- I had to get the doctor.” Your own mother had died from a fever sickness and the idea of losing his little boy on your watch makes you want to be sick. “I- we must hurry Pero! He cannot die, not like mama!”

Pero nods, knowing that now is not the time to have this argument. “You’re unharmed?” Pero asks and you nod frantically. His heart is pounding but you are safe and unharmed from what he can tell so he turns his horse around and the three of you gallop back to his estate, back in front of the sick little boy in record time. Pero kneels beside Luis, watching the doctor and he swallows harshly, “por favor. Just - do something.”

You twist your hands, knowing that Pero is worried and you start to pray yourself. Carmen has Alejandra in the other room and you can hear her comforting the older child. The doctor works and you worry, pacing the floors continuously, eager to bring the doctor anything he might need and bringing in the basin of cold water that Lola brings up.

Pero holds his son’s hand while the doctor assesses him and murmurs prayers as you kneel beside him. He reaches for your other hand, squeezing it as he prays and the doctor starts to drain the boy’s blood in hopes of bringing down the fever. “Bleeding should help the fever break. If not, I have some bark I think will help.” 

Pero swallows, his throat is dry, “whatever you can do. I- I can’t lose him.”

You try to be there for him. Sitting strong and praying as the doctor continues to bleed the boy until he claims that it is enough. Wiping him down and checking his forehead again with a small frown before he moves over to the teapot he had requested with boiling water. You squeeze Pero’s hand and glance at your husband’s worried face.

Pero doesn’t know how long he lays there, his heart and mind weary as he watches his son. The doctor gave him the tea and left, stating it “is in God’s hands now.” He’s not eaten, he hasn’t slept. He just sits there and watches the little boy breathe. He doesn’t know where you are, he sometimes wonders but he’s too concerned about his son.

You watch. Waiting for anything and everything that Pero or Luis might need. Often leaving the room to comfort Alejandra and to let her know how her brother is doing. You don’t want her to feel forgotten and eventually you allow her to come into the room after promising to be quiet. The two of you sit in a chair behind Pero and eventually curl up together and fall asleep together from exhaustion and worry.

Pero isn’t sure when he fell asleep, perhaps the exhaustion got to him and he simply rested his head on the cool sheets, his eyes closing without his knowledge. “Papa.” He doesn’t hear the weak murmur at first. “Papa.” A small hand touches his hair and Pero’s nose wrinkles. “Papa.” The voice is stronger and wakes Pero up, his head shooting up to see Luis lucid and awake. 

“Luis” He gasps, reaching for him to check his views. His eyes are clear, his forehead cool but not cold. He’s okay. “Mi amor.” Pero chokes, wrapping his arms around the little boy to pull him into his arms.

You wake up, rousing Alejandra in your arms and nearly sob with relief that Luis is awake and alert. “Mama, is Luis okay?” Alejandra demands, her own worry for her brother causing her to not think about what she calls you. Your eyes widen and you try not to tear up at the honorary name, nodding and brushing her tangled hair back from her face and holding her close despite being on your lap. “It looks like he is.” You hum. “Go hug him and your papa.”

Alejandra nods, rushing over to her papa and her brother and she wraps her arms around them. Pero shifts, gathering the children into his arms and he sniffs, trying to ignore the tears that sting in his eyes as he embraces them. “Te amo, mijos.” He murmurs and looks over at you, “come here, esposa.” He gestures for you to come over to them.

Standing up, you are happy to see such a touching moment between the small family. You know you are a part of it now, but they are reminders of his wife and very dear to him. Walking over, you ruffle Luis’ hair and smile. “You gave us all a fright, Luis.” You hum, sliding your hand to your husband’s shoulder.

Pero reaches up to grip your hand in his, his terror at losing you or one of his children now subsided and in its place is joy that he doesn’t have to suffer another loss. The four of you embrace until Carmen comes in to attend to Luis, wanting him to eat something and drink. Pero tells Alejandra to stay with her brother and she nods. “I need to speak with you.” Pero says to you, his voice deepening as he reaches for your hand.

You swallow, aware that he will now punish you. You had disobeyed him and you know from everyone that Pero is a stern man. You follow him quietly, wondering why he is still holding your hand as he guides you out of the nursery towards your bedroom.

When Pero opens the door to your chambers, he pushes you inside. “What were you thinking?” He hisses, dropping your hand as he glares at you, “I told you to never go into town.”

“I was thinking that Luis was in danger.” You won’t apologize for your actions, but you understand his anger. “He needed the doctor and I could not find anyone.” You stand straight and stiffen your spine. “If you punish me, that is you right. But I would do it again. My mother died of fever and I did not want you to lose your last gift from your wife.”

Your words take Pero back and his jaw drops, staring at you as he absorbs your words. Your kindness knows no bounds it seems and that’s the moment it clicks for Pero. Unable to stop himself, he surges forward and you think he’s about to hit you but he doesn’t, instead, his lips press against yours.

You had flinched, you could admit that yourself but then you are gasping against Pero’s mouth, shocked that he is kissing you. He had told you that he wouldn’t do that again; it was too intimate for him. Yet his lips are warm and soft against yours and you cannot help but melt into him.

His hands grip your waist and his mouth moves against yours, his tongue sliding along your lower lip as he pulls you up against him. You moan into his mouth and his hands reach down to tug your skirts up, his hands soon pulling his cock free from his breeches, hard and aching. He needs you and he hopes you want him too.

You had expected a beating, not for your husband to fuck you. But you aren’t going to push him away. Your fingers tug on your petticoats and you quickly push them down. “Husband.” You gasp out when he pulls his lips away. “Please.” You whimper, enjoying his apparent need for you.

His hand grabs your thigh, lifting it over your hip so he can position his cock at your entrance and he pushes inside of you with a groan. “Fuck, hermosa.” He murmurs, caressing your thigh as he pushes deeper.

“Oh god.” You would probably collapse if he didn’t have his hand on your waist and use his strength to keep you upright. Wanting to kiss him again, you wonder if that was a fluke and he wouldn’t kiss you but you turn your head to kiss along his jaw while he throbs inside you.

He turns his head to kiss you, pressing his lips against yours as he starts to move inside of you. You’re so wet and tight and alive. You’re alive. He focuses on you and your touch, his mouth moving against yours as he presses you against the wall.

You had never considered that your husband could fuck you against a wall, and yet, it’s thrilling. You moan into his mouth and cling to him, not caring that his hips push you back against the wainscoting every time he thrusts into you. Your own tongue touches against his and your entire body shivers with pleasure.

“Fuck. Mi esposa. I- Don’t want to lose you.” He murmurs, kissing along your jaw, and he kisses down your throat as he lifts your hip a little higher so he can push deeper inside of you. “Fuck. Please. I need - I need you.”

“Pero.” You whimper, closing your eyes and letting him do whatever he needs to you. You are starting to fall for him, especially with how he worried for Luis.

It’s hard to imagine his days without you now. Cold nights alone have turned into passionate escapades scattered throughout the day, touches leading through the night. He has tried to stay away but you’ve drawn him in. He continues to work his cock in and out of you, groaning as he presses his lips to yours again.

Closing your eyes, you give yourself over to him completely. Clinging to him as he fucks you so deeply you know they you will be feeling him for days after. Even though he’s not wearing a condom, you expect him to pull out and spill his seed outside your body. The condom had been great and you loved the feeling of him pulsing inside you.

Pero kisses along your jaw, breathing you in and he needs you to clamp down on his cock. He grabs your other thigh, lifting you up completely as the adrenaline surges through him and he grunts as he lifts you up and down his cock, still pressing you against the wall.

Gasping, you wrap your arms around his shoulders and try to wrap your legs around him, your skirts bunched between you. “Fuck, Pero, I- I love you.” You moan quietly; needing to at least whisper it even though he doesn’t feel the same way. “So close.”

He hears it but he doesn’t respond. Instead, he presses his lips to yours and when you whine into his mouth, he groans against your lips when you clamp down on his cock. He should pull out but he doesn’t, too focused on you and how you feel and how he could’ve lost you. He grunts and keeps thrusting you through your orgasm until finally, he’s pushing deep and filling you full of his hot seed, painting your walls.

Your eyes widen and you are too busy worrying about the feeling of his hot seed inside you. Knowing he will regret it you are savoring this one moment. “Pero- Pero you have to let me- I have to bathe.” You whimper.

He doesn’t release you, his fingers digging into your flesh as he pants again at your chin, enjoying the feel of you surrounding him. “Don’t.” He murmurs, not wanting to let you go just yet. He can’t lose another person from his life that he cares for.

You frown but you don’t push him away, deciding that he knows what he is doing. “Okay, husband.” You pant softly, feeling him throb inside of you and start to soften. “Is-is this my punishment?” You ask teasingly.

Pero chuckles softly, pulling out of you and lowering you down to the floor. Your skirts settle down and he reaches down to tuck his cock back into his breeches. “No punishment.” He assures you and reaches for your hands, “please…just do not go into town unless you are escorted.” He compromises, knowing that it will be hard to overcome his anxiety surrounding town but he cannot keep you prisoner.

You bite your lip, aware that your husband is compromising. “Yes.” You murmur softly, leaning in and pressing your lips to his cheek. You don’t want to push him for more than he will give you so you won’t kiss him on the lips unless he kisses you first. “Thank you, Pero.” You hum, smiling as you pull back to look into his dark eyes. “I will have an escort.”

Pero nods, letting go of your hands and he is pleased that he could compromise. The idea of you going into town terrifies him, he doesn’t want to lose you. The children clearly love you and he - he has affection for you. 

**** 

Pero looks up at you as you enter the dining room. He stands up, walking over to pull your chair out for you, taking over the job from the footman. “You look beautiful, esposa.” He murmurs, caressing your cheek as you stand before him and he helps you sit down.

“Thank you.” You give Pero a smile, but you’re slightly nervous. Your monthly time has been missed for several months now and you woke up feeling nauseous and your breasts being sore. You are with child and while your husband has become warmer to you, you don’t know how he will react. It’s true that there have been several times since the day Luis was sick that he hasn’t worn the condom, he had also still worn it and never said anything about having children with you or your confession of your feelings. You’ve never repeated those words again. “I’ll just have some weak tea and toast.” You tell the footman before he disappears to let Lola know you are ready for breakfast.

Pero frowns, usually you order more at breakfast and he wonders if you are unwell. “Are you ill, esposa?” He asks and wonders if you are okay. He watches you as you eye the cup of tea with a grimace and he calls Carlos over to order the doctor to come to the house.

“I think that I might have some kind of stomach malady.” You admit with a small groan, covering your nose from the aroma of the tea. “It should pass.” You have an idea of what is wrong but you don’t wish to alarm Pero.

Pero is concerned but knows the doctor will help you and Carlos will ensure his swift arrival. Your breakfast is hardly touched and he will inform Carmen to let Lola know to prepare a light but generous lunch for you. He is concerned, knowing how Luis was and he’s terrified that you are going to end up with the same fate.

After breakfast, you still feel ill, laying down and resting even though you know you should be watching the children. You feel dizzy and nauseous and you wonder if all women feel this way when they are pregnant. You are sure that is what is going on, emptying your stomach of the tea and the few bites of toast you had managed into the chamber pot under your bed.

Pero greets the doctor, escorting him to your chambers. This is the same doctor who was present when Maria died and the midwife called for him after there were complications. The two men exchange a look before Carmen announces the doctor’s arrival. “I will leave you to it.” Pero says after everyone enters.

“Oh, I didn’t know Pero was calling a doctor.” You sit up, embarrassed and hoping that the nausea has passed. “I am afraid that I am not quite feeling myself.” You admit when he tuts and brings his bag over. “I think- I think I might be ….” You lower your voice. “Expecting.”

The doctor nods, “very well. Let us check and we can confirm, Señora Tovar.” He says softly and under Carmen’s watchful eye, he performs his tests. Feeling your stomach, he smiles. “Congratulations, Señora. You are with child.” He offers you a soft smile and Carmen grins, “congratulations.”

“Thank you.” It’s a relief to know that is what is wrong, but you wonder how Pero will take the news that you are expecting his child. “What can be done about the nausea?” You ask him softly. “My mother died young and I have never been around someone expecting.”

“I have a tea I can provide your cook with to assist with the sickness.” The doctor informs you and is soon bidding you goodbye. When the doctor exits your quarters, Pero looks up, eyes questions and the doctor pats his shoulder. “I believe your wife had good news.” Pero swallows, knowing what that means and he thanks the doctor before Carlos escorts him out. 

Exhaling shakily, he walks over to your room and knocks, entering your chambers to find you sitting on the edge of the bed. He sits down beside you and reaches for your hand, “esposa.”

“I’m sorry, Pero.” You start quietly, looking down at your joined hands. “I know that you wished to wait, or to never have children with me.” You are worried that he will be upset, that it will ruin the closeness you have felt with him lately. “I do not know what happened. I’m - I am going to have your child.”

He squeezes your hand, “don’t know what happened? I think I do.” He chuckles softly. “And…and I’m not angry about it. I knew what could happen and you are an incredible mother to Luis and Alejandra. I think you’ll be amazing.” He assures you, “and I - I want to have a child that is half you and half me.”

You let out the breath you had been holding and smile. Relieved that he is not upset and you are able to be excited for the first time. “I think it will be wonderful.” You admit, although you frown after a moment. “I promise I will not go into town, even with an escort, when my time draws near.” You don’t want him to worry about another wife, even if he doesn’t love you, he would worry.

Pero nods his gratefulness, knowing you now understand his anxiety and reaction. Especially after you ran off to fetch the doctor. He knows he is going to be even more protective of you. “It’s good news, hermosa.” He promises, leaning in to kiss your forehead, brushing his nose against yours until his lips brush your lips.

You’ve found there is comfort in his kisses. A certain sense of home that you’ve not found anywhere else as the nights in his bed progressed. It was often you ended up sleeping together after your pleasure but you had never voiced that sentiment of love again. You desperately want to say it again, but you are afraid to, afraid of being reminded that you are not his late wife and he had warned you that he wouldn’t love you.

**** 

As your pregnancy progresses, Pero gets more and more anxious. He’s nervous of the birth, reminded once again of Maria dying after giving birth to Luis. He swallows harshly as he leans against the wall, trying to calm his racing heart. You’re going to give birth soon according to the midwife and each day makes his anxiety threaten to overwhelm him.

Every day that passes, you can see your husband slowly start to unravel. He is sleeping less and worrying about you. Not even allowing you on the stairs without someone. Making you ring a bell to have someone come help you. Most often he works from your chambers, moving his work to your writing desk. You sigh as you slide your hand over your stomach, panting slightly. The pains had started last night but you had kept it from him, knowing he wouldn’t sleep and he desperately needed the rest.

Pero sees Carmen rushing through the halls and she slows down when she sees him. “What’s happening?” He asks, frowning, and the young woman bites her lip. “Tell me.” He demands and Carmen knows she can’t deny him, “she’s having pains. The birth is happening. I must fetch the midwife.” Carmen rushes out and Pero’s eyes widen. 

“Fetch the doctor too. I will take no chances.” He says and Carmen nods, rushing off. Pero drops everything he is doing and rushes to your chambers, “esposa. Is it true? You’re having pains?” He asks, eying you in the chair in the corner.

You would deny it, to spare him a bit more time but another pain makes you clutch your stomach. Bending over slightly as you start to moan quietly. It lasts for a long time and by that time you relax, you are panting. “I am.”

Pero rushes over to you. Guiding you over to the bed, “come, you must lay down.” He shakes his head, trying to take your shoes off. “Why didn’t you send for me?” He asks, caressing your ankle as you settle against the pillows.

“You have not been sleeping.” You remind him quietly. “I know you need rest and if I told you, there was not any rest in your future.”

Your whimpers make his heart clench and he shakes his head. “Mi - esposa. Come, do not worry about me. I will worry until the babe is in your arms and you are well and healthy.” His voice wavers for a moment and he wonders if you notice as he wipes your forehead of the beads of sweat.

“It will be well.” The midwife has assured you that you are carrying well for a first time birth and believes that it will be a simple thing. Reaching for his hand, you smile at him softly. “I have already asked that you be allowed in the birthing room if you need.”

Pero is surprised and pleased, kissing your damp forehead. “I won’t leave you.” He promises and brushes his lips against yours. “I’ll be here. Every single second.” He vows as Carmen comes back in with water and a flannel.

You get changed into a clean nightgown, Carmen helping you although you don’t mind your husband being there. He has seen you naked more than your own nanny when you were a child. Getting settled back down into the bed, you grip Pero’s hand and cry out when the next pain washes over you.

Pero lets you squeeze his hand as you try to ride the pain. You whimper and Pero frowns, “where is the midwife?” He asks, starting to get impatient. “And the doctor? I called for him as well.” He growls, looking over at Carmen.

“They are coming, Don Tovar.” She assures him, knowing that he is worried about his wife. Everyone has seen how much the Don has come to care about his wife and they are all happy for him. You are kind and loving and it will be good for him to love again. “The doctor is impressed with your wife and has already said he will come whenever summoned.”

“He needs to be here. I will allow no one to take a singular risk. I won’t have my wife’s health and the baby’s health put in danger.” He hisses and squeezes your hand when you groan at the pain. “Are you - you need anything?” Pero asks, wanting to make sure you have everything you need.

“Water.” You beg quietly. Labor is harder work that you realized and you feel parched from it. 

Pero nods and squeezes your hand again. “Whatever you want.” He promises, kissing your hand and rushing over to the tray Carmen had brought you earlier.

Pero returns with the water, letting you sip it and he wipes your forehead with the wet rag Carmen hands him. It seems like the sun is setting when you are finally ready to push. The midwife checking you and announcing it’s time. Pero is terrified, this was the time Maria lost too much blood. He remembers the sheets being soaked with it as Luis cried. He grips your hand, sweat beading on his brow as his heart starts to pound

Clenching your teeth together, you try to make sure that you don’t scream during the next pain. It makes Pero uneasy every time, he pales when you scream and grip his hand as tight as you can. You know that he is scared and even though you are in pain, you’re worried about him.

Pero feels unwell but tries to stay strong, each clenched scream bringing you closer to having his next child and he is terrified. Terrified of losing you. During your marriage, he has grown close to you. Spending many nights in your bed, even if he hadn’t touched you. He can’t imagine his life without you now. “Come on hermosa, you can do it. Push.” He urges you on, wanting you to concentrate.

Nodding, you sit up slightly and start to push. Bearing down with all your might, you see the midwife between your thighs as you start to feel more pressure.

Pero watches you push, his eyes darting between you and the midwife and he’s worried, he’s so scared that he’s gonna lose you. His hand grips yours as he watches you push and he’s silently praying.

“I can’t- it is too much.” You gasp out, falling back against the sheets as you pant. 

The midwife clicks her tongue and looks up at you. “One more push, señora, and the bebita will be in your arms.” She promises you. “Next time the pain comes you push as hard as you can.”

“You can do it, hermosa. You can do it.” He eggs you on, sweat beading on his forehead as he watches you struggle. “Come on, mi amor. Come on.” He says, wiping your forehead.

You close your eyes, tears leaking out of the corners as you barely hear the words that you have wished for far longer than you should have. Holding his hand, you nod, bearing down with all your strength and pushing your baby into the world. Feeling them slip from your womb with a rush of relief.

Pero watches the midwife cradle the crying babe, her smile wide and Pero starts to cry, relieved and so happy at seeing his child born. “Felicidades, Don Tovar, it’s a boy.” She announces and Pero leans in to kiss your head. 

“A boy, amor,”

“A boy.” You sob, exhausted and relieved and more than a little emotional about hearing ‘amor’ again. Almost terrified that he is thinking of his late wife and reliving that horrible night with a happier ending through you. “We have another son.” You pant, reaching for the baby when the midwife hands him to you.

Pero looks down at the screaming babe in your arms. His eyes sting with tears and he looks at you in awe. “A boy. Another boy.” He murmurs, kissing your forehead. “Amor.”

“He’s beautiful.” You murmur quietly, brushing your hand over his wet forehead. “Perfect.” His ten little fingers are curled into fists and he has ten perfect little toes. “Isn’t he?” You ask, looking up at your husband after you manage to tear your eyes away from your new baby.

Pero leans in to rest his forehead against yours, loving how you are cradling the baby and he knows Luis and Alejandra are excited for his arrival. “He’s perfect. So is his mother.” He murmurs, caressing the baby’s head.

You hum, not sure how to take that and look back down at the baby. He’s turning his face towards you and crying, searching for your breast. “Put him on the breast.” The midwife tells you. “Your milk will come.” You nod, opening your nightgown and guiding him towards your breast and gasping when he latches into your nipple.

Pero watches in awe, the midwife working on helping you with the afterbirth and the baby mouths at your nipple. Pero kisses your forehead again, he’s so perfect. You’re perfect. Hermosa, I- I love you.” Pero chokes, never imagining that he’d fall in love again but he couldn’t help it, you’re too beautiful and kind. The children love you and you’ve made his life so much better.

Your eyes widen and you look up at Pero in shock. “You- you love me?” You ask in astonishment, sure that would never happen for you. He nods and you start to cry. “I love you too Pero, I love you and our three children.”

Pero leans in to kiss you, “I love you. So much. I- I didn’t think - after Maria - you’ve brought this home, my children…me…back to life.” He murmurs and kisses your forehead. “Mi esposa, hermosa, amor. You are everything to me. I owe you the world.” He murmurs, looking down at the little boy.

Your smile is watery, but overjoyed. You had come to Spain to marry a man you didn’t know and was told that he could never love you. Now you have a beautiful son, two other children that adore you and your them, and a loving husband. Your father had chosen right. You were a family.

[avastrasposts]

Rosemary & Lavender

Plot: The victorious army is in town and Pero feels he deserves some R&R at the local tavern; a hot meal, a bath and a bed. And you just happen to be there to administer that bath. Lucky you!

Mercenary!Pero x female reader

Warnings: Explicit smut, dirt, blood, scowls and time period typical attitudes to safe sex. No use of y/n and the reader is pretty much a blank slate.

Word count: 4.5k

So @nerdieforpedro informed me about her Pero soon being in a tub in the fic she's working on, and that sparked a whole idea. She is wholly responsible for the below spa session. I can't believe I haven't written Pero getting a well deserved bath before! Thank you for the inspiration, Nerdie!

Also, huge thank you to the lovely @lady-bess who whipped up the banner in about five minutes flat when I twisted her arm with sweet words about Jack Daniels. Love you!

The soldiers were loud and triumphant as they rumbled into town, the victory had been resounding, the enemy thwarted and a much larger conflict avoided. The people of the town were out on the narrow streets, cheering the men as they marched onwards to the camp that had been erected on the other side. The victorious officers led the improvised parade, grinning at the boisterous men. The line of soldiers seemed to go on forever, but eventually the line trickled out and you closed the window to the upstairs room in the tavern your brother ran and hurried down to the kitchen. There would be a lot of work to be done when the men came in search of ale and revelry in a few hours. 

At the back of the long line of soldiers came those who didn’t really care what side won or lost, as long as they were on the winning side and got their payment, they were the mercenaries. Among them was a tall, dark haired Spaniard whose deep scowl kept most people at bay, Pero Tovar. He scanned the houses of the town as he followed the men walking past them, keeping his eyes open for a tavern who also offered rooms to stay in. He was still expecting his pay from the commander, but he’d found a few coins and valuables as he lingered on the battlefield after it was all done. His body ached, he was covered in grime, blood and mud, and he had no intention of sleeping in a tent tonight. The coins he’d found would buy him a bath, a bed and a hot meal away from the rest of the army. 

The tavern sign swung in the wind and he recognised the sign for lodgings. Taking no notice of the other mercenaries, he ducked his head and stepped through the low door, into the gloomy room inside. The innkeeper caught sight of him and raised a hand in greeting as he approached. 

“Welcome, and congratulations on your victory, soldier!” he boomed, “You’ve all done us a great service by keeping our border safe.” 

Tovar scoffed, his scowl deepening, he had no patience for the locals who were too cowardly to even attempt to defend their homes. 

“I want a hot meal, a bath and a bed for the night, in that order, innkeep,” he growled, tossing the coins on the nearest table. 

“Of course, sir, of course, take a seat and I’ll make sure your bath is heated while you eat,” the innkeep waved at the serving girl in the corner, who hurried through a door leading to the kitchen. Tovar sank down at one of the trestle tables as the innkeeper disappeared up a creaking staircase. Out of sight, he could hear him call to someone to prepare a hot bath in the available room, and then the stairs creaked as the innkeeper made his way back down. 

“Sir, my sister will make sure your bath is ready for when you’ve eaten, please let her know if you want more hot water or need anything else.” 

Tovar grunted and gave a short nod in reply, picking up his short knife and beginning to clean the grime from underneath his fingernails with the sharp tip. 

Not many minutes later the serving girl reappeared with a large bowl and a flagon. She set both down on the table in front of him and he inhaled deeply. Whoever the cook was, they did a fine job with the stew. It was thick and rich and he could see a bone or two sticking up. While the serving girl fetched him bread, he fished the longest bone from the bowl and sucked the marrow from it with a loud slurp before he tucked into the stew. 

It didn’t take him long to finish the bowl and mop up the remains with the last heel of bread. He pushed the bowl to the side and drained the flagon. 

“Girl, which room has my bath?” he called to the serving girl in the corner and she all but jumped out of her skin at his bark. 

“U-up th-e stairs and to the right, milord,” she stuttered, “l-last r-room.” 

He ignored her incorrect title for him and pushed to his feet, making his way up the creaking stairs and finding the room at the end of the hall. 

You straightened up as the door was opened and the lodger walked in. 

“Your bath is just about ready, sir,” you said, pouring the last of the hot water into the large wooden tub and checking to make sure it was hot enough. The delicate fragrance of rosemary and lavender filled the room, the sprigs floating in the water, the air warm from the fire burning brightly in the stone fireplace. You’d set aside a couple of your softest linen sheets for drying and a pitcher of cider was sitting on the small table in the corner together with bread and cheese. 

The man grunted in response and stepped through the door, his large frame taking up much of the space between the door and the tub. He was still wearing his armour, what little could be seen under the grime that covered it, two viscous looking swords equally splattered by dirt and blood on his back, and a knife in his belt. You couldn’t even see much of his face, most of it covered in mud, although it looked as if he’d attempted to wipe it off, patches of tan skin peaking through.

He sniffed the air, nodding approvingly as he saw the lavender floating in the steaming water and began to pull at one of the straps. 

“Do you require assistance removing your amour, sir?” you asked, putting down the jug and stepping to the side to make room for him by the tub. 

“Tovar,” he muttered, his hand dropping from the heavy looking belt around his waist, “don’t call me sir. And yes, if you’re willing, a helping hand is welcome, but I won’t pay extra for it.” 

You raised an eyebrow at his curt reply, but stepped closer, reaching for the first strap. 

“I won’t charge extra for it, we’re all very grateful for your service in defending the land around our town.” 

He only grunted at that as he stood still, watching your face as you unbuckled a piece of his armour. He hadn’t been close to an ordinary woman in months, only the whores that followed the wagon train, and he’d made sure to stay well away from them. He knew from experience that the easiest way to get something unpleasant festering in your cock was to share the same cunts as the rest of the army. But here was a real woman, clean by the looks of it, the shining hair uncovered, marking you as unmarried, skin clear of any blemishes, round cheeks and soft curves, was it any surprise that his cock twitched as you moved around him? Delicate hands unlatching and uncovering more of him with each piece that you removed.  

The pieces of his armour were placed nearby and he stood in his sweat drenched shirt as you worked on the last part. He could feel the foul smell coming off himself, but you didn’t flinch. He had a clean shirt in his pack, this one he might need to discard. Looking at the perfect swell of your ass cheeks under the dress, as you bent down to place vambraces on the floor, he wondered if he could offer you enough money to stay and bathe him, if he had enough coins to tempt you to do even more for him. His eyes were glued to you as you stood up straight and turned around. You felt his gaze slip over your body, greedily taking in each dip and curve, especially where your chest strained against the fabric of your dress. 

Without a word, you continued your task of undressing him, pretending to just keep going now that the armour was off. Your hands slipped under the hem of his shirt, and pushed it upwards, feeling his hard muscles under the warm skin as you caressed him under the guise of removing the last layer on his upper body.  

Tovar’s cock slammed to attention at the feeling; soft, warm palms, fingers slowly trailing over his chest, and sides, lifting the shirt over his head and dropping it down on the floor. Without stopping to ask, your fingers moved to the lacing in his breeches, and he toed his boots off as you looked up at him, meeting his dark eyes without hesitation. 

“You’re covered in all manner of grime, sir,” you said, glancing down to loosen another loop, “will you let me help you get clean?” 

“Pero,” he muttered, following your gaze down to where your hands were deftly working their way closer to the evidence of his arousal, his cock tight against the leather of his breeches. 

“Pero,” you echoed, slipping your hands around his waist and pushing his breeches down over his hips, curving your hands over his rear, grabbing it a bit more than necessary. His cock bobbed free, quickly growing harder as your hands caressed over his hips, sliding up along his sides, finding his shoulders and slipping down his arms, your fingernails leaving goosebumps in their wake on his skin. Finally your hand closed around his and pulled him towards the tub. 

“Get in before it gets cold, Pero,” you said, keeping your voice in the same low tone he’d given you his name in. 

He stepped into the warm water and let out an involuntary groan as his muscles first seized up and then relaxed, letting him slip deeper into the tub, the fragrance of rosemary and lavender all around him as he sensed your presence next to him. 

“I will smell like a well roasted side of pork when you’re done, are you bathing me or cooking me?” he mused as he sniffed the air, pushing away a sprig of rosemary. 

“You look like a very tough side of meat, I’d need to keep you simmering for days to get you tender and soft,” you said, laughing softly as Pero raised his eyebrows at you. 

“Tough side of meat,” he huffed, his hand coming out fast as a viper and swatting your behind as you bent to pick up the washcloth, “come here and finish what you started, mujer, or I’ll show you how tough my side of meat is.” 

You smiled at his crude humour, his hard erection clearly visible beneath the water, underlining his meaning. 

Rubbing down the wash cloth with sweet smelling soap you kneeled behind his head, “Close your eyes, Pero,” you said softly, “let me clean your face and hair first.” 

He could only grunt in response as you began to gently wipe at his face, tracing each line and angle, wiping weeks of grime away with every delicate movement. You’d guessed that he was a handsome man, even the dirt couldn’t hide that, but you were taken in as you rinsed the cloth in a bowl and reapplied it to his face, wiping gently. His skin was golden, a smattering of freckles over his nose, long dark lashes rested on his high cheekbones and the full lips were soft and plush looking under his scruffy facial hair. It really was too long, and his hair had begun to curl over his ears. 

“Pero,” you asked softly, “can I trim your beard and hair a little, keep it from getting in your eyes?” 

He only gave another low grunt in response, not even opening his eyes. You stepped away for the cutters, and then kneeled back down, using a small comb to untangle his locks, cutting until it was all even, revealing more of his handsome face. 

Rubbing the hard soap between your hands, you began to wash his hair, running your fingers through it to lift the grime and dirt. Under your hands, Pero moaned, an almost obscene sound, as your nails scratched at his scalp. 

“Mierda…” he groaned, “that’s good, keep doing that.” 

With a smile you continued, longer than necessary, to rub his scalp, massaging all the way down his neck and the tightly corded muscles holding his head up. Pero tipped forward, exposing more of his broad shoulder to you, and you soaped your hands again and worked through every inch of flesh you could reach, digging your thumbs into the knots and tight spots. Pero was breathing heavily, groaning every time you found a new kink to put pressure on.

“Señorita, I would pay good money to have you do this to me every night,” he mumbled, his head lolling from side to side as you worked your way up again, scratching at his scalp and rinsing his hair. Gently you pulled his head back and rested it on the small pillow at the lip of the tub. 

“If you pay better than my brother, I might take you up on that offer,” you smiled at him, even though his eyes were closed. Pressing a kiss to his forehead, you moved to the side of the tub and picked up the washcloth again.

Pero peeled his eyes open as you began to gently rub at his chest and arms, rinsing away the dirt. 

“And he won’t come after me if I steal you away from this place?” he asked, letting his free hand reach out and trace across your shoulder, down your side, barely grazing the curve of your breast before he let his hand fall. 

“He’ll probably only see it as one less mouth to feed,” you said with a smile as Pero shifted his gaze to where your hand was now washing his leg. You moved the washcloth methodically, rubbing circles on his foot, his calf, then on his knee, moving to his thigh and letting your hand disappear under the water. Pero hissed as the cloth grazed against his erection. It had simmered down while you cut and washed his hair, now it was growing rapidly, and he bucked his hips as you nudged it again. 

“Mierda….” he muttered under his breath, tipping his head back, anticipating your hand closing around his hard length. But instead, you pulled your hand out of the water and began to work on his other leg, the same methodical motions, circling over his wet skin. His foot…his calf…his knee…his thigh…it seemed you moved at a snail’s pace. When you finally let your hand sink below the water again, he all but held his breath as your hand moved. The washcloth brushed over the tip of him, sending a shiver through him, as you rubbed the very top of his thigh, cleaning the crease where his leg met his torso. It was agony, pure, sweet agony, and he had to bite his lip, his breathing laboured. 

“Cariño lindo….” he finally mumbled, putting his hand in the water and finding yours, “stop tormenting me.” With a firm grip he made you drop the washcloth, letting it float away forgotten in the tub, and brought your hand to his aching cock, your hand closing around it as you met his dark eyes. He let go of your hand and it stayed, wrapped around his thick length, an impressive girth from what you could feel. With a sigh he tipped his head back again, and you felt his cock twitch under your fingers, prompting you to slowly drag your hand up to the tip, your thumb slipping over the fat head. Pero bit down on his lip, air escaping his mouth, and beneath heavy lids he watched your face as you moved your hand. Your tongue peaked out, the tip resting on your bottom lip, and he could feel you grip him firmly, the soft pad of your thumb caressing his slit again. The sensation made his hip jerk up and he wondered if you’d let him pull you into the tub. Or even better, let him toss you on the bed that stood by the window, pull your skirts up and see if you were as wet as he thought you must be. The thought of sinking his cock into that wet heat made him jerk his hips again, fucking up into your tight hand. 

The water lubricated your movements, Pero’s heavy breathing and almost pained moans egged you on, and your hand stroked him firmly. His eyes were glued to you, half closed and he was mumbling under his breath, his hips jerking his cock up into your hand. He was heavy under your fingers, smooth and hard, and so thick that your hand couldn’t really close around all of him. Through the now murky water you could make it out, jutting out from between his strong thighs, a dark thicket of hair surrounding it. You pulled down the foreskin and let your thumb slip around the smooth head again, making him gasp and curse, pleading with you to go on. The water splashed a little over the edges as you slipped your hand down, picking up the pace, Pero’s incoherent mumbling replaced by heavy breathing and groans. He tipped his head back, his eyes squeezing shut, your hand moving faster, lighting a trail of fire through his spine, the familiar tightness building in his heavy balls, his fingers were gripping the sides of the tub tightly, his knuckles white. 

“Please….” he groaned, a loud gasp escaping and you felt his body freeze, only his hips jerking erratically into your hand as you continued to stroke him, white liquid shooting out from his cock into the water. 

“Mierda…” he hissed, grabbing your hand under water, closing your fingers even tighter around his still pumping cock, making you rub him through the length of his climax, milking every drop from him. 

Eventually he slowed down, making you slow your pace to a stand still too. His head lolled back and his muscles relaxed, only his chest moving now as he drew long, deep breaths. 

“Cariño lindo,” he muttered, taking your hand under water and bringing it up to his mouth for a slow kiss, “tell me, are you as wet as I am?” 

His question, and the sinful look on his face, made your cheeks heat up, but arousal flared in your body too. 

He pushed himself up, hanging his arms over the side of the tub, water dripping to the rushes on the floor. With a sly grin and his eyes on your face, he pushed your skirt up, his hand slipping under and up, finding the inside of your soft thigh. With practised ease he navigated your undergarments and found the apex of your thighs. He found you dripping, the slick liquid coating the lips of your sex, and with a pleased groan, he pushed a thick finger inside. Your body convulsed and you had to grip his shoulders to stop yourself from falling into the tub. 

“Pero…” you gasped, his finger deep inside, curling back and making your cunt tighten around his digit as he gave you a pleased grin. 

“So wet, cariño,” he praised, “I had a feeling you would be.” 

He slipped his finger out and quickly pushed in another, stretching you as his thumb found the pearl at the top of your slit, swirling around it with his rough pad. Lighting shot out into every limb and your grip on his shoulders tightened, your breathing suddenly laboured as he began to drive his fingers in and out, the slick dripping down his hand. You whimpered and dropped your head, leaning against his shoulder, and you felt him turn his head and nip at your neck, adding to the onslaught of your nerve endings. 

“Come on, querida, let me ruin you for whatever slow farmer tries to fuck you when I’m gone,” he muttered, his hot breath in your ear as he curled his fingers again, grinning as he heard you whine at his words, or maybe it was the way his thumb changed the pattern on your aching bundle of nerves. 

Your teeth were leaving marks on his shoulder, your nails digging into them too. The breathy moans you were panting made his cock twitch and fill again, he felt blood rush to it as your cunt clamped down hard around his fingers. 

“Fuck it,” he suddenly groweled, water sloshing over the floor as he pulled his fingers from between your legs and stood up. You gasped in protest but he didn’t let you gather yourself, pulling you to your feet he stepped out of the tub and pushed you backwards onto the bed. He gave your behind a swat, urging you to shimmy up it, and followed you as he eagerly pushed your dress up around your waist again. His grin was hungry, and you saw his heavy cock swollen between his thighs again. With an impatient shove, he parted your legs and sank down, his wide shoulder holding them open. 

His first lick through your folds made you cry out, grabbing on to his damp curls as he opened his mouth to fuck his tongue as deep as he could inside you. The feeling made you dizzy as every inch of your skin seemed to burn under him, your arousal ramping up as you heard him growl into your cunt, his tongue lapping at you. He moved above you, pushing your legs further apart as he moved his hand up and mumbled something into your flesh. You tugged at his curls, pulling his face up to look at you and he gave you a grin. 

“Your taste is driving me wild, hermosa,” he panted, his short beard glistening with your slick, “I want to feel you come on my tongue, can you do that for me?” He gave you a mischievous grin and held up his hand, wiggling two of his fingers as you nodded weakly. His fingers slid down through your cunt and easily into your heat and he watched your eyes slip closed as you moaned, your head dropping back down on the bed. As you panted out his name, he picked up the speed of his fingers, bending down to close his mouth around your swollen bead, flicking his tongue over it before he lapped at it. Your cries, your fingers tightening in his hair, let him know he was working you the right way and he doubled his efforts. His cock was aching beneath him, hard and swollen, as you tried to close your legs around his head, your body arching up from the bedding. Panting hard you began to moan his name, rocking your face against his mouth with your fingers in his curls, he could feel you beginning to unravel, your legs shaking. With a final effort, he clamped his mouth around your sensitive pearl and sucked, pushing a third finger into you and curling back. 

“Pero…” you moaned loudly, “p-please…” A gasp escaped you, your breathing erratic and he felt your body go taught under him, your cunt going impossibly tight around his fingers. He felt his scrotum tighten at the thought of feeling that around his cock, as you cried out, your climax washing over you in wave after wave. He kept his fingers moving, flicking his tongue over your core and pushed your pleasure as high as he could. You were all but sobbing as he finally felt your legs begin to relax around him, gasping to catch your breath. He caressed your thighs, pulling out his fingers and pushing himself back up to sit on his haunches. His cock was painfully hard, bouncing back against his belly as he looked down at you, spent and sated beneath him. 

There was something predatory in the way his gaze roamed over your body now, your bottom half exposed to him, your top half still covered by your dress. He put his hand out and tugged at one of the ribbons. 

“Take it off,” he commanded, pushing aside the first layer. With trembling fingers, still shaking from his ministrations, you undid the fastenings, pulling the dress apart and wiggling out of it until it lay beneath you and you were as naked as Pero still kneeling between your spread legs. He was watching you with heavily lidded eyes, stroking his cock with lazy movements, the head red and weeping. 

“I want to fuck you,” he said, his voice low as he leaned forward and moved up over your body, “I won’t come inside you, but I need to feel this tight cunt around my cock tonight.” 

You nodded dumbly, you’d do anything to have more of him, he’d already given you more pleasure than you thought possible, and you ached to feel him inside you. 

His rough hand came out and grabbed your soft breast, teasing the nipple and watching it pebble under his finger tips. When he was satisfied, he let his hand slip down your cushy belly, noting how you shivered as he grazed your sensitive core. He grabbed your thigh and pushed it up, making space for himself. When he was satisfied, he closed his hand around his cock and placed it at your opening, watching as he caressed it through your folds, coating it in your slick, and then pushed in, sliding through your swollen cunt in one fell swoop. It made you gasp as Pero groaned, both his hands grabbing your hips and he pulled you onto his cock. 

“Cariño, so tight…” he growled, eyes transfixed at the place where his aching hard length disappeared into your wet cunt. He pulled out, and slid back in again, groans escaping through his clenched jaw as he began to fuck you. His fingers dug into your flesh as he held you in a vice, snapping his hips, chasing his rapidly approaching climax. 

You watched him, your own body spent and pliant under him, only there to let him use, to sink his cock into, as he growled like a feral animal, snarling when he felt your cunt tighten and clamp down around his cock. His newly cut hair was damp from sweat and bath water, he smelled of rosemary and lavender and every scar on his hard soldier’s body stood out on his flushed skin. 

He groaned, his eyes closing, squeezing them tight and his mouth hung open, his breaths coming out in short bursts. Suddenly he pushed your hips away, pulling out with a hiss and fisting his cock, furiously stroking himself. It took only a few seconds, and then his hot spend shot out, coating your belly and thighs as he snarled and moaned like he was injured. With fascination you watched the thick liquid burst from the shining head of his cock while he squeezed, his face screwed up like he was in pain. He tugged at it, milking it dry before he finally gasped, taking a deep breath and opening his eyes. 

Looking down at you, his eyes softened as he regarded you for a few long seconds, his hand still wrapped around his softening cock. With a sigh he crawled over you, dropping down on your side and pressing a kiss, wet and soft, to your cheek. 

“I’m sorry, hermosa, but I think we need another bath.” 

[criticallyacclaimedstranger]

Seed [Pero Tovar x f!reader]

Read on AO3

Now with a sequel: Sprout

Fandom: The Great Wall

Ships: Pero Tovar x f!reader

Tags/warnings: breeding kink from here to high heaven, fear of infertility, lots of piv sex and creampies, multiple orgasms, fingering, pero eats it from the back, praise kink, dirty talk, pet names.

Words: 4,022

Summary: Your husband Pero comes home to put a baby in you. Don't look at me.

The smell of fresh-caught fish mixes with the salty breeze from the sea, and the sweet scent of oranges. You carry your basket through the marketplace, grocery shopping done, when you hear a call from the crowd: "They're back!"

Your heart skips a beat as you swing around, your skirt dancing around your ankles as you see the trade caravan coming down the main street to the marketplace. Your eyes scan the faces, quickly finding the one you are hoping to see.

Your husband, Pero.

Since marrying you and settling in this quiet small town by the sea, he no longer sells his sword to warlords and kings. Instead, he provides protection for caravans. He is mostly away for a week or two at a time, but this time he has been away for months. You have carried your worry and longing stoically, never showing your neighbours your fear, but now you do not care if everybody sees the relief and happiness on your face. You are not the only one with a husband in the caravan, but you are the only one whose husband wields a weapon for a living.

Pero spots you from afar, and he urges his horse into a trot. The clip-clop of the shoed hooves against the cobblestones is the sweetest music you have heard in a long time. You stand still, a smile on your lips, and put the basket down when Pero swings down from horseback, pulls you to him, and wraps his strong arms around you.

"Wife," he murmurs into your hair. "My precious wife."

Your arms reach around his armoured middle as you bury your face in his shoulder. He smells of the road: dust, sweat, and grime, but you do not care. Underneath all that, you can smell him: horse, hay, earth, metal, spices. You cannot wait to drown in him.

Slowly, Pero strokes your head, making you look at him. You cup his cheek, feeling the stubble that renders his face darker than usual, and unevens the moustache.

"Are you unharmed?" you want to know. He nods slowly.

"Mad from missing you, but not a scratch on me."

He touches his lips to yours, just a gentle little return kiss from an absent husband to his beloved wife, but you know that as soon as you are behind closed doors, he is going to devour you.

"Let's go home," you suggest, enjoying the way your husband's beautiful brown eyes melt into dark liquid.

He helps you up on the horse and mounts behind you. Your basket securely in front of you and Pero sliding one arm around your waist to hold you close, he steers the horse homeward with his other hand. He does not speak as you leave the marketplace, and he does not need to. The two of you always found each other's silences comfortable. Besides, no words are needed to let you know he wants you: his cock is growing hard against the soft roundness of your ass pushing against it. A shiver runs down your spine and ends up on a blossoming pool of arousal between your thighs. Your hand finds Pero's on your waist, fingers disappearing between his in a loving clasp.

You reach your little house, Pero dismounting first so that you can slide off the horse and into his arms. He holds you close again, now with a full erection pressing against you.

"Go inside," he murmurs. "I have to put the horse away."

You push your pelvis against him, smirking at his low groan, before you take the basket and go in. You have barely emptied the basket onto the kitchen table before Pero comes in, kicking the door close as he starts to unlace his breeches.

He takes you on the table, breeches undone just enough to let his cock out, your skirts pulled up to your waist to let him in. A frantic coupling where you exchange breathless moans, claw at each other's bodies through clothes, his cock pressing deep into you as his fingers plant blooming bruises on your thighs. He spills into you before long, cock twitching in the welcoming squeeze of your cunt, and lowers his forehead to yours as he catches his breath. You comb your fingers through his dark hair, curling at the nape of his neck. The amount of silver has increased, scattered like stars across the dark clouds of his soft hair. You kiss the scar over his left eye, both above and under his closed eyelid.

"You need a haircut," you mumble, despite not really wanting him to cut off the soft curls. "And a shave."

"I need you." His initial thirst for you may have been slaked, but his hunger is not sated, and neither is yours.

"You have me now."

He straightens his back and rolls his head, a joint cracking loudly. Slowly, you come down from the table and start to lace up the bindings of his armour. He watches you do it, pulling the bodice of your dress down your shoulders and caresses the exposed skin, stares into your cleavage.

"Wife," he demands, hand on your waist, "Are you with child yet?"

You cast your eyes down. You have been trying to have a child since you were wed. The attraction between the two of you was always there, and pleasure has always been an important part of your married life - before as well, even if he never put it in before you were wed - but there has always been another motive to your coupling as well. You both want a child, several, but one to start with. He takes every opportunity to sow his seed in you, and you welcome every attempt.

But so far, it has not taken.

"My love." Pero caresses your head. "We have time. We will try again."

He kisses your cheek, and leans in towards your ear, his breath hot when he whispers: "And again... and again... and again..."

A husky giggle escapes you and you wrap your arms around his neck as you seek his lips for a kiss. He lifts you up, skirts rustling, and carries you to bed. The kisses turn slower as you undress each other, hands reclaiming every bit of revealed skin. His hard muscles relax when you pass your palm over them, fingers chasing his old familiar scars to trace and love. His hands are dry and callused when he cups your soft breasts, but he still holds you gently. His unshaved face tickles your stomach when he trails kisses over it, but your giggles turn to moans when he buries his face between your thighs, tongue probing between slick lips where his precious seed is dripping out. He assaults your clit, has you thrashing and wailing his name until the sheets are crumpled and you are shaking with the intensity of your release. He rests his chin on your thigh, looking up at you with both a satisfied smirk and adoring eyes.

"That's my girl," he praises you softly. "Let the neighbours know that your husband is home."

You chuckle breathlessly. Your cunt is throbbing hotly, and you pass your hands over your face before reaching for Pero.

"Come to me, husband."

He crawls over you, hissing softly when you close your hand over his cock, and guide it into you. It slides in so easily, but still fills you up so perfectly.

"Oh..." you gasp, eyes falling shut as you bite down on your lower lip. "Pero..."

"I know, precious, I know... but you have to look at me."

He cups your face and kisses you, and when he pulls back, you open your eyes, only to drown in the dark pools of his.

"I want you to look at me when I fill you with my seed," he growls, fingers tangling in your hair. "Look at me when I fuck a baby into you."

His voice is strangled, his hips grind tightly against yours. It is slower now than that first, hurried time, but still intense, desperate in a whole new way. You are hypnotized by him, his presence, his weight on top of you, his cock ravaging your very womb, his low voice that always knows just how to drop to make you wet, that scarred gaze of his that scowls at everyone else but turns soft and vulnerable when directed at you.

"Breed me," you whisper, hooking your ankles together behind his back. "Breed me, husband, I need you to breed me."

He stutters as he fucks you harder, digging deep into you, finding your spot, and staying on it as your moans rise.

"Pero, oh, God, please don't stop!"

He lets you cum first, fucks you through it before driving himself as deep as he can, then staying there. You whimper his name, your cunt convulses, and you can barely breathe, but Pero stays where he is.

"Take it," he soothes you through clenched teeth. "Take it, wife, every last drop, and grow me a baby."

"I love you," you manage to whisper, the words drowning in his mouth when he kisses you.

"And I love you."

Dinner is forgotten, as are the chickens and the horse. Pero slumbers in your arms but wakes up when you take his soft cock in your mouth. You rest together, until he has to be inside you again. Not until dusk settles around the house do you rise to take in and feed the chickens. Pero takes care of the horse, and you prepare dinner. He comes in and finds you by the workbench, cutting up cheese and smoked meat, and immediately cages you against the bench, arms sneaking around your waist as he kisses your neck.

"Pero, I'm holding a knife," you smile, and he immediately closes his hand over yours, guiding it to put the knife down. You hear his stomach growl, and know that if you are hungry, he must be starving.

"Dinner is almost ready."

"Only hungry for you, my love..."

You turn your face to his and receive his kisses, sighing softly at his roaming hands, one finding your breast only covered by your camisole, the other cupping your mound through the fabric of the underskirt. Your cunt weeps to have him again, while stinging from overstimulation. You lost count of how many times you have taken him this afternoon.

"Pero," you whisper between the kisses, your hands finding his and pressing down, in direct opposition to your words. "We need to eat, and you need a bath."

He expresses his discontent with a guttural grunt but gives you one last kiss and squeeze before releasing you.

"Sit down," you gesture towards the table, but he lays out cutlery, plates, and knives for both of you before taking his seat. When you bring the tray of foods to the table, he does not take his eyes off you. You feel the heat rise in your cheeks because you know exactly what he is thinking when he sees your soft breasts spill out of your camisole, the roundness of your ass underneath the threadbare skirt when you bend over to pour him ale. He smirks at you when you catch his gaze, and you shove him gently with your hip.

"Eat."

You take your seat on the other side of the table and eat in a comfortable silence as darkness descends outside. The sounds of your small town die down, only the occasional call of an animal drifting in through the open window together with the cool breeze.

You clear the table afterwards, Pero watching you in quiet contentment. When brushing past him, he cannot keep his hands to himself, but slaps your ass and grins when you yelp and turn around to tell him off. You find yourself pulled down onto his lap instead, Pero nuzzling your neck as he holds you close.

"Thank you for the meal."

"You are very welcome."

His whiskers scratch your sensitive skin, sending shivers down your spine. He kisses your neck, your shoulder, drags his lips down to your breasts while his hand gathers the fabric of your skirt so that he can slip underneath. His fingers find the messy apex of your thighs, his seed and your slick drying on your lips, and when he pushes his fingers inside you, your head falls back as you moan low in your throat.

"Pero... oh, oh, there, oh my God... I can't..."

"If you're too sore, tell me, and I will stop," he whispers hotly against your nipple before sucking it into his mouth. You shake your head, a sob of abandon slipping you.

"More, my love, more."

He brings you to the edge with his fingers, skilfully and quickly, before pushing you over it, catching you in his strong arms when you fall with a wail against his chest.

"Beautiful," he murmurs as he strokes your back, "so beautiful, my pretty girl..."

The night comes on, and Pero brings in water that you warm on the stove, for him to finally pour into the tub where you have spread out dried herbs and flowers. When he sinks down into the warm water, you take a sponge and a piece of scented soap and scrub every inch of him. He relaxes into the water, eyes finally falling shut, as you rub his body down with small, round circles. He leans into your touch with a sigh filled with gratitude and love. Pero is a man who desperately needs softness in his life, the life he always thought would be cut short due to his choice of profession. No wonder he has such a strong need to have children, see part of himself in a tiny face, foster a new generation to carry on his name after he is gone. And you desperately want to give him that.

"Pero," you speak quietly, getting a hum in return. "What if I cannot bear children?"

He does not react at first, but as soon as your words make sense to him, he turns his head to look at you.

"Why would you say that?"

"We have tried, and I'm not pregnant."

"We haven't been married for a year."

"For some, it takes immediately."

"Not for all."

The open window brings in the scents of your garden: evening primrose, wisteria, moonflower, jasmine, and whiffs of herbs rises from the water to meet them. You cast your eyes down to the soap in your hands, and Pero raises a hand from the water, and gently places it on your shoulder.

"My love. We have time."

You nod, knowing he is right. But you still cannot shake the feeling that you have carried around since he left, and your monthly cleansing arrived.

"The wives in town say things."

"What do they say?"

You wet your lips and raise your gaze to meet his. "They say that men who sleep with whores during their trips soil their seed."

Pero's face remains calm and honest. "I have not as much as looked at another woman since I met you. I hope you know that."

"I do, I just..." You shake your head, unsure why you even brought it up. You have never doubted his faithfulness. "I'm sorry. Their words ring in my ears, I can't stop thinking about it."

"Why do you even listen to those old hags?" he shakes his head.

"Because I meet them every day, and they talk, and they know things, and they look at me like I'm a prized cow, all of them waiting for me to become pregnant."

"It's none of their business," Pero scoffs, but his thumb is rubbing soothing circles on your shoulder.

"They also say... that older women are less fertile."

"You are fertile," he immediately dismisses your fear and self-doubt. "You still bleed."

"But if I'm too old?"

Pero sits up straight in the tub, the other hand coming to your other shoulder as he looks into your eyes.

"You are my wife and my love. I want us to have children, but if we for some reason are not to be blessed with them, my love for you will not change."

"I know," you smile softly, "and I will love you too." Tears rise in your eyes, and you wipe at them with the back of your hand. "Forgive me. I just missed you so much."

"You have nothing to apologize for, my love."

You lean forward to kiss him, but when his lips start to trail across your cheek, you giggle and shake your head.

"You, Pero Tovar, need a shave, or you'll grate me raw!"

He stays completely still as you trace his cheeks with the razorblade, eyes under heavy eyelids following your minuscule movements. The hint of a smile plays in the corner of his mouth as he enjoys how your steady hand shaves away the itchy bristles. Finally, you trim his moustache, then his hair. The water grows cool, and he rises from the tub, accepting your hand when he steps out of it. His cock is striving proudly towards his stomach, and he does not take the time to dry himself before lifting you up and carrying you to the bedroom. He sets you down next to the bed and cradles your head in his big hands.

"How do you want me, my beloved?"

You caress his smooth cheeks, stroke your thumbs over his eyebrows, still wet from the bath.

"From behind, husband. I want you to mount me like an animal."

"Your wish is my command."

His hands drop to your shoulders, where they guide you to turn around before caressing down the straps of your camisole. You undo the lacing in the front, and the neckline widens enough to drop and expose your breasts. He cups them from behind, thumbs brushing over stiffening nipples, soft lips peppering kisses all over your neck and shoulder. His cock strains against the fabric of your skirt, and he drops his hands to your hips, finding the laces that will free you from the garment. It rustles softly as it falls to the floor, and Pero's hard cock comes to a rest between your ass cheeks. Your cunt clenches and you can smell your own arousal.

"Take me," you breathe, but Pero grazes your shoulder with his teeth.

"I need to service you first."

He kneels behind you, one hand pushing lightly on your lower back. You bend over, upper body coming to a rest on the crumpled sheets. Pero's hand slowly slides down to your ass, cupping and squeezing, before he slides his fingers between your thighs, carefully pushing your legs open. He fingers you almost thoughtfully before you feel the tip of his sharp nose, and his hot breath on you, and then his lips close around your bud in a little kiss before his tongue takes over. He licks at you, into you, hands coming to grab your soft thighs, humming into your aching cunt. You can barely take it anymore, not after the pleasures of the afternoon, but your husband's touch always makes you need more. Like a bitch in heat, you egg him on, writhe and fist your hands into the sheet, loudly moaning without any thought of the neighbours. He brings you to bliss, once again, pushing his face against you, fingers digging painfully into your ass cheeks as you shake through your orgasm. He helps you up on the bed, letting you rest on your belly, and kisses your shoulders, back, and the soft curves of your buttocks before coming back up to steal your breath away with a wet kiss.

"My beautiful wife," he murmurs, and you smile back faintly. "Can you take me?"

"You know I can," you murmur, already feeling his rock-hard cock pressing in between your thighs. "Take me, husband. Breed me. Put a baby in my belly."

He growls at that, bites your neck, pulls your ass up, and legs together before straddling them. You whine when he pushes into you, your dripping yet sore cunt protesting and welcoming at the same time.

"So wet for me," he groans as he slowly moves in you, hands on your hips. "My love, I thought about this so often during those lonely nights on the road." He sinks deep into you. "I would fuck my own hand and think of you." He thrusts his hips into yours, making you choke on your own breath. "I would spill my seed on the ground and mourn its loss. It shouldn't be wasted but find its way into your fertile womb..."

He lays down over you, pressing your hips down with his as he wraps his arms around you and whispers in your ear: "I would think of you becoming round with my child, your tits filling with milk, how proud and beautiful you would look on my arm when we go to the marketplace together. How I would fuck you every night to make sure the child grows big and strong..."

You sob with desire, delirious from his words and the way he fills you up. All you can do is wrap your own arms around his, take his cock with your encouraging whimpers, and let him kiss what breath you still have away.

He takes his time fucking you slowly, his warm body growing hot from the effort, hips grinding into you so deep that you'll surely be bruised in the morning, all the while whispering filthy things in your ear, keeping you on the brink of insanity until you find yourself cumming yet again, and this time the tears come as well, it's all too much and still not enough, you want all of him in you, and you want him to fill your womb, you need it.

"My good wife," he praises you for climaxing, "Cumming on my cock like that, preparing your wet little cunt for my seed. Take it, my love, take it, I don't have long."

"Breed me," you manage to articulate, "put a baby in my belly, Pero, I love you, now breed me, fuck me like an animal and make me pregnant!"

He growls into your ear and props himself up onto one forearm before heeding your wish. You cry out when he drives himself into you, again and again, until you feel the wet heat spill inside you. A low, rumbling growl rises from deep within him, and he thrusts into you, all the way in, as deep as he can go, and stays there, panting heavily. You can hardly take it, you're too full, but you still push back as if he could go any deeper, and you squeeze him tightly to get every last drop out of him.

He finally collapses by your side, cock slipping out, one arm and leg thrown over you. Silence descends over your wheezing, sweaty bodies - yours slick from his perspiration. Finally, Pero groans, and kisses your shoulder.

"Are you still in one piece, my love?"

"Barely," you murmur, exhausted and deeply in love.

"Will you let me tuck you in?"

You gripe but shift so that Pero can pull away the covers. Your head hits the pillow with a deep sigh that changes to a yelp when Pero slaps your ass.

"Move. You've been sleeping alone for too long, you have started to take up too much space."

You scoot over to one side, and Pero gets in behind you. Moulding himself to you, he kisses your shoulder again.

"If I get pregnant, I'll get fat and take up even more space," you point out with a yawn.

"When you get pregnant, I'll worship every inch of your beautiful body, wife," he promises you. "Now, legs together. Don't want my seed to stain anything but your thighs."

Your hand finds his under the covers.

"I'm so glad you're home."

"I'm very glad to be home."

His hand comes to a rest on your lower abdomen, spreading a faint tingle deep inside. You smile to yourself, and then sleep claims you.

[almostfoxglove]

hi pals, we're back! I'm including some of the fics on my (very long) TBR this time around because I have a feeling I'm gonna love those too :,) go give 'em some love!!

💖 - fluff | 🔥 - smut | 😭 - angst | ⭐ - one shot | ✨ - series

built for love & yearning?

feeling that way by @sp00kymulderr - joel x transmasc!reader ✨💖🔥

bite me nicely by @jolapeno - javier p x f!reader ✨😭🔥

3 sides of a man by @milla-frenchy - javier p x f!reader ⭐🔥😭

el gran varón by @yopossum - silva x jake ⭐😭

turn up the heat

just friends by @alexandralyman - frankie x f!reader ⭐💖🔥

sins of the flesh by @ak-vintage - pero x f!reader ⭐🔥

spiaggia, amore e limone by @thundermartini - javier p x f!reader ⭐💖🔥

socal to norcal by @lotusbxtch - joel x frankie x f!reader ✨🔥

bunny by @whatsnewalycat - javier p x f!reader ✨🔥

got time to spend? (series)

stick buddies by @auteurdelabre - frankie x f!reader ✨🔥😭💖

wildest dreams by @guiltyasdave - dave x f!reader ✨🔥😭

read on ahead (from my TBR)

neighborhood watch by @joelalorian - frankie x f!reader ⭐💖

strike by @secretelephanttattoo - joel x f!reader ✨💖

the dark dresses lightly by @kedsandtubesocks - dave x f!reader ⭐🔥😭

the outlaws by @mothandpidgeon - joel x f!reader ✨🔥😭

complicated by @ovaryacted - javier p x f!reader ⭐😭

dividers by @thecutestgrotto

[flightlessangelwings]

Ktober 2023 Day 1- Overstimulation

Pero Tovar x fem!reader

Word count- 1.3k

Warnings- s.mut (18+ ONLY!), f receiving oral, established relationship, reader wears a corset and is a waitress, no use of y/n

Notes- Starting the month off with an idea I've had in my drafts for some time so it's the perfect opportunity to use it! Prompt list made by me! Enjoy!

@flightlessangelwings-updates is myupdate blog so please follow that too and turn on post notifs to stay up to date on my new fics!

~

The tavern bustled with life and laughter, and you hurriedly ran drinks to the many tables. Men eyed you up and down as your tightly fit corset accented your body perfectly, but you paid them no mind. You just filtered back enough to get them to leave you a little something extra in the way of coin when they left. No, there was only one man you wanted to share your bed with.

And he just walked through the front door.

“Señor Tovar,” you purred as you sauntered up to him, “What will it be tonight?”

He smirked as he rested a hand on your hip, “You, querida,” his tone was low as he eyed the other men who had jealousy clear on their faces.

“This way,” you set down your drinks and slid your hand in his, leading him upstairs…

“Ay… Fuck… Pero…” you moaned as the mercenary laid comfortable between your parted legs. In private, you were on a first name basis, among other things.

It took Pero no time at all to strip you of your garments, and he quickly became an expert at unlacing your corset. It was something he was particularly proud of. Pero growled as you laid bare for him, spread out on the bed with your legs parted, just the way he liked it, and he wasted no time in diving in.

There were few things Pero enjoyed more than eating you out. He spent hours between your legs, licking and sucking you until you cried for mercy and begged him to stop. The taste of you was the sweetest nectar he had ever had, and from the first moment his tongue touched your pussy, Pero was addicted.

“You taste so good, querida,” he purred in that tone he saved only for you.

Heat quickly built up in your body as your mind swam in pleasure. You arched your back and moaned loudly as Pero’s tongue flicked and licked at your clit, knowing exactly what spots drove you absolutely wild. His large hands dug into the flesh of your thighs as he kept them parted to allow him better access to your body.

“Fuck!” you cried out as you buried your hands in his hair, “Pero… I’m gonna…”

He groaned into you as you yanked at his thick locks, but he never let up. Pero ran his tongue along your clit over and over again, nodding his head as he pushed you over the edge. His cock twitched as he listened to the screams of your climax- music to his ears. He savored the way your legs shook on either side of his head and you couldn’t hold back your moans even if you wanted to.

Just as you let out a whimper, Pero pulled away with a loud pop and looked at you with dark, lust-blown eyes. He hissed a curse in Spanish as he watched your breasts rise and fall with your heavy breaths as you came down from your peak.

“Que hermosa,” Pero groaned as he waited for you to open your eyes.

When you did, you saw him staring down at you with a look you had never seen before. Sure you saw the lustful gaze in his eyes, but underneath, there was something else… something more. It was subtle, but you had known him long enough to notice slight shifts like that.

But, before you could address, Pero growled and dove back into you, licking at your pussy with renewed fervor. Your head dropped back down to the bed as you screamed even more loudly as he devoured you like a man starved. 

Pero used his strong grip to push your legs apart even further, too consumed with need to care about anything other than the taste of you. He felt your legs tremble under his grasp as your second orgasm hit quickly and just as strongly as the first one. 

This time, however, Pero did not break away.

He kept going, licking and sucking you as if you were his last meal on earth. He savored your cries, your moans, your whimpers, your screams as you soon came again under his expert tongue. Pero’s cock practically screamed him to fuck you, in need of his own release, but he ignored it. He was completely lost in you, in your pussy, to even think about himself.

It was the first time that had happened to him.

Pero continued his attack on your pussy as he moved one hand to push two thick fingers into you. You bucked your hips and screamed as you felt the calloused digits enter you, hitting your sweet spot inside with accuracy. 

“Pero! Ah!” you cried out as you clutched into his scalp for dear life.

He groaned your name in between kissing your pussy as he thrust his fingers in and out of you at a fast and harsh pace. The long fingers hit deep inside you, making you see stars as your eyes rolled back and tears fell down your cheeks. It only took a few more thrusts for you to cum again with another loud scream.

Your body trembled uncontrollably as you came down from your peak, Pero slowing down for a moment to allow you time to catch your breath, “Pero…” you breathed as you sniffled, “I can’t…”

Pero hushed you with surprising gentleness, “Yes you can, querida,” he purred as he slowly thrust his fingers once more, “I am not finished with you yet.”

“Please…” you begged as fresh tears filled your eyes.

Pero whispered your name as he stopped all his movements. He wanted for you to meet his eyes before he spoke again, “I think you can give me one more, querida,” he paused, “Can you?”

You swallowed hard as you caught your breath. Your body felt like it was on fire, and your emotions spiraled in your head from the many consecutive climaxes. But the way Pero looked at you gave you newfound strength. You trust him, after all, and you knew that if you truly had enough, all you had to do was say so and he would stop.

You nodded.

Pero smirked, “That’s my good girl,” he cooed before he dipped back into your pussy.

Instead of a harsh and rough pace, however, Pero was slower, gentler, as if he was making love to you with his tongue. You moaned loudly, your body already trembling under the pressure of his tongue. Tears spilled down your face once more, but they were also different this time. It was overwhelming in the best way, and suddenly you craved more just as he did.

It didn’t take long for your last orgasm to build within you. “Pero…” you sighed as you arched your back, parting your legs as much as you could, offering yourself to him completely. 

“That’s it querida,” he praised in between licks and sucks as you fell apart under him once more. Pero savored the taste of you as you gushed into his mouth and squeezed his fingers with your inner muscles. At the same time, you cried out his name and clung to him wherever you could grab. He liked it when you clung to him like that.

When your climax was completely ridden out, Pero finally broke away from you and trailed a line of open mouthed kissed up your body until he took your mouth with his. He swallowed the moan you let out and he wiped away any stray tears as his tongue tangled with yours.

“Thank you for the meal, querida,” Pero smirked as he crashed down onto the bed and pulled you into his arms.

You let out an exhausted laugh, but then you paused, “What about you?” you asked.

“Hush, querida,” he murmured, “You need your rest first.”

A smile lit up your face, though Pero couldn’t see it from the way he held you; underneath all the tough and gruff exterior, you knew that Pero Tovar had some kindness in him. But, what you didn’t know was just how much fondness he held for you. Perhaps someday he would tell you out loud. Until then, Pero’s actions spoke loudly enough, and that was just fine for both of you.

[psychedelic-ink]

For the writing game darling - meet ugly + time travel + PERO ❤️ Thank you!

Thank you for requesting bby!!! I'm not sure if the meet was ugly enough, but hopefully you'll enjoy luv u ❤️❤️❤️ this could be way longer tbh but i stopped myself since it was meant to be a drabble lmaosvfd

𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓

pairing: pero tovar x fem!reader

genre: meet ugly + time travel, romance, a bit of angst

word count: 536

summary: Three times in Pero's lifetime, fate intertwined your paths. Once in his twenties, then in his thirties, and yet again in his forties, you were brought together, your lives intersecting in ways you couldn't predict.

i.

You just appear in front of him. Just like that. No warning. No puff of smoke. Pero was younger back then, a troublemaker. He was thrown out of the tavern, bat drunk, leaning against the dirty wall. 

Then he saw you. 

You just stood there, confused, shaking, wearing clothes he couldn't quite understand. He couldn't focus. One moment he was looking up at you, the second he was hurling, bile burning his throat as he crouched towards the ground. 

When he looked back up again you were gone. A cold wind blew. Your scent still lingered in the air. 

ii.

The next time Pero met you was ten years later. You’re looking less confused, more curious. You spotted him through the busy street and waved. Pero raised an eyebrow. His suspicion grew. His first instinct was to move away and disappear from your eyesight. But against his better judgment, he stood there. You approached him. 

“I remember you,” you said. “You’re the guy that puked ten years ago.” 

“You have quite the memory,” he grunted. “And an odd way of speech.” 

“Oh…well,” you cleared your throat. “I’m new.” 

“Where are you from?” 

“Uh…a town close to hear.” 

Pero grinned then. He leaned forward, crowding your space. He enjoyed the way your eyes widened, a slight fear swirling in them. You licked your bottom lip, and touched something on your waist. He didn’t bother to look down at it. His smile was wide and mocking. 

“You lie,” he answered. “I can tell.” 

The silence that followed was amusing to him. Your body locked up, eyes flitting between his. Enjoying the way you didn’t avert your eyes, Pero lets out a chuck. Crossing his arms over his chest, he backed away. 

“Come with me,” he said, pointing to a tavern with his head. “I wish to learn more about the woman that is riddled with mystery.” 

iii.

You appeared in a field this time. Pero, now older in age, made his way to you in haste. His home was riddled with memories of you. The stuff you bough, the books you chose. Only to not be touched for years. His eyes become wet as he wrapped his arms around you. He buried his face into the crook of your neck, inhaling you, etching you into his memory before you were lost to him again. 

“Pero,” you sighed, fingers toying with the soft curls that dance over his name. “I missed you.” 

“I missed you too, amor,” he whispered, warm breath fanning your skin. He felt the way your hands trembled. His knees buckled, both of you falling promptly to the field. His smile widened as you giggled, your face hovering an inch above his. You stroke his beard, gently pinching his chin. 

“You’ve grown handsome with old age.” 

“Does that mean you found me ugly before? I am hurt, rosa.” 

“No silly,” you leaned in, pressing your lips tenderly into his. “I’ve always found you handsome.” 

“Whereas you haven’t aged a day,” he answered, licking your bottom lips. “Stay. Don’t go.” 

You let out a sigh, and his heart sunk into his chest. After a silence that stretches, you kiss his neck. 

“Okay,” you whispered. “I will.” 

[simpingcowboy]

Un Millón de Primaveras//A Million Springs

Pairing: Pero Tovar x GN!Reader, no use of Y/N, ambiguous Spanish speaker don't worry translations are provided, reader runs an innn

Word Count: 3k+

Warnings: Yearning! Softness!! Kinda enemies to lovers??? Stalkerish tendencies, mentions of people drinking, Pero being annoying and weird

Summary: Since his first day at your inn, Pero Tovar has dutifully followed you without either of you knowing why.

A/N: Happy Valentine's Day!!! Enjoy Pero and reader both not knowing how to deal with their feelings. Can y'all tell I like making songs into fics lol? I am not super great at Spanish so if any of this is wrong please don't be afraid to correct me I am well aware that Pero is a Spaniard idc he loves Vicente Fernández. Ranchero music sLAPS

Everyday.

Everyday.

Everyday since Pero had arrived at your inn, he'd been following your every move.

Stalking you in the kitchen.

Watching as you swept the main hall.

Peering over your shoulder from the front desk.

Even doing his morning sparring routine off the side of your cabin, waiting to see you first thing in the morning.

All of this and yet, Pero had barely spoken to you. Most of his communication came in grunts and nods. His silence drowned out by his companion, William's, sweet talk and polite conversation.

It hadn't always been like this. It started slowly. The first few days upon their arrival you'd discovered the mercenary lurking outside the kitchen before meal time. Glaring up at you through the service window, barely out of view. You'd only noticed him as you moved to set out dishes. He catches you off guard, almost making you drop the bowls you held.

"Oh Pero! You know food will not be served for another hour, right?"

"Yes, I know." He said in his usual monotone tone. His glance shifts to the dishes you've set on the counter. He takes a bowl in hand. "I will wait."

You shrugged it off trying to rationalize his odd behavior. Pero was usually first in line anyways…and always came back for seconds when available. Maybe life as a mercenary had made him weary of eating food he had not seen be prepared. Maybe he really was just that eager to eat your cooking. It could be plenty of things you suppose. As long as he kept out of your way, you could live with it.

And then- you'd noticed him taking a peak at you at the front desk. You were sitting at the desk, doing some bookkeeping when a creaky floorboard alerted you to someone approaching the desk. When you looked up, Pero, wide eyed and silent, stood a couple feet off the desk.

"Pero, can I help you with something?"

His right hand fidgets at his side. "No." He says solemnly.

"A-are you sure?" You ask curiously, unsure of why he'd be here if he didn't need anything. He still had another month paid for so he needn't worry about that.

He responds with a grunt and a nod, "Mmm."

"Okay…well I'm here if you need me."

He nods again before turning on his heels and settling over on a chair in the far corner of the lobby. Pero simply sat, busying himself with cleaning his weapons. Every couple minutes you'd caught him staring up at you. He remained there until the end of the day, waiting to see you off. You wished him a goodnight as you stepped out to return to your cabin for the night. Even as you turned back to look at the inn, you swore you saw Pero's silhouette watching you through the window.

After that night, you decided to ask William a bit more about Pero. Eager to get some answers about this strange man. You tried not to make much of a habit of bothering guests, but this was a more than reasonable exception. You managed to catch him alone when Pero went off to the bathhouse.

"William? I'm sorry to bother you, but may I ask you a question or two?"

He offers you a bright smile in turn. "Of course! How may I be of assistance?"

"It's about Pero."

The blonde man chuckles when you mention Pero's name. "Is he causing you trouble?"

"Not exactly, he's just been…around alot. Around me alot to be exact. I was just wondering if I've offended him or anything? If you know?"

William flashes you a slightly mischievous grin. "Offended? Oh no not at all. In fact, I'd say he's rather fond of you!"

"Fond?" You repeat.

He nods "Very fond."

It continued on through the weeks. You'd slowly grown accustomed to Pero's silent presence. Making use of him once or twice a week to help around the inn. Putting his body to work to help clear the snow, or set the dining hall for more formal dinners. If he was going to be in your way, the least he could do was help out a bit. You'd learned more about him. Learned the most whenever you watched him work.

Pero was a quiet man, this was certain. His strengths are not so much in his tongue. Nor charm. Nor sensibility. No- that was where his partner shone. Pero's qualities were not so surface level. It took a bit of pressure to reveal his best qualities. The first you noticed, grace.

Though he trudged through the house with all the elegance of a drunken fool, when given a task he moved so beautifully. Reorganizing furniture as if it were the sole key to your heart. With total care and efficiency. You saw it in his sparring too. Pero had absolute control of his body, and welded his weapon with an unimaginable ease. You'd learned he was once a bull fighter. Though it was obvious by his tone, he did not care much to discuss it.

Secondly, you saw more of his character. How noble he was. "A sellsword with morals!" William had laughed at you when you said as much. But it was true. Pero would steal, yes. Fight, often. Even kill, for the right price. Yet through it, he'd maintained his empathy. His honor. You'd seen him stand up to brutish figures who'd picked on those weaker than themselves. Witnessed him aid a child who was lost late at night wandering the halls. Pero Tovar was not a good man…but certainly not a bad one either.

The last quality you grew to admire had appeared rather abruptly on a cold winter morning. You and Pero had grown into quite the routine. Every morning long before the other guests had awoken, Pero would be waiting patiently at the door for your arrival. Greeting you with a silent nod as you entered. You did your usual opening tasks at the Inn, before settling in and making your cup of coffee. Which had since grown to two cups of coffee. You rounded the kitchen, two mugs in hand, to sit with Pero by the fire when the strangest thing happened.

In the soft light of the fire, Pero's eyes looked so bright…so warm, so inviting. Suddenly, you wondered how his nose would feel nuzzling against yours, how his arms would feel wrapped around you. An urge awoke to sit in his lap, and play with the loose ties of his undershirt. Even the menacing scar he wore on his eye transformed into the perfect line to run your kisses across.

"Coffee." He grumbles, turning his face to you.

"Hmm?" You respond, snapping out of your day dream.

Pero sniffs the air, "You have our coffee, no?"

"I-I yes! Yes, I do." Your words stumble over the butterflies in your stomach. You jolted over to his side handing him his cup before taking your place next to him.

He silently takes a sip. "It's good."

"Thank you…" you murmur.

You realize, Pero Tovar is so handsome.

So yes, you'd grown well accustomed to his presence…maybe even enjoyed having Pero around on occasion. Perhaps you even missed him on the days he and William would go to town to do some work. Maybe you missed him even more when he would be away for a day or two, no doubt working to earn more coin in preparation to leave come Spring. Only in the quiet moments without him by your side did you think it was not so bad to have him around. Maybe you even silently wished Pero would stay by your side.

But what were you to say to the ill-tempered Spaniard…Tales of affection and romance? Admit your feelings and make a mockery of yourself; of your business? So, you remained silent. Willing the loneliness away that came without Pero. Remembering that come Spring, he will leave and you'd likely never meet again.

The last couple days had been excruciating. Several things in the inn had broken and needed repair. Some drunken guests had made a mess of the dining hall. The incessant snowfall meant continual clearing of both walkways and entrances. Not to mention the need for extra firewood. The last snowfall of the year was typically heavy and this year was certain not to disappoint. Though you knew it best to keep your mind on your tasks, your mind betrayed you with thoughts of Pero instead.

William had taken Pero off to town to be bodyguards for some state officials who'd come to visit. Right now you envision Pero in his armor, glaring menacingly at an empty hallway guarding the statesmen while they slept. Huffing his annoyance out at William for making them take this job. The vision makes you smile. You can't imagine he was in a good mood for the trip, considering how he left that morning.

"You will be okay?" He asked quietly as he saddled his horse.

"Yes, Pero I'll be fine." You roll your eyes at his sudden protective streak.

His dark brown eyes find yours "You do not need more wood or-"

"Pero!" Called William, already mounted on his horse. "Come on! You're gonna make us late!"

Pero shoots the blonde man a glare before turning back to you. "Take care, Girasol…" he sends you off with a nod before mounting his horse. "I will be back!"

That was four days ago…this was the longest you'd gone without him. It was beginning to feel like a lifetime. Silently you wondered, how you would ever survive Spring without him.

But for now, the snow fell. And the world was still cold. So you rest. Perched on a chair outside, overlooking the snowy forest surrounding your home. Letting your body sink into the padded chair. A February breeze sends chills up your spine with each low whisper. The rustling of the pine trees play their dashing melody. The air is seasoned with the first of Spring's pollen. You think maybe the first of the animals has awoken from their slumber, as the soft crunch of snow is heard. You smile for the first time in days. Finally free of the heavy burden these past days had presented you with.

He watches in admiration…catching glimpses of you from around the bend of your home, not wanting to frighten you. As soon as Pero had returned from his job, he came to find you. Wanting to asure to himself that you had been just fine without him, as you'd need to be soon when he was gone. Pero finds himself smiling at your cheerfulness. He feels at home.

The dark of night quickly catches up to you. A yawn escaping from your throat. As you turn your head to stretch you see him.

"Pero!" You screamed at the unexpected intrusion, causing you to jump out from your chair.

The mercenary steps out from the shadows into your view, hands held high. "Mira, it's okay mi coraz-"

You snap. The stress finally breaks you down, "Why do you always do that?"

Pero stood up straight when you yelled at him, a dumbstruck look on his face. "Do what?"

"Follow me everywhere. You're always watching me! You don't think maybe I would like a second with you not breathing down my neck, huh?"

Pero is quiet for a moment, eyes flicker between your eyes and the floor. "I- ¿Te molesta?" He asks, his voice sounding much softer than usual. "It bothers you?"

For just a moment, you feel a bit guilty. Seeing the big scary mercenary be humbled so quickly. "I well, only sometimes."

"I am sorry. I will go." Pero goes to turn on his heels back to the inn, head hanging down.

"W-why?" You manage to squeak out.

"¿Qué?" Pero turns his head back to you, slowly shifting his body back around.

"Why do you always follow me? I asked William and he said well…I haven't done something wrong have I?"

Pero's usual scowls scrunches up more into a look of annoyance. "No."

"Then why?"

Why? Why? Why? Pero thinks to himself. It's the same question he's asked himself everyday since arriving. Why do you make his brain go all blurry? Why does he have such an incessant urge to be near you every moment of the day? Why does he pray that Spring never comes?

And no answer came. At first he felt suspicious of you. His instincts telling him you were something nefarious. So he watched. Watched and watched. His permanent scowl matched with squinted eyes as he observed you. And nothing. You were not the evil innkeep his mind had made you out to be. No. You far exceeded his suspicions of you.

As he watched you work he learned just how incredible you were. Strong. Kind. Reasonable. Respectable. Pero watched in awe at the way you handled the inn and kept everything running smoothly. You were serious like him, but equipped with more than enough pleasantries about you to not frighten off every patron that came through your door. Far from the evil he once believed you to be.

It wasn't until that first cup of coffee he really understood. Pero lingered out by the front desk, keeping an eye out for you as you did your morning tasks. Dark eyes quickly fixate on you as you remerge from the backroom. Two cups of coffee in hand instead of your usual one.

"Pero, if you're gonna get up with me you might as well have some coffee." You say, sliding one mug towards him. You'd noted the grimace on his face at the offering. "Are you alright?"

Pero froze. No, he was not alright. The warm bright smell of coffee hitting him like a train. And his stomach flips again, as it did the first time he laid eyes on you. And finally he understands. His body did not react to you with distrust, but with desire. All at once, Pero Tovar's world fell apart.

The question swirls again in his mind, "Why do you follow me?" It was simple. Because you were far more than he'd ever seen before. More great than the royals of the Spanish court. More beautiful than the ocean shores. Stronger than any bull he'd slain. Kinder than any nurse who'd tended to him. Worth more than any coin. Rarer than black power. He followed you, because there was no greater honor than serving at your side.

He huffs, averting your gaze, eyes shifting around the blank snow. Mind racking with how to explain himself. Searching for those perfect fairytale romance words that always won the prince the heart of their beloved. But all Pero can muster is, "Solo falta un millón de Primaveras…" muttered under his breath.

Only a million Springs

"What was that?"

"Only a million Springs." He repeats in English. Dark brown eyes matching your gaze, a look of wonder captivating him. As he looks upon you, his words and his world falls back into place. Pero marches through the snow, standing before you. His chest threatens to push against you. "Please wait, mi amor. Sí te molesta que I follow you." His eyes look into yours, a large hand cupping your cheek.

Please wait, my love. If it bothers you that I follow you.

"Pero I don't-"

Another hand greets your waist, pulling you in against him. "Solo falta un millón de Primaveras. A few centuries he de adorarte. Give me that at least, Hermose." He pleads.

Only a million Springs. A few centuries I have left to adore you. Give me that at least, gorgeous.

A warmth spreads through you. The look of annoyance on your face washed away with his touch. "Only a million Springs, huh?" Your arms move to encase Pero in your grasp.

He nods, the most subtle of a smile on his face. "Sí."

You smile back to him. "And after that?"

Pero smirks, his wide hand rubbing up your spine, "Después de eso…I'll never bother you again."

After that…I'll never bother you again.

"And if I want you to stay?"

"My time here…" Pero falters, wishing his words were not true, "William and I will need to go back to work, but after. Next winter, I will return for you."

"And begin our Springs?" You ask, eyes full of hope.

Pero's eyes relax as he looks down at you, joy radiating through his body. "Sí, mí amor…let there be a million of them."

Spring.

Summer.

Fall.

Winter.

You waited patiently. Looking over the hill each day in hopes of seeing your mercenary bounding over the fallen leaves. The shortened days grew long and weary, but you remained eager. Knowing once he returned, he would never again depart.

You'd seen lakes thaw and freeze again. Seen ducklings be born and since leave. The leaves turn green, then red, then yellow, then fall off the trees. You'd seen the wonders of each season, yet you only dreamt of Spring.

Just dreams…until one early morning, after making your cup of coffee.

"No coffee for me?" A voice comes from behind where you sat in front of the fireplace.

A faint tear pricks at your eye at the voice. It's one you'd know anywhere. "Pero!" You jump out of your chair in excitement, tossing your mug haphazardly on the side table.

"Aye, mi alma!" He greets you, enrapturing you in his arms. "Knew you'd wait for me…" he whispers into your neck.

"Of course, Pero." You snuggle as close as possible into his body.

He smirks teasing lightly "I thought maybe…te olvidaste de mí. Maybe you forgot about me."

"I could never forget about you…not in a million years."

"No?" He chuckles.

"Never."

And though the snow had just begun to fall, the whole world felt like Spring. With Pero back in your arms, you only wished for a million more.

[pintsizemama]

Hot Cocoa

Day 5

Summary: You introduce Pero to hot cocoa.

Pairings: Pero Tovar x Reader (gender neutral), Pero Tovar x You

Fandom: The Great Wall

Rating: Mature 18+ ONLY

Word Count: 574

Warnings: language…let me know if I missed anything!

A/N: This is a time traveler modern Pero snippet…I plan to write a longer version of this one day!

Day 4 Day 6 Christmas Masterlist Main Masterlist AO3 Join my taglist

The whistling of the kettle roused you from the couch. You had been half asleep, snuggled under a blanket, waiting for the water to boil. You grumbled as you threw the blanket off and padded into the kitchen. You were just pulling the kettle from the stove when movement in your peripheral caught your attention. You glanced up to see Pero rushing from the bedroom, sword in hand.

“What was that noise!” He asked, eyes darting around the room, looking for danger. You stood in shock for a moment before you answered him.

“Kettle,” you replied. You held up the offending item to show him.

“Kettle?” He repeated in his heavily accented voice.

“Yes,” you answered.

“What the fuck is that?” He asked with a scowl. You sighed. You forgot how much he didn’t know. Pero was not from your time. He had been fighting great beasts on the ancient Great Wall, and the next thing he knew, he was in the woods behind your house…in modern day. He had been heavily injured and you had nursed him back to health. Once you realized he wasn’t crazy, and had in fact time traveled, you took it upon yourself to be his guide to the modern world.

“It’s a tea kettle,” you explained softly. “You use it to boil water…to make hot drinks.”

“What are you making?” He asked, approaching cautiously.

“Hot cocoa,” you answered.

“Cocoa?” He parroted. “Chocolate?” You nodded. “Mmm…I like chocolate, though it is hard to come by where I am from.”

“Not so much here, Pero,” you told him. You poured the water into two mugs and pulled out the packets of hot chocolate. “Sorry it’s the cheap stuff. I don’t have everything to make the really good hot cocoa.” He nodded, but his eyes never left your hands. He was fascinated. When you ripped the packet open and poured the powder into the mug he jumped back.

“That is not chocolate!” He exclaimed. You laughed

“Yes it is,” you assured him. “It’s powdered cocoa and sugar.”

“This is incredible,” he murmured in aww. He took the empty packet from you and examined it closely. You added the other packet to the second mug and stirred them. You tossed the spoon and grabbed your milk frother. It always did a much better job of mixing the cocoa. You put it in the drink and stifled another laugh when Pero jumped back as it whirled through the chocolate.

“There we are,” you said to yourself when they were ready. You handed one to Pero. He eyed it suspiciously, but took a sip. His eyes lit up.

“This is delicious,” he exclaimed. You smiled.

“I know,” you told him. “Let’s go sit on the couch. It’s too damn cold in here.” Your heating was old, so the house never really warmed up enough in the winter. You and Pero settled into the couch. You snuggled up against him and pulled the blanket over both of you. You drank your hot cocoa in companionable silence. It was one thing you loved about him—he wasn’t much of a talker. You enjoyed the quiet, and so did he. He wrapped and arm around your shoulders to pull you closer.

“Thank you for this,” Pero said quietly. “It means a lot to me.”

“It’s just cocoa,” your teased.

“I wasn’t just talking about the cocoa, preciosa,” he whispered.

“I know,” you whispered back.

Day 6

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[readingiskeepingmegoing]

Oh my stars! So sweet.

I was worried that her uncle would have made her marry someone while Pero was away. I'm so glad they got to be together.

here’s a request if you’re interested!! i love your pero🥺

so how about this one: a seamstress (or her apprentice) fits a group of travelers for new clothes/leathers 👀

how does pero act? is he polite in his disgruntled socially acceptable way or is he polite in a way that makes william raise an eyebrow? is he drawn to reader instantly or do they squabble at first? im teeming with anticipation

This got so out of hand but your ask gave me the perfect idea for Pero and a seamstress! I hope you enjoy

Pero Tovar x Seamstress Reader

Warnings: fluff, Pero being an idiot in love

The life of a mercenary is anything but predictable; you take whatever work falls into your lap and travel wherever the coin leads. The only consistent thing in Pero Tovar’s life for almost ten years now had been his friend - William - but now there was also you.

By the time winter rolls around each year Pero and William’s clothes are ripped and torn from months of fighting and traveling, so much so they are in need of replacement layers before the cold weather hits.

The first time they came to your village was four years ago. It was by chance that they chose your village, a particularly good job giving them enough coin to be swayed from their usual seamstress to a more expensive one who used better - thicker - material.

Pero will remember walking into the shop for the first time for the rest of his life. The bell above the door had rang through the shop, the sound slightly muffled by the layers upon layers of fabric that lined the wall. He had been too busy looking at the different materials, some bright colours and silky while others were deep shades and thick fabric, to notice when you first walked into the room.

William usually handled interactions with others, from innkeepers to blacksmiths, after one too many near punch-ups as a result of Pero’s less than polite manners when dealing with others. He heard your footfall as you walked into the room while his hands ran through the rainbow of silks, your sweet and gentle voice quickly following as you began to explain the prices to William.

When he finally turned to face you, he was shocked by just how beautiful you were. Your smile was as sweet as your voice, eyes as gentle. He had traveled many a land, seen women from around the world, yet no one had stolen his attention in the way you had.

“Would you like to try?” You looked over William’s shoulder, holding up a dark grey material for Pero to take.

Pero was anything but shy around anyone and that included women. He didn’t experience the shyness that some men did as they approached a beautiful woman - the butterflies and blushing and sweaty palms was a foreign idea to him. But suddenly, his voice was lost somewhere in the back of his throat, his palms warm as he reached to take the fabric from your hands, heart rate hammering in his chest when he met your eyes.

“What do you think?”

Pero could only grunt in response, a curt nod of his head to show it was an agreeable grunt, and he felt William roll his eyes next to you.

“Sorry for my friend.”

“It’s okay,” you smiled at Pero, “I can imagine you are both tired from all your traveling. I can take rough measurements today and send you on your way for a night’s rest. When you come back tomorrow I will tailor it to fit you perfectly.”

You lead the men into the back, a small room with three mirrors on one wall and a small private dressing area on the other. In the middle of the room there was a small stage for clients to stand on as you measured them carefully.

You did William first, measuring him quickly with the tape that was hanging over your shoulders and noting down the sizes in a small notebook, and then you called Pero up. He tripped slightly as he stepped onto the stage, your hand reaching out to steady him and being no help to his blushing cheeks. His hands shook as he held the end of the tape in place while you uncurled it down to his feet to take his full height, his eyes squeezing shut as your arms wrapped around his waist and measured him there. When you were done he looked over at William, his friend raising an eyebrow in return.

“I open at 8 tomorrow, come by whenever you are well rested and fed and I will tailor to you both,” you smiled at them, writing them a receipt and seeing them out.

As soon as the door closes behind them William is nudging Pero’s arm.

“I have never seen you so flustered over a woman before,” his tone is teasing.

Pero grunts, already walking off. “I’m hungry.”

He felt himself feeling something he rarely did when he thought of seeing you again the next day. He suddenly spent time combing his hair and carefully placing his layers on, taking so much time that William was ready and waiting by the door to his room at the Inn when Pero eventually appeared fifteen minutes later than they agreed to leave.

When they arrived at the shop once more, your warm smile welcomed them; asking how they slept and if they were fed well. For the first time, Pero was jealous of William’s skill of so easily conversing with others when he watched the way you bantered back and forth with one another; your eyes sparkling as you laughed along with him.

“And you, Mr Tovar? Are you glad to be getting out of these layers into something warmer?”

His cheeks flushed now your eyes were trained on him, throat dry as he tried to think of something to say.

“I have been thinking of it all night,” he said and his cheeks grew even warmer still.

You let Pero sit in the waiting area while you finished tailoring the clothes to William before you swapped the men around.

For a while you worked in silence; hands moving expertly as you tightened and loosened the fabric around his form, a slight furrow between your eyebrows when you concentrated and your tongue peeking out between your lips when you took care not to prick him with the needle. It was taking all his strength not to reach out and smooth the concentration lines on your brow or think about pressing his lips to your soft ones. As he scanned the room for anything else to concentrate on his eyes fell to your arm as you reached up to fix the collar of his tunic, noticing a small hole in the fabric by your armpit.

“There is a hole in your dress.”

“Oh,” you held your arm awkwardly to follow his gaze before huffing a laugh, “I guess when you are fixing everyone else’s clothes there is not much time to fix your own.”

“You should take care of yourself,” Pero said, “I am guessing a beautiful woman like you has a man who cares for her.”

You shook your head and Pero felt a swell of confidence in his chest when you became shy for the first time under his gaze, putting the finishing touches to his clothes before helping him off the stand, “no. It is just me now my parents have passed. No husband.”

“I am surprised at that,” his voice fell lower as he stood in front of you.

“What about you? A beautiful wife waiting for her handsome husband to return from his adventures?”

Pero shook his head now, “no wife.”

A silence fell over the room as you looked in one another’s eyes, neither of you wanting the moment to end. A knock at the door had your bodies quickly parting from how close they had grown.

“Yes?” You called back, clearing your throat.

William entered, smiling at you and his friend. You went about finishing the job, packing extra clothes they had ordered in a cloth bag and taking the coin from Pero.

“This is almost double what I charge,” you moved to hand him some back.

Pero felt the warmth return to his cheeks when William turned to look; he had hoped you wouldn’t have noticed until after they left the shop.

“I paid twice the time. You can- you can take two days to take care of yourself now, no?”

“I- this is too much,” you shook your head, your hand still open holding half the coins towards Pero.

He reached out, his large hand covering yours and closing your fingers back over the coins with a shake of the head. He could see the tears that were threatening to spill over your eyes and so reached for the bag on the table.

“Thank you. For all your help.”

You nodded wordlessly back, still shocked from what Pero had done for you. The men were leaving the shop, tying the bag of clothes to their saddles and hopping on their horses when he turned back to look. You were standing at the window, a smile on your face as you waved Pero off.

There had been two more years where he visited you before this one.

The next time William and Pero rode into your village was the exact same time as the year before. He had thought about you throughout the year - on cold, dark nights when your smile brought him some warmth; when he was fighting for his life against the most horrible souls in the world and thinking of your kind eyes reminded him of the good in the world; on the long, treacherous journey to your village where there were so many other places they could have stopped but he had to see you again. On one of their stops on the way to your village there was a Sunday market that sold everything and anything from all the local vendors. He had never paid much attention to the stalls in such markets before but when his eyes fell to a necklace, a smile chain with a yellow stone, he slipped from William to buy it and hid it below the layers and layers of clothes in his bag. His heart was beating double time in his chest when his eyes landed on you once more, your attention suddenly shifting from the customer in front of you to him. You kindly asked the customer to return in a few days before welcoming them both with a smile and once again taking William in to measure before taking Pero in. You asked him a thousand questions of his adventures and before he knew it the sun had disappeared from the sky - and William had returned to the Inn - the both of you having sat side by side on the floor as you spoke about the year that had passed. I must return to the Inn he had told you and knew that what he had seen was a flicker of sadness in your eyes but before I do I have something for you. The necklace was carefully wrapped in a brown cloth and still in perfect condition as he unwrapped it and handed it over to you. His eyes never left your face as your fingers trailed over it before you looked up to him, a wide smile taking over your face. It’s beautiful you had sighed and he swore that he would do whatever he could to see that smile on your face a million more times.

The third time they rode into your village it was summer and Pero had convinced William to ride out this way for a job. They stayed for a week and while William tended to their horses and stocked up on supplies you showed him around the village, taking him through the forest path and down to the lake. This was where you finally shared your first kiss, standing on your toes and pressing your lips gently against his before he backed you against a tree and surrounded your body with his. He swore that he got a glimpse of heaven that day; the softness of your lips against his, your gentle hands that roamed his body, the wonderful sighs and gasps that left your mouth as you kissed and kissed until you were both breathless. My uncle wants me to marry you told him on the walk back, your voice quieter than he had ever heard, he is looking for a husband who will be able to take on the shop so I can do my “womanly duties”. He heard the sadness and anger that laced your voice and felt his hand that was not in yours tighten into a fist as he tried to breath through the pain of his heart dropping to his stomach.

“I swear I will return,” Pero told you.

“I- please don’t promise something you can’t,” your voice shook, “I look forward to seeing you every year but- but what is this.”

He had stopped and held your face gently in his hands, not caring that William could see as the three of you stood in the barn.

“I swear I will return and then I will promise you what a husband can promise his wife,” his voice was steady.

You stood on your toes as his head dipped down, the both of you meeting in a desperate kiss with your face still in his hands as your hands curled into his top.

That had been eighteen months ago now and as he rode back into your village for the fourth time his stomach was ill with worry. He had taken the journey to China in hope of earning enough to come home to you and hang up his sword for good. It hadn’t gone quite how he had hoped but as a parting gift he had been given three bars of gold in thanks.

Your words had rang through his head as the village came into view, smoke pouring into the sky from the many homes that were trying to ward off the winter cold. What if your uncle had made you find a husband? What if you would not be happy to see him?

The worry did not stop him on his journey, in fact he made the horse move faster when he saw the path that led to your shop. The light was still on, a golden glow spilling out from the window into the dark street covered in a thin layer of snow. He carefully tied the horse up, taking a small parcel from his bag before heading inside.

The bell rang through the room as he stepped inside, the shop looking much the same as it did the first time he walked in with a change of fabrics that covered the walls.

“Sorry, we’re closed!”

He felt his heart stop, his grip growing tighter on the parcel as your voice floated from the back of the shop. It was as though he couldn’t move, every fear and worry he had about you no longer wanting him freezing his voice in the back of his throat.

“We open at eight tomorrow you can come back-,” you stepped into the front of the shop, the fabric that had been in your hand falling to the floor. “Pero,” you whispered, taking another step forward before freezing yourself.

“I-I swore I would return.”

He could barely register what was going on before your body crashed into him, his arms automatically coming to wrap around you and hold you even closer to him. He felt his own tears as you sobbed into his chest, his hands that were resting on your head and back soothing you until you tilted your head up to him.

“I worried that something had happened to you. I knew you wouldn’t break your promise.”

“Never. I would have fought every man, woman and beast to make it back here to you,” he wiped your tears, “I- did your uncle-”

“No,” you shook your head, “I refused.”

Pero smiled down at you, letting you go and pressing a kiss to your forehead before opening the small parcel wrapped in cloth to reveal a ring.

“Then it is time I seal the promise I made.”

//

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[absurdthirst]

Tovar's Desires {Modern!Pero Tovar x F!Reader x Javier Peña}

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 8.5k

Warnings: Voyeurism, vaginal sex, suggestions of threesomes, masturbation, public sex, office sex, oral sex (male and female receiving), desk sex, analingus, fingering, anal fingering, double penetration, unprotected sex, threesomes

Comments: While in Spain helping track down a drug dealer, you find yourself wanting the ruggedly handsome, albeit, grumpy Spaniard. He believes that nothing can happen because you are with your partner, Javier Peña. He doesn't know the two of you don't mind sharing, allowing him to have his heart's desires.

Co-written with @storiesofthefandomlovers

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|| MasterList || Pero Tovar MasterList || Javier Peña MasterList ||

Click Keep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says 'creator chooses not to use warnings'. You also agree that you're the right age to be consuming anything here.

You have worked in countries around the world, helping to take down some of the toughest cartels and drug lords. Working in conjunction with the federal governments and local law enforcement, you had never met anyone quite like your own partner, Javier Peña until him. 

Pero Tovar was a grumpy, brash, harsh man who seemed to find little joy in life. At first glance. It’s only after working with him for months that you had discovered there was some humanity under the layers of sarcasm. You had been shocked when you first saw him smile. Even more astounded when you heard him tell a joke. Working with him was proving to be somewhat of a distraction now that you understood how he operated. 

“You find that address?” Javi asks Pero as he enters his office in the Guardia Civil office in Madrid. “Not yet. Pendejos aren’t giving up the building over the tap. It’s gonna take a bit longer to get them to give it up.” Pero sighs, looking over at you and Javi as you sit in the chairs in his office. You’re gorgeous as the sunlight hits you and he shifts in his chair, knowing you are off limits. It’s been three months since you and Javi arrived in Madrid. A joint effort by the American DEA and the Spanish Guardia Civil to take down the drug lord Hector Jimenez. He’s evaded all efforts until the two countries decided to join forces and Pero was in charge of the Spanish crusade to take down the drug gang currently transporting drugs across the Atlantic in droves.

“At least the bureaucratic bullshit is the same everywhere.” You huff as you toss down your pen and Pero snorts, shaking his head. “What?” You ask, leaning forward and watching him. “Tell me I’m wrong?”

Pero shakes his head, “you’re not wrong. It’s paperwork that stops us doing our job.” You nod and Javi reaches for the pack of smokes, working fast to light one up. “Guess we are gonna be in Spain for the foreseeable.” Javi says as he blows smoke out of one side of his mouth and he looks over at you with a smirk, “we better find something to entertain us, right hermosa?”

Your own smirk is just as sly as you look towards Pero. “At least we have a guide.” You tell your partner. “Tell me where you go to party.” You insist, leaning back in your chair. “Where do you go stake out when you want to get laid. I know Peña would be interested in that.”

Pero snorts, shaking his head, “I do not get laid. I don’t have the time. Work is a priority and I think you should take the same mentality so you can return to the States sooner rather than later.” Pero says to you and Javi despite his stomach twisting as he wonders what you’d like naked but he pushes that thought aside.

Your eyes widen and you curse, shaking your head. “No wonder you are a grumpy bastard, Pero.” You huff, turning to Peña. “Like him only worse.” You sigh. “You are a handsome man, you can get laid any time you want. You can’t tell me that women are not attracted to the scar over your eye. It makes you look dangerous.”

Pero stares at you, trying to hide the way he flusters. You're a gorgeous woman and he knows you only have eyes for your partner, Javi. He's seen the way you both look at each other. It's obvious that you are fucking and he can admit that he's a little jealous that Peña gets to touch you. He sighs and unconsciously rubs the scar over his cheek. "They are usually scared off. I am not exactly, how do you Americans say, sunshine and roses, eh?" He asks, raising his eyebrows as he lowers his hand back to the desk.

“No, but you are sexy.” You tell him and Javi chuckles. 

“She’s telling you she would fuck you.” He tells the Spaniard. “She’s talked about it often enough over the past three months.”

You roll your eyes, wishing you had told him but you shrug when Pero’s eyes widen. “I would fuck you.” You admit with no shame. “You should come by the hotel room.”

Pero snorts, not believing you. You gotta be messing with him. He shakes his head, "hermosa, I do not appreciate your platitudes. I am more than aware that you and Agent Peña are together and I am sure he doesn't appreciate me thinking of his woman." Pero says and you scoff, "his woman?" 

Javi chuckles, waggling his eyebrows at you, "my woman." 

You roll your eyes and stand up, placing your hands on Pero's desk so you can loom over the imposing Spaniard. "I am my own woman and I decide who I fuck. Come to our room later and see what I am talking about. Room 214." You tell him with a smirk and spin on your heel, "come on Peña, we got that lead to follow up on." 

Javi stubs out his smoke in the nearby ashtray and stands, "coming bebita." He sighs and winks at Pero, "Vienes. No te arrepentirás. Room 214." He says and walks off to follow you down the hall.

Pero spends far too long staring at the doorway you had disappeared through. Unable to get your comment out of his head, he’s caught between suspicious and painfully aroused. It’s true, he’s not gotten laid in a long time and is almost sour about it, but he also knows that most Americans are very rigid when it comes to sex. Could Javi possibly be serious? He shoves the thought away and yet when he leaves the office to go home, he finds himself at your hotel, walking up the stairs to the second floor and down the hall to stand in front of room 214.

“Oh fuck baby. That’s it.” You moan as Javi pushes into you from behind. His hands finding your hips and you whimper when his cock stretches you out. Beyond the door to your hotel room, Pero stands there, eyes wide at the sound of sex coming from the hotel room of his American counterparts and he knows it wrong. He should walk away but he can’t. He stands there and listens. 

“That’s it. Such a tight pussy. Always so damn tight.” Javi grunts and his hips slam against yours. Pero should walk away. He should. But he can’t. He reaches down to squeeze his hard cock through his slacks, trying to force himself to walk away but your sweet moans have him lingering in the hall.

You had meant to wait for Pero to show up, but you were so worked up that you couldn’t resist. Javi more than willing to fuck you whenever you need and now he’s pushing into you perfectly, hitting something so sweet inside you walls that your back arches. “More Jav, fuck, harder baby, please.” You beg, your head hanging down until you collapse onto your elbows and press your face against the sheets. “Oh shit baby.”

“Mierda.” Pero hisses, glancing around and he can’t help it. He flicks the button and pulls his zipper down, reaching into his pants to pull his throbbing cock out. He imagines you moaning, his cock inside of you while you cry out his name. 

“Fuck baby. Gripping me like a goddamn vice. Hermosa, so good.” Javi grunts and slaps your ass, making you cry out. Pero can’t help himself as he wraps his fingers around his cock and starts to pump himself.

Javi knows exactly how to fuck you. His hips slap against your ass and you moan out small sounds of pleasure every time he drills into you. Pushing deep and forcing the sounds out of you. Wondering if Pero would be even more aggressive since he has not fucked anyone in a good long while. You can’t wait to find out. “More, Javi please.” You beg shamelessly.

“Fuck.” Pero grunts as your pleas echo down the hall and he fists his cock. It’s been so long since he’s jerked off, spending all hours of the day trying to get that hijo de puta. He groans under his breath and you cry out Javi’s name as he continues to fuck you. “That’s it, bebita. You like this, don’t you? You like being fucked. You’re so pretty when you cum.” Javi coos and Pero wishes he could see it. Imagines your face when you cum and his cock twitches in his hand.

“Yes. Yes.” You moan, eyes closed and you whimper when he pushes against that spot again. “Gonna -gonna cum!” You cry out, seconds before you squeal his name again. Your cunt clenches down on him and you soak him in a wave of your juices as the knot of tension inside you bursts.

Pero bites his lip as he listens to you cum. Fuck, you sound gorgeous and he squeezes his cock tighter as he imagines you clamping down on his length. He leans against the wall and bites his lip to smother his groan as he cums, spilling his seed onto the tile floor. “Mierda.” He groans, louder than he thinks he does, working his length and he’s uncaring of anything right now except experiencing his pleasure.

You whimper, swearing you hear someone outside but you’re too consumed by the pace that Javi keeps pounding into you. Your fingers grip the sheets and all you can do is take it until he drags you up and against his chest biting down on your ear and jaw as he starts to fill you with hot spurts of his seed.

Pero looks down, mortified at the sight of the cum on the tile floor and he reaches for the napkin he shoved in his pocket from his lunch earlier and after tucking his cock back in his pants, he bends down to clean up his mess. His cheeks are burning and he prays no one is watching as he bundles up the napkin and rushes down the hall to head back to his apartment. The mortification haunts him all evening along with your moans and he knows it’s wrong. He shouldn’t want you when you are with Peña. The Americans are messing with him. He drinks a little too much whiskey before he passes out, dreaming of being the cause of your moans.

The next morning, you bring in a tray of coffees as you come into the office, trailed by Javi. Pero is already at his desk, scowling at a report in front of him and looking like he hasn't got much sleep. “You look like you could use this.” You pluck a cup out of the tray and set it down in front of him. “Late night? If a tip came in you should have called us.”

Pero huffs, “thanks for the coffee, hermosa.” He takes it and sips it gratefully. “I had a tip but it wasn’t anything that couldn’t wait. Apparently Jimenez had a shipment come in last night in Bilbao. It’s too far for us to go to but it’s a big shipping area so we are checking the cameras”

“So why didn’t you come over?” You take your own cup and hand Javi the holder with his own black coffee so you can perch against the desk and look at the handsome Spaniard. “If you aren’t interested, I won’t be offended.” You promise, shrugging slightly. You would be disappointed, but you wouldn’t be offended if you weren’t his type.

Pero glances down at his desk, knowing he shouldn’t say it, his face will show his shame, but he looks back at you and says “I did come by your room but you were…occupied.” He clears his throat and takes another sip of his coffee

“Oh.” You take another sip of your coffee and look back at Javi who smirks smugly. 

“So?” Javi asks as he leans back in hise-[ desk chair. “Should have knocked, we would have had fun sharing.” He shrugs slightly like it’s not a big deal.

Pero is surprised at the nonchalance of the man but he taps his fingers on his desk. “I- I haven’t - it’s been a long time since I- I have never shared a woman.” He admits, biting his lip as his eyes meet yours.

“If you are not comfortable sharing, Javi doesn’t mind just watching.” You offer, tossing him a smirk. “He likes watching someone touch me.”

Pero bites his lip as he looks up at you perched on his desk and he reaches out to caress your thigh. “Do you want him to watch, hermosa?” He asks softly, not wanting to push you if you aren’t interested in this.

You can tell that Pero is wanting, making your cunt clench as you imagine how pent up this man must be. How long it had been since he had sunk into a tight cunt and fucked away his frustrations. You take another sip of your coffee and set it down beside his, laying your hand on top of Pedro's. "If you are comfortable with it, I want him to watch. I love for him to see how someone else fucks me."

He swallows harshly, knowing this will change your working relationship but his need for you overshadows his professionalism. He slides his hand higher until he’s pressing his fingers against your cunt. “Then I want you to come sit on my lap.” He orders, pulling his hand away from you.

Javi chuckles behind you and there isn't even time to spare the other man a glance as you stand up and walk around the desk. Behind you, you hear Javi's chair creak as he stands and the normally quiet click of the lock to the office door sounds obscenely loud. As if indicating to everyone in the building what you are about to do. Pero pulls away from his desk and you waste no time straddling him and wrapping your arms around his neck to look him in the eyes.

Pero stares at you for a moment until he surges forward to press his lips to yours. His hands find your ass, dragging you even closer and his tongue is immediately pushing into your mouth as his cock starts to harden in his pants. You’re gorgeous and he’s prepared to risk it all to touch you at least this one time.

He’s greedy and bold, making you moan as his tongue strokes yours. You can feel the passion in his touch, the need. Your fingers tangle into the longer locks of hair at the back of his neck and tug on them gently.

He grunts into your mouth at the way you tug on his hair and he hisses when you bite down on his lower lip. His cock is hard now but his hands slide up to squeeze your tits, desperate to touch more of you. “Take her shirt off.” Javi orders from his seat, a cigarette in his hand as he watches you and Pero make out.

You can tell that he is slightly startled by being given an order, so you pull away and wink at him. “He likes to give orders.” You hum, letting Pero drag your shirt over your head to reveal your bra.

Pero hums, not too bothered by it at this stage but he glances over at Peña who watches with a smirk on his face when Tovar’s gaze falls down to your tits. 

“Nice, aren’t they?” Javi asks and Pero reaches up to push them together, leaning in to lick along the flesh.

“Yes.” Your head rolls back and you lean back to give him room to do whatever he wants to you. Holding onto his shoulders and rolling your hips against his hardening cock.

“Mierda.” Pero groans and reaches behind you to unclasp your bra. He drags it down your arms to expose your tits to his hungry gaze. He groans and tosses your bra aside so he can grab your tit, tilting it so he can lean down to take it into his mouth.

“Fuck.” Your eyes slip closed and you moan again, keeping your voice low since there are people walking by. Anyone could hear you and that adds to the excitement. You know Javi is watching as Pero’s mouth suckles on your nipple, biting hard enough to make you gasp and then soothing it with his tongue.

He switches over to your other breast, loving the feel of your skin in his mouth and the way you tangle your fingers in his hair. “She likes to be bit. To be marked.” Javi says before he inhales another drag of his smoke. Pero takes his advice and sucks his mark on the curve of your breast.

“Shit.” You hiss quietly, cunt clenching and you press your now overheated core against his cock. One hand drifts down from his neck to slide down his chest and cup him through his tight jeans. “Fuck, you are packing.” Your eyes widen at the bulk in your hand and he might give Javi a run for his money in the girth department.

Pero hisses as you squeeze him and he gently pushes you off of his lap. “Take your pants off.” He hisses and reaches down to squeeze his cock through his pants and Javi smirks, “do as he says, hermosa.”

You smirk back at your lover before you start to peel your pants off slowly, bending down to give Javi a view of your ass since you had worn thongs today. “Fuck, I forgot you were wearing those.” He hisses before he lights his cigarette.

Pero swallows harshly, trying not to growl when you stand there in the tiny thong. “Fuck. You’re - fucking gorgeous.” He groans and reaches for you, lifting you up onto his desk and he trails his hands along your legs, pushing them open enough for him to press his nose to your covered core, breathing you in.

“Hmmmm are you going to lick me, Pero?” You ask, leaning back and tilting your hips up. “Right here on your desk so you can remember it every time you work late? Or are you going to fuck me?”

Pero smirks, “I’m gonna lick your cunt until you moan my name and then I’m gonna fuck you. Want you to be wet enough to take me.” Pero asserts and Javi chuckles, “oh everyone is gonna know she’s being eaten out. It’s her favorite thing. Can’t keep her quiet when someone’s sucking on her clit.” Javi flicks his cigarette and squeezes himself through his pants when Pero hooks his finger under the elastic of your thong and pulls them aside, groaning at the sight of your wet pussy. His eyes flick up to you before he leans in to slide his tongue through your folds.

Your whine is bitten off, turning into a low moan behind your teeth as you watch him lick through your cunt. “Fuck, Pero.” Your hands find his hair and you tangle your fingers into his hair and tugs.

He groans when you tug on his hair and he hisses, flicking his tongue over your clit until he’s sucking it into his mouth. “Oh she likes that.” Javi chuckles, “suck on that clit for her.”

Your mouth drops open in a silent cry when Pero immediately follows Javi’s orders. The pressure against your clit is glorious and harsh. The Spaniard pulls your clit into his mouth.

Pero sucks and releases your clit, sliding his tongue through your folds, and he groans when your thighs tighten against his head, trapping him in your cunt. “Fuck. Look at you baby. He’s treatin’ you good, huh?” Javi chuckles, watching you throw your head back.

“Yes.” You gasp out, rocking your hips down to press your cunt into his eager mouth. Needing him to keep the pressure up because it’s making you grip the edge of the desk and nearly scatter the pen cup on the edge.

Pero works his tongue inside of you, his nose pressed against your clit, and he loves the way you seem to fall apart under his touch. You’re gorgeous. Fucking gorgeous, and he’s desperate to hear and feel you cum like you did for Peña the night before. His hands grab your thighs, keeping you pinned in place and his pens go flying as you hit the cup with your hand making Javi chuckle.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” You squeal, knowing you are going to fall apart soon, the tension built up is nearly too much. It only takes another flick of his tongue against your clit to send you flying. The cry is louder than it should be in the office but you don’t care when your cunt is clenching and pleasure is wracking your body.

Pero swears he nearly cums when you cry out and he fucking loves it. Lapping up every drop you have to offer him, he’s groaning and gripping your thighs until you’re pushing his face away when it becomes too much. “Delicious.” He murmurs when he pulls back and looks up at you, squeezing himself through his pants until he’s aching. “Can I fuck you now?” He asks and you glance over at Javi who is watching with that lust in his eyes. 

“Yes. Fuck me Tovar.” You beg and he’s standing up, unbuttoning his jeans to pull his cock out.

“Fuck.” Your eyes widen as he pumps his cock and you know that you would love to have that cock in your mouth. But right now, you want to feel him inside you. “Like this or do you want to bend me over your desk?” You ask, fluttering your lashes playfully at him.

“Bend over my desk.” He demands, shifting back so you can stand up and he watches you shift to bend over his desk. Not happy with that, he kicks your ankle to spread your legs wider and he shuffles closer. He reaches out with his free hand to grip your chin, “watch your lover while I push into you.” Pero demands and Javi bites his lip as your eyes meet his just as Tovar starts to push into you.

“Ohhhhhhh fuck.” The stretch of him might be just a little bit more than Javi and your mouth drops open in a quiet moan as he pushes deep and grinds into your ass with his hips.

“Does he feel good inside of you, bebita? Is he stretching that tight little pussy out? Is it everything you’ve been longing for?” Javi asks, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees so he can watch you take Pero’s cock.

“Yes, fuck, yes.” You whimper, closing your eyes and trying to push your hips back but Pero won’t let you. “So good baby, you feel so fucking big inside me. Can’t-can’t believe you don’t get your cock wet more.”

Pero hisses when you squeeze his cock as you adjust to him and he starts to move, his pace is slow but deep, wanting to savor this feeling since he doubts he will be fucking you again. “Too- too busy working, hermosa.” He admits, his hands finding your hips to keep you still so he can keep his rhythm.

“You shouldn’t keep this cock to yourself.” You lean back, resting your head against his shoulder. “You will think clearer when you fuck regularly.”

Pero chuckles, turning his head to kiss your jaw. “Maybe so.” He murmurs, pleased that you are happy with his size, and he slides his hands up to squeeze your tits, loving how you are naked while he’s still dressed. 

“She will volunteer to drain your balls every day, amigo.” Javi snorts playfully and rubs his lower lip as his eyes dip down to where Pero’s cock is disappearing inside of you.

“Fuck.” You shiver at the idea, letting each one of these men fuck you and use your cunt. “Yes I will.” You moan, clenching around him and pushing your ass back. “Javi will watch every time you fuck me, won’t you, baby?”

Javi loves the way Pero squeezes your tits and the moan that escapes your lips. “Every time.” Javi promises as his voice deepens. He can’t help but love seeing you get fucked. Like this very own porno. He loves it. “Does her pussy feel good?” Javi asks Pero who is kissing along your neck. 

“So good.” He groans and releases your tits to grab your wrists, connecting them behind your back to pin you to his desk. He presses himself against you and starts to move faster, wanting to feel you cum around him.

Your tits bounce and all you can do is take his cock. The thrusts push you against the desk and you whine in pleasure. Javi’s eyes are dark and lusty, letting you know he will be dragging you away to fuck you himself soon. The man loves to watch you get fucked and then make sure you also take a load of his cum. “Fuck baby.” You moan softly.

Pero groans at the wet, tight, hot cunt surrounding his cock. It’s been too long since he had sex like this. Raw and feral, he pushes into you like a man possessed. The desk creaks with his movements and Javi can’t do anything but watch with rapture and desire. “Tell him how good it feels, bebita.” Javi orders, voice taking on that gruff quality

“So good.” You moan instantly. “So fucking good. Pero, fuck baby, I need you to cum.” You beg. “Need you to- to fill me up and let me drip you all day.” You are on birth control, you have to be with Javi as a lover. He doesn’t like condoms. “Please baby.”

Your words spur Pero on and he’s groaning, thrusting harder into you so your hips hit the desk and will undoubtedly leave bruises beneath your skin. “Mierda. Hermosa - fuck - want you- quiero - you need to cum.” He begs, wanting to feel it.

Your orgasm earlier makes it easier for your body to build up to another. Each harsh thrust of his cock hits something wonderful inside you after dragging against all the nerves in your cunt. It doesn’t take long, just a minute more before your back is arching and you are crying out his name softly, nearly breathless as you come apart again.

The way you squeeze his cock has him growling and his hips slam against your ass as he desperately seeks his own orgasm. Words escape him and he can only growl and hiss as he pushes deep into your fluttering cunt a dozen more times before pushing impossibly deep to paint your walls with his hot cum. His growl of your name while he twitches inside of you has Javi’s cock throbbing and he squeezes himself through his pants, knowing he’s gonna have to fuck you immediately once you get back to your room.

Whimpering, you close your eyes and grin as he rides out his orgasm. His panting against your ear is sexy and making you shiver. When he finally stops moving, you turn your head and press your lips to his jaw softly. “Feel better?”

Pero chuckles softly, “much better, hermosa. Gracias.” He murmurs, kissing you softly until he’s shifting to stand up so he can pull out of you. 

“Sit on his desk and spread your legs. I want to see his cum drip out of you.” Javi orders while Pero tucks himself back into his pants.

You hum, flipping around and sitting on the desk so you can do as Javi orders. You see the dark heat in his eyes as he stares at your cunt, knowing Pero’s seed is probably starting to drip down your folds. “He needed that, didn’t he, baby?” You coo, dipping your fingers into his cum and sliding them into your mouth. “Filled me up good.”

Javi groans when he sees you suck on your fingers and Pero slumps down into his chair, suddenly exhausted, and Javi stands, stalking over to you and grabbing the back of your neck to press his lips to yours, uncaring of the taste of Pero’s cum lingering on your lips.

Javi’s kiss is hard, demanding and it makes you moan. Your own tongue sliding against his eagerly and you wondering if Pero is watching or if he is still caught up in his own bliss.

Pero watches Javi kiss you, his spent cock twitching in interest. He’s never shared a woman before, always imagined he’d hate it but watching you both has his stomach twisting with arousal. Javi’s hands slide up and down your back until he pulls away, voice rough when he says “get dressed. I need you.”

Your lips twist in amusement and you look over at Pero. “I guess we will see you later.” You hum as you lean over and pick up your pants. Pero hadn’t even removed your thong, just pushed it to the side.

Pero picks up the bra and hands it back to you, shifting a little awkwardly from one foot to the other, unsure of what to say now that you’ve fucked. He’s not sure how this changes everything. “You two go. I’ll let you know if anything about the shipment comes in.” He says after clearing his throat.

Instead of just redressing and leaving, you walk over to Pero and cup his cheek, leaning in to press your lips to his for one last kiss. “You should knock tonight.” You murmur, smirking at you, “we can all have fun.”

Pero nods, “we will see, hermosa.” He needs to sit down and think, unsure of what he wants. You’ve confused him now that the lust has faded. 

“See you soon, amigo.” Javi winks and slides his hand into your back pocket as you make your way out of his office, leaving the smell of sex in the air. Pero slumps down in his seat, knowing he wants you again, no matter what he has to do. Even if it means sharing you. He’s not sure how long he sits there staring at the government issued cream painted wall when his phone ringing pulls him out of his stupor. “Tovar.” He answers, listening to the new intel that might just be key to getting Jimenez.

“He did not seem particularly happy.” You murmur as Javi guides you out of the building. Several people glance at you as you walk past, but that is usual and you don’t think it was because they heard you, “maybe he is not into that kind of thing. Not everyone is.”

****

Pero hangs up the phone and sighs, standing up and groaning at the fact he’s been sitting in that chair for far too long. He locks his office and makes his way over to your hotel, wanting to deliver the intel in person instead of risking it over the phone. When he stands by the door, he’s nervous. He’s certain the intel could’ve waited until tomorrow. The shipment isn’t for another week, but he still came over. He swallows and lifts his hand to knock on the door.

You look up from the report you had been pouring over when the knock at the door sounds. Swinging your head around to look at Javi and he jerks his head towards it, silently telling you to see who it is. No one is expected and the hour is so late, you had decided that Pero was not coming by. Your eyes widen when you open the door, finding him shuffling slightly and giving a nervous look. “Pero! Come in.” Swinging the door open, you invite him to come into the suite.

He enters the suite, palms slick, and he bites his lip as he glances at you then at Javi. "We have new intel." He reveals and Javi sits up, snubbing his cigarette out as he pays attention to Pero.

 "What's changed?" He asks and Pero glances back at you, 

"Jimenez has a shipment coming in on Friday. He has his top guy, Martinez, overseeing it. We are planning to ambush. We have a guy on the ground at the dock monitoring any changes so we know we can get Martinez and bring him in."

“That’s great!” Slightly disappointed that he has not come for personal reasons, you shove that to the side and concentrate on the information. “Martinez doesn’t travel on Sundays, or the third week of the month.” Snapping your fingers you turn back to the files you had been digging through. “Superstitions tied to bad accidents.” You locate the file and hand it to Javi. “So we can cross those days out.”

Javi nods in agreement, "so we wait until our inside guy confirms for Friday then we ambush and get his ass brought in for a plea deal." Javi says and Pero nods, "exactamente, amigo." He shifts from one foot to the other, glancing over at the bed sheets that are mussed up from your prior activities in the day.

“Forgive me.” You can feel how uneasy he is and you walk over to the mini bar. “Can I offer you a drink? The booze is overpriced but we have a bottle of bourbon and some beer in the ice bucket.”

“Bourbon sounds good, hermosa.” He offers you a small smile and Javi gestures to the sofa. 

“Siéntate, Tovar. Relax.” Javi orders and Tovar sits down, rubbing his hands on his jeans as he watches you get him a drink. He needs it. The urge to fuck you returning in full force when his eyes dip down to your ass.

You pour three drinks, smiling as you turn around to find the two men lounging on the sofa. Well, Javi is lounging, Pero looks like he might jump up at any moment. You wonder why he is so nervous. “Here you go.” You bring the drinks over to hand off, locking eyes with Pero.

His fingers brush yours and he swears he’s about to implode. He thanks you and takes a sip, enjoying the burn of the liquor. “So did you have a good afternoon?” Pero asks Javi who smirks and gestures to the bed, “what do you think, hermano?” He asks and Pero chuckles, “I guess you did.”

“Hmmmm.” You smirk, enjoying the small wink Javi sends you and turn back to your guest. “Do you have plans for the night, Pero?” You ask conversationally. If he just wants a drink and then to leave, you won’t stop him.

“No. Just going to go home and watch television. Maybe work on my woodwork.” He murmurs and 

Javi chuckles, “you woodwork. Jesus, you really did need to get laid.” He says playfully.

Pero snorts with a smirk, “well, tú bebita is the first one in a long time and I enjoyed having her for the one and only time you’ll allow it.”

“The one and only time?” You look over at Javi, knowing that he did not say something to Pero. “Did I miss something?”

Javi shakes his head, “I did not tell him no. I enjoyed watching him fuck you. I wouldn’t mind seeing it again.” He admits and Pero bites his lip, “I did not think you’d want to share her. I wouldn’t if she was mine. I would love to touch her again but she’s - she’s yours.”

“She is her own person.” You speak up. “I am with Javi, but he doesn’t not mind sharing and neither do I.” You shrug. “It is not for everyone. I understand that. But you can touch me.” You hum. “I want you to touch me.”

Pero bites his lip as you sit beside him on the sofa. It’s so different from his upbringing. To have this kind of sexual experience. But he likes it. He wants more. His hand comes out to rest on your thigh as you settle down next to him. “Can I fuck you again, hermosa?” He asks softly, not wanting to push you.

“Yes.” You agree immediately, not needing to think about it. “Will you share me with Javi tonight? He doesn’t want to touch you.” You assure the Spaniard. “He just likes fucking me with another man.”

Pero is nervous but looks over at Javi who is lighting another cigarette. “Like we take turns fucking you?” He asks, curious and wanting to know exactly what is involved.

“The same time.” Javi puffs on the cigarette and smirks. “She loves having her cunt and mouth filled with cock at the same time.” He winks at you again. “Or having a cock in each hole.”

“The same time.” Pero says and Javi nods, “she loves it.” 

The idea makes Pero’s cock twitch and he swallows harshly. “I- I want to do it. I want to fuck her again while she sucks your cock.” He murmurs, feeling nervous but excited.

“Yesss.” You moan quietly, always loving making Javi moan your name when you have his cock in your mouth. You stand and quickly reach for the loose shirt you had thrown on after showering earlier.

Pero watches you pull the shirt over your head and he groans, cock twitching in his pants, and you shift to sit between Javi and Pero on the sofa, reaching for Pero to press your lips to his. He groans, his hand sliding along your spine while your tongue caresses his. You kiss for several moments until Javi taps your back and you pull away from Pero, turning your head to press your lips to Javi’s.

You know that Javi is not a greedy lover, but he wants to be involved. Your moan is soft and you reach back for Pero, taking his hand and bringing it to your breast while you kiss your lover. This is meant to be shared and you won’t have anyone feeling left out.

Pero squeezes your breast for a moment before he leans down to take your nipple into his mouth. He groans and Javi pecks your lips as he pulls back. “Suck his cock while I finger that tight little pussy, bebita.” Javi orders, knowing Pero needs to experience that gorgeous mouth.

You whimper and Pero groans, pulling off your breast so he can lean back and open his pants. Standing, you pull down the soft shorts you are wearing, no panties underneath this time. There had been no need when you know Javi would strip you down before crawling into the bed together.

When you kneel on the sofa, ass towards Javi, he can’t help but smack your flesh, making you gasp. “Fuck baby. You’re so perfect.” Javi groans and slides his hands between your folds, loving when he finds you wet for him. 

Pero watches as your hand slides into his pants, reaching in to wrap your fingers around his cock and pull him out. “Mierda.” He hisses, watching you grip him.

“You have a beautiful cock, Pero.” You praise, rolling the foreskin down and humming when you feel him growing in your grip. With a few, quick strokes. He is fully hard and you lean down to wrap your lips around the tip.

“Fuck.” Pero hisses as you take him into your mouth. He groans and you moan around him when Javi pushes a thick digit into your cunt, his teeth sinking into your ass cheek enough to make you gasp.

Javi’s fingers are deadly, thick and surprisingly dexterous as he curls them and pumps them into your quivering cunt. The excitement of getting to have both men makes you drip and your eager mouth swallows down his cock as much as you can.

"Fuck." Pero groans, his head tilting down to watch you take his cock, and he caresses your head while you take him even deeper into your mouth. Javi loves watching you suck Pero's cock and he shifts his hand so he can press his thumb against your clit, wanting to make you feel good while you give pleasure.

Every time you bob your head, you push yourself to take more of him, the two fingers around the base is all you have to keep your lips from taking all of him. Swallowing around him and pulling off to rub your tongue over the sensitive head. Javi’s fingers make you rock forward, groaning every time he pushes against that spongy little spot deep in your cunt.

“Her mouth feels fucking good, doesn’t it, amigo?” He asks and Pero nods, mouth open as he groans when you let your split dribble down the side of his cock. “Fuck baby.” He coos, caressing your shoulders and back while Javi adds another finger to stretch you out. His eyes find your puckered hole and he can’t help but lean forward to slide his tongue around the sensitive flesh.

Your gasp and “fuck” is garbled around Pero’s cock, muffling the sound. Although the Spaniard loves the sensation and moans loudly, rocking his hips up to beg you to take more. Now that his tongue is pressed into your asshole, you know Javi will be balls deep in your ass tonight while Pero fills your cunt. You whine and double down on your attention to the man’s cock, wanting him to be addicted to you.

Your whimpers make Pero groan at the way it vibrates down his cock and you are incredible. This is better than anything he fantasized about when he was thinking about you with his cock in his hand. He hisses when you hollow his cheeks and Javi uses his other hand to push a finger into your ass, wanting to stretch you out for him while his fingers move inside of your pussy.

Moaning around the cock in your mouth, you push your hips back and beg for more. It’s not like you’ve never had him fuck your ass, but you need him to get you ready for it.

Javi knows what you need. He leans in to spit on your ass and adds another finger to stretch you out even more for him. Pero notices and groans, “are you going to fuck her ass, amigo?” He asks Javi who nods, “only if you fuck her cunt. She loves being full of cock.” Javi chuckles when your walls clench around his fingers. 

“Fuckkkk.” Pero hisses, cock twitching in your mouth at the thought.

For long minutes Javi stretches you out, scissoring his fingers and pumping them into your ass while you reach down and cup Pero’s balls. Swearing that the only reason he doesn’t blow his load is because he fucked you earlier. When you feel his thighs tense, you pull off his cock and look into his eyes. “Fuck me, Pero.”

"Come here, hermosa." Pero groans and Javi withdraws his fingers, reaching down to unbuckle his belt as you straddle Pero. The Spaniard groans when you grip his cock and sink down onto him. "Coño es - fuck - cielo." He murmurs and his hands find your ass, smacking it hard enough to make you squeal.

Working on the buttons of his shirts, you circle your hips. Pero hisses and that makes you hum, grinning evilly when you clench down around him. “You feel so good, so thick.” You praise breathlessly.

Javi pulls his cock out of his pants, eager to touch you, and he caresses your spine as he pumps his cock in one hand. “Does it feel good, bebita? Riding his cock? You want me inside of you too?”

“So good, Jav, so fucking good.” You moan quietly, feeling Pero twitch inside you at your praise. You lean back, feeling Javi press against your back and clench around the cock you are sitting on. “Get the lube baby, I’m going to be stuffed full.”

He steps back, reaching into the nightstand to grab the lube and he comes back over. “Lay on your back, amigo.” Javi orders and Pero grunts, shifting with you still on his cock to lay down on the sofa. Once you are situated, he kneels behind you and squirts the lube into his hand, coating his cock and pushing two fingers into your ass to make sure you can take him. “Gonna fill you up bebita. Make sure you are stuffed with cock.” Javi says as he takes himself in hand and slowly pushes inside of you.

It makes your mouth drop open, a low moan coming out of you. The feeling is exquisite and your eyes flutter with the sensation of being stretched out. “Javi, Pero- fuck.” You whimper, biting your lip as he stops for a moment, pulsing halfway inside you.

Pero can feel Javi’s cock through the thin layer of skin and it makes you impossibly tighter as you clench down around him, keeping still while Javi works himself inside of you. It’s incredible and Pero watches your jaw drop as Javi works his cock deeper until his hips are pressed against your ass, his cock buried deep.

“Shit.” You hiss, your nails digging into Pero’s shoulders until you nearly break the skin. “Oh god, it - it’s so good. I’m so full.” You moan quietly.

Javi kisses along your neck as you adjust to him until he starts to rock his hips, slowly moving inside of you. Pero keeps still, loving the pinched expression on your face as you start to enjoy the motion and he begins to rock his hips up into you, letting you experience two cocks moving inside of you.

“Oh fuck, oh fuck.” You whine, throwing your head back and laying it against Javi’s shoulder. 

Pero palms your tits, pinching your nipples hard enough to make you moan as he roams his hips up. “Fuck you like this, don’t you, hermosa?” He groans, unable to believe that you truly do love this.

"I love it. I love it." You cry, clenching around his cock buried in your pussy. Your moans echo in the room and Pero's eyes drift down to watch you taking the two mens' cocks inside of you. "Fuck, hermosa. Gorgeous." He compliments you with a groan and you whimper when he thrusts up into you. 

"She's a little whore, aren't you baby?" Javi chuckles and bites down on your shoulder.

“Yes, fuck yes.” You agree, letting them use you like you are their personal fuck toy. “Love it, Jav, Pero.” You babble as they pick up speed, your cunt and ass clenching around them as they steadily fill you again and again.

Pero hisses, getting close after he had his mouth on you so he groans and reaches down to rub your clit, wanting to watch you cum at least once from his touch. Javi smirks against your shoulder, “that’s it, amigo. She loves that. Don’t you, bebita? You gonna cum for us?” Javi asks, kissing along your neck.

You nod, body nearly shaking as they continue to rock into you, each one right after the other so there is the constant sensation of being filled. “Yes baby, I’m gonna- gonna cum.” You promise breathlessly. Pero’s fingers against your clit are perfectly pressed, making you cry out when he swipes it again and again.

“You gonna cum for us, bebita?” Javi asks, biting down on your shoulder and Pero groans when you squeeze his cock, getting closer. 

“She is. Aren’t you, hermosa? Cum for us. We wanna hear you cry out our names.” He demands and you whimper, getting closer and closer to your orgasm until finally, you clamp down on their cocks, making both men groan.

Cumming with being stuffed so full is nearly overwhelming. Every nerve ending inside your holes is on fire and making your entire body light up in white hot pleasure. Crying out loudly, you don’t know if you call out Javi’s name or Pero’s or a garbled combination of the two.

Pero hisses when you clamp down on his cock, soaking him, and he watches you ride through your orgasm. Javi bites down on your shoulder, “good girl, bebita. Fuck, feel so good.” Pero watches you and he’s so close to cumming. He pants, fingers digging into your hips as he gets closer and closer.

Lunging forwards, you press your lips to Pero’s, sliding your tongue into his mouth to moan as you ride out your high. Fingers sinking into his hair to tug on it desperately, wanting to feel him cum inside you again.

Javi loves watching how desperate you get and he caresses your spine as you kiss Pero, the Spaniard’s hips starting to lose rhythm until he pushes deep inside of you. “Fuck fuck fuck.” He pants into your mouth as he paints your walls with his hot cum.

You whine, knowing Javi will be the last to cum, he has managed to hold out. Slumping forwards, your ass is pushed out more to let him fuck you just as fast as he wants.

Javi grits his teeth, grunts and hisses escaping his lips as he pushes deep into your ass, his hands sliding up to grab your tits, pulling you back towards him. Within a half dozen thrusts, he’s pushing deep and cumming inside of you. Javi isn’t wordy when he cums, he grunts and bites down on your shoulder.

“Javi.” You moan happily, closing your eyes and enjoying the feeling of both holes being filled. Pero’s cock twitches inside your cum soaked cunt, obviously feeling the pressure through the thin wall as your lover cums. “Fuck baby.” You whimper, turning your head and kissing his jaw.

Javi smirks, “you enjoy it?” He murmurs against your neck, hoping you did. You’ve been wanting a threesome like this since you talked about your desires not long after you met.

“Yes baby.” You reach back and run your fingers through his hair as he pulls away to kiss your lips. “Everything I wanted.” Your cunt clenches around Pero and you turn back to kiss the Spaniard. “Everything.”

Pero caresses your waist while Javi groans as he pulls out of you, shuffling off to grab some rags to clean everyone up. Pero kisses you for a moment longer until you are shifting off of his cock. “That’s it baby. So good.” Pero murmurs, looking down to watch his cum drip out of you and onto the leather sofa below.

You are wonderfully sore and smirk as you lay there. Javi chuckles, coming back in the room with the rags and leaning in to kiss you before starting to wipe away the evidence of your night. “We will have to do this again.” You groan quietly, looking over at Pero to see how he feels about that idea.

Pero nods, shifting to sit up and he leans in to kiss your cheek. “We have not solved the case yet, hermosa. We will have to do this again and again.” He smirks and you giggle. 

Javi winks at the Spaniard. “Well we haven’t gotten Jimenez yet so we have plenty of time.” 

Tovar chuckles, “maybe we will never find him.” 

You smirk, “it’s selfish of me to say, but I hope not.” The men chuckle and you all lay down on the sofa after you’re all cleaned up. Javi and you are a dynamic partnership but with Pero, you’re an unstoppable trio.

[avastrasposts]

Memories made, memories lost

Plot: Before Pero Tovar and his friend William Garin set out in search of black powder, he found himself doing something he never thought he would - falling in love. But what waits for him as he returns from his adventure after all this time?

Mercenary!Pero x female reader

Warnings: Angst and grief, loss of virginity (it's all consensual and it's not the main trope of the fic), explicit smut. No use of y/n, the reader is pretty much a blank slate.

Word count: 7.9k

This is written for @burntheedges Roll-A-Trope Wiriting Challenge where I requested a trope for Pero Tovar and got Amnesia A big thank you to @i-own-loki for the lovely banner! What would I do without my Canva Pro friends!?

Marriage was not something that was ever on the cards for Pero Tovar. 

He left his hometown while he was still a young boy, and after that he never stayed long enough in one place to put down roots. Let alone find a woman who would want to throw her lot in with a mostly penniless mercenary soldier who relied on powerful lords always finding a new enemy to fight. Who would want a scarred battle dog with a permanent scowl and dangerous look to his appearance? And even if someone did, how could he care for a wife? A family? He moved from town to town, from country to country, seldom returning to the same place twice unless the pay was very good. 

But then, one autumn in southern England, when the fighting season was over and the mud was too thick for both men and horses to march in, something changed. He was no longer young but in his fighting prime, hardened, and hard, by years of fighting other men’s wars. He had no other plans than to spend the winter in this small English town with his friend William Garin, wait for spring and the call to arms for another war or rebellion or crusade. He was going to fill his belly, hone his weapons, train the younger men and spend his evenings with a whore or two, and that was it. 

Marriage was not on the cards. 

But fate wanted a different path for him. And you quite literally fell into his arms as you tumbled from your horse on the outskirts of the small town. 

“Curse that nag!” you yelled crossly, struggling to free yourself from his strong grip, “let go, I can stand on my own legs!” You pushed at his chest as the dark haired man let go of your waist, stepping back with a chuckle. 

“And what fine legs they are,” he said, his grin wide.  

You sneered at his comment, “Too fine for you either way.” 

You glared at him as you brushed your dress, “I should thank you, I guess. You saved me from a much greater fall, that stupid mare is spooked by the smallest twig and throws me twice a week at least.” 

With a sigh you looked at your horse who’d decided that the twig wasn’t an immediate threat and had begun to graze the last of the summer grass just a little while down the country lane. 

“If that’s the case, you best go and claim your horse before she decides one of farmer Ned’s cows has fangs and means to eat her,” Pero chuckled. He liked your spirit, and the way your eyes blazed as you glanced at him. 

“I wouldn’t put it past her,” you said with a shake of your head, “I best be off, thank you again, sir.”

Tovar gave a small nod and crooked smile at your retreating back. 

Later that evening, as he’d eaten and gone back to the room he shared with William, he wondered why the chance meeting on the country lane wouldn’t leave his head. He felt as if he might’ve been bewitched, one moment walking down the country lane on his way out to the smithy for a repair of his armour, the next he had a woman in his arms as her bay horse bolted down the road. You’d smelled of apples, a rich, sweet scent clinging to your hair as it brushed over his face when you both landed in the dust. The soft yield of your flesh under the rough linen dress, it was as if he’d put his hands on the softest down pillow, he’d wanted to grab hold of it and not let go. 

As you rushed away from him, scolding your skittish horse, he’d watched the way your hips swayed with each step, bright hair bouncing with frustration. You gripped the horse’s bridle and pulled it around, even at a distance he could see the way your nose crinkled in annoyance as you berated the poor animal. When your anger trickled out as quickly as it flared up, your face softened and you gently stroked the animal’s nose, giving its neck a pat before swinging yourself up into the saddle again. You caught him staring and gave him a quick smile, before turning again and nudging the horse into a slow trot. 

He’d made his way to the smithy and then back to the rooms he and William had rented for the winter. And when he laid down on his bed, the vision of you filled his head, soft curves, sweet smile, quick temper and a sharp tongue. He would very much like to see you again, be that close to you again.   

The next day was a Sunday and he joined William at the church for mass with the rest of the village. He let the familiar Latin incantations wash over him, the rituals the same here as in his hometown as it was in every other town he’d ever visited, irrespective of the country or the ruler. The power radiated from Rome and although the churches looked different, the rituals were the same and it brought a strange, albeit dull, comfort to him. 

When mass was over the congregation filtered out of the church, slow in leaving, catching up with neighbours and sharing gossip. Pero tried to scan the crowd surreptitiously but William caught his wandering eye. 

“Who are you looking for? The mysterious horse woman?” he asked, looking around at the villagers and the mercenaries who were wintering here just as they were. Pero had told him of the encounter, not being able to hide how you’d remained on his mind as he returned to the rooms. 

“I don’t remember seeing her here before,” Pero replied, trying to appear unphased, uncaring, as he continued to scan the open space in front of the church, but without success. When he couldn’t see her, he followed William back to their lodgings. The Lord’s day should be spent in rest and was not wise to anger the local priest. 

But Pero found himself too restless to sit still, fiddling with a troublesome chainmail. He left William to it and ventured outside instead, vying to find a secluded spot in the woods to get some practice in without being scolded by someone spotting him working on a Sunday. 

The autumn forest was golden, the air crisp and clear as the sky stretched endlessly blue above the trees as Pero wandered further in than he meant to. It felt good to be away from people, from the crowded town and the small rooms he shares with William. 

The clank of metal on wood reached his ears and he furrowed his brows, no one would be out here felling trees on a Sunday unless there was some strange business. He moved silently through the underbrush towards the sound, and came upon a clearing, drawing breath at the sight in front of him. You had stripped down to just your slip and a pair of men’s breeches, your arms bare and glistening with sweat as you raised the heavy sword and parried an imagined attack, and hit the thick beech trunk. The sword lodged in the wood and with a grunt you pulled it free, backing up a few steps and repeating the exercise. 

Pero watched you for a few minutes, your technique was good, someone has clearly taught you the basics, but the sword was too heavy for you. 

“You have some skills with that sword, señorita,” he called, just as you dropped your arm, letting the sword hang by your side as you took a deep breath. 

His voice made you jump and swing around, the sword quickly raised. 

“Do not worry, I mean you no harm,” he said, walking towards you with both his arms raised, “We’ve met before, with your troublesome mare.” 

“I remember,” you answered, the tone of your voice betraying your wariness as his sudden appearance, “What are you doing here?” 

“The same as you, señorita, I think,” he replied, “seeking a place away from unwelcome eyes to hone my skill on a Sunday.” 

Unclipping his cloak and satchel and placing them on a log near the edge of the clearing, he then turned and nodded at the sword in your hand. 

“You have some skill, but the sword is too heavy for you.” 

“What do you care?” you snapped at him, the sword still lifted as he approached. 

“I train the younger soldiers, when a sword is too heavy for the user, the technique suffers. And I hate to see a bad swordsman. Or woman.” 

With a fluid movement he pulled both of his swords from his back, the left one spinning in his hand, the handle held out towards you. 

“Let me show you, borrow my sword, it’s more lightweight.”

You regarded him with suspicion, not lowering your own sword. 

“Why do you want to help me?” 

“Why do I want to help a woman become a better fighter?” he countered, still holding out the sword to you, “Because those without swords can still die upon them. I learned that a long time ago. So better the women know how to fight too.” 

You regarded him with caution, the dark haired, dark eyed man with a strange accent and a menacing scar across his eye. But something in his face, the way he looked at you with a cocked eyebrow, encouraging you to take the sword he was still holding out to you, made your trepidation waver. Slowly you sheathed your own sword, and grabbed the handle of his. He gave you a crooked smile and a quick nod. 

“Good. Now show me what you can do.” 

With a quick movement he brought up his own sword and attacked, and you just about parried in time, the two swords ringing out through the empty forest as they met. 

Marriage was not something that was ever on the cards for him. But sometimes fate wills it differently. 

And before that Sunday afternoon in the forest, you’d never considered marrying someone either. At least not for any other reason than your father telling you that a man was needed to run the farm when he was gone. But the dark haired Spaniard with the scowling face, menacing and imposing, he was the one who made you see that marrying didn’t mean settling for one of the local boys. 

His dark eyes glittered with mischief as he taunted your sword skills, easily smacking your arm with the flat side of his blade as you failed to anticipate his next move in the early days of your training. But it was the way he smiled with pride when you managed to disarm him and put your blade to his neck, that smile made your heart melt. He was proud of you for a skill any other man you knew would shame you for, even attempt to lock you up for. It was like taking a deep breath of air for the first time, the way he treated you like an equal in a way no ever had before. 

It was mesmerising how a hardened soldier with such a menacing scowl could transform into the most handsome man you’d ever seen. It stunned you, and locked you in place, the first time you stood toe to toe with him, his back against a thick oak, your sword resting against his neck. Surprise flashed across his face first, then he smiled, his eyes shifting from the hard concentration of battle to soft warmth as his lips pulled up in a proud grin. 

“I knew there was a warrior in you,” he said, holding his sword arm up in defeat as you pulled the blade away from his neck, “with my training, you’ll beat almost any man.” 

“Almost any man?” you replied, your eyebrows lifting as you moved your hand and rested the blade against his neck again. 

Pero chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he looked down on you, glancing down his sharp nose as you made him tilt his head back again. 

“Any man, guerrera,” he smiled and again the pride in his voice made warmth and elation shoot through your body. 

Sweat was dripping from his forehead, you could feel the heat of him against you, the rise and fall of his chest, your own short breaths against him as an errant drop slipped over his lips and his tongue came out to catch it. Your eyes drifted to the pink tip as he licked his bottom lip, watching it disappear into his mouth again. When you looked up, his smile was gone, replaced by something more hungry, his eyes darker as they seemed to study your face. There was no need for you to be so close to him still, the fight over. But as he brought his hand up and carefully pushed your sword away from his neck, you only let your hand drop, not stepping back. You felt rooted to the spot with his eyes on you, the warmth of his body like a magnet to your own. 

“Señorita…” he almost growled, a half whisper from the back of his throat, as he slowly leaned closer, his eyes moving to your lips before his gaze fell on you again. Dark and warm, it was like being pulled in by the last of the dying embers of a fire. Pero glowed and burned hot under your palm as you put your hands on his neck and pulled him to you, your sword falling to the floor of the forest with a soft clatter. 

He wouldn’t let you go, and you clung to him just as eagerly, the dry leaves rustling as you pulled him down, he rolled you over, caging you in under his strong arms.

“Señorita…” he growled again, it was all he could press out before your lips found his, soft, pliant and sweeter than anything he’d ever tasted, addictive in the way they felt against his mouth, his jaw, his cheeks as you found new places to kiss him, your fingers winding through his hair, keeping him locked in place against your lips, taking as much as you wanted from him and he never once stopped you. 

He was lost. So utterly lost. And he’d never felt more at home. 

You plucked last year’s leaves from your hair and cloak all the way home that day. Pero followed you to the edge of the forest as always. But this time you pulled him behind a tree and made him press his hard body against you, pinning you against the trunk. The way he groaned into your kisses made your body heat up, your need for him growing with every slow roll of his hips, hands roaming to feel as much of him as you could, his hands kneading your hips and caressing your curves.

If your lips were swollen and your hair dishevelled, your father said nothing of it when you came home. When Pero came by one Sunday after church and asked permission to marry his daughter, he wasn’t surprised. 

There had been no war or rebellion to pull Pero away from you that year. William left, serviced under a local lord, but Pero stayed and put what little money he had left into buying the small farm next to your father’s. When the time came, the two could be merged and provide a good life for the two of you and any children that followed. When the small cottage was his by law, only then did he go to your father, who said yes without hesitation to the large Spaniard. 

“As if I could deny you the man you’ve clearly set your eyes on, even if he wasn’t a great, big hulking warrior,” your father had said later that same night after Pero had left, “With him in your house, I know you’ll be safer than with me. And if you truly love him too, well then I have no objections.” 

“I really do love him, with all his scowls and menacing looks, he is a very good man underneath it all, father.” 

There had been strange looks from the villagers, but that had hardly mattered. You’d always gone your own way, and marrying a dark haired outsider with a thick accent seemed to be something that the gossiping wives had expected of you. Either way, when you exchanged your vows outside the church on the intended day, you were surrounded by smiling faces, the old priest beaming down at you as you entered the church with Pero by your side to be blessed by by God.  

The feast lasted most of the day but by the late afternoon, you both left your father’s farm and was escorted by the priest, William and a few other villagers, to your new home, the cottage that Pero had worked so hard to turn into a home for you both. His first home since he left the place he was born, and now the place where he intended to live out the rest of his life as a happy man. When the marital bed had been blessed too, Pero closed the door to the cottage and you were alone as husband and wife for the first time. 

“Come here, husband,” you smiled at him as he turned back from the door. You didn’t need to beckon him, nothing would keep him away from you tonight, but you liked the sound of his new title - husband.

“Mi esposa,” he grinned as he crowded you against the sturdy oak bed he’d built with the aid of the local carpenter, “my wife, finally.” 

His eyes went soft, his mischievous grin replaced by a tender look as he cupped your face with his warm palms, “Never in my life did I think I’d call someone ‘my wife’, I never thought this was the way my life would be, and then I found you,” he ran his thumbs over your cheeks, leaning his forehead against yours as your breaths mingled, ”Te amo, mi amor,” he whispered. 

“I love you too, Pero,” you whispered back, your fingers finding his soft curls as you wrapped your arms around his neck. Gently he pushed you backwards, making you lay down on the bed, your bed, as he moved to cage you in under his arms and wide shoulders. Many training sessions in the forest had ended this way, time slipping away as you kissed each other breathless, but it had never gone further. You’d feel the thick weight of him pressed against your thighs, felt how he sometimes rolled his hips to seek a brief relief, but he'd always pull back.

“Amor, I won’t take you on the forest floor,” he’d muttered when you asked him to stop caring so much about your virtue, “I want you in a bed, our bed, when I’m your husband and you’re my wife.”

Now here you were, in your bed, and you called him husband as he slowly removed all your layers, caressing every sliver of skin that was revealed to him. He pressed kisses to your soft breasts, moaning as he felt them pebble under his touch, his strong nose trailed across the downy hairs of your belly, and when you giggled at the way his beard tickled, he nipped at the warm skin of your thighs. The thick slide of his tongue through your heated centre made you arch your back and gasp, your fingers scrambling for purchase in his hair. You could hear him chuckle against you, the tip of his nose circling the epicentre of your pleasure, he seemed to know this part of your body better than yourself and he soon had you moaning his name as you fought to catch your breath. 

When he had you drenched and dripping, he rested his head on your soft thigh and tapped your leg. 

“Amor, look at me,” he invited. Through half closed lids, clouded with pleasure, you watched him slide a finger through your liquid, coating it before he slowly pushed in. It slipped in easily, and when he curled it, caressing your insides, your eyes fell closed of their own volition. Suddenly you wanted more, more of his fingers, more of him and you whined, your hips rolling over his finger. 

“Please, Pero…” you whimpered, your voice hoarse and pleading. 

“What do you want, esposa,” he asked as he moved his finger gently back and forth, making you gasp again. 

“More…I think…more…” you mumbled and Pero smiled. Seeing you fall apart for him, slowly showing you how good he could make you feel, how he intended to spend every long winter evening, it filled him with a happiness he’d never felt before. It was like a hot burning fire inside his chest and it would keep him warm when he had to leave, he knew these memories would be the ones he returned to on long cold nights alone. 

“More?” he asked, “I can give you more, amor.” 

The smile in his voice made you look up at him as he moved to lie at your side, putting his arm under your shoulders and finding your lips with his own. As his tongue slipped inside your mouth, he gently pushed a second finger into your heat. He felt you arch up against him, whimpering into his mouth, your fingers digging into his arms as he slid his own in and out, setting your body on fire with every slow drag. 

He moved so slowly, it was like your body was turning into molten metal, heat flowed through you, all coming from where Pero’s fingers sunk into you. Your hips rolled of their own accord, your core clenching hard around him and a tension was building up inside you. But just as you felt as if you were about to snap, like a thread pulled too tight, Pero slipped his fingers from you and caressed your side, his hand leaving a sticky trail on your skin.

“Amor,” he mumbled, moving over your body so that he once again was caging you in, his warm, dark eyes glowing as he looked down at you, “Amor, I’m going to enter you now, tell me to stop if it hurts, you are so tight.”

You nodded and made room for him between your legs, you knew this might hurt, you’d heard the wives talk and the gossip. But no one had ever mentioned it feeling this good to be with a man, this aching need to be filled up by him. It had you panting with impatience, your core clenching around the emptiness left behind by his fingers. 

Pero kept his eyes locked on you as he coated himself with your silky liquid and lined himself up. Your brows furrowed as he pushed the thick head inside, and he dropped his forehead to yours, taking a deep breath. 

“Does it hurt?” he whispered, slowly rocking himself back and forth, just the tip moving inside you, and you shook your head. 

“No, it was just a little tight, I want more,” you replied, spreading your legs wider for him. He reached down and hooked your leg over his hip. 

“Squeeze me, pull me in if you want more,” he said, gritting his teeth as he felt your contract around him, fighting the urge to push in harder, “you feel so good, amor, so good to me.” 

Your legs wrapped around his waist and Pero rocked slowly, pushing in deeper with each short thrust. His face was pinched with concentration, his mouth half open as he licked his lips. With your arms wrapped around his neck, his forehead against yours, each breath you took was his and your world shrunk down to only Pero. Only his warm body above yours, his hips heavy between your legs, driving himself into you and creating ripples of pleasure through every fibre of your being with each thrust deep inside. Your eyes wanted to close but you forced them to stay open, to see your husband as he looked at you, his eyes hazy with lust, dark and burning, every movement making him groan as your body pulled him in. The tight string started to pull taught inside you again, your body moving against Pero’s, making him pick up his pace. 

“Amor, can you feel that?” he mumbled, his forehead still resting against yours, “can you feel your body getting ready to fall?” 

You nodded, it felt like a lightning storm ready to break, just over the horizon. Tightening your grip around his waist, you pulled him in and he understood, driving himself deeper, a little bit harder into your tight core. 

“Pero…” you gasped, your nails digging into his shoulders, and he grunted in response, his hand grabbing your leg and finding a new angle. 

“Amor, let me feel you come around me, give me this…” he panted, “the first time…I want it-”

Before he’d even finished you cried out under him, gripping him tight, your body trembling as the string snapped and lighting coursed through you, Pero’s thick cock driving hard into you, pushing your pleasure higher as he gasped and grunted. With a cry he broke, a loud groan, and he spilled himself inside, your legs like a vice around his waist as he rocked himself deeper. 

He was heavy on top of you, the warm sweat of his torso gliding against your own chest as you buried your face against his neck and took long, deep breaths. 

“Pero…my love…” you whispered softly into his ear, his wet kiss against your own neck was his exhausted response as he slowly came down from his high. Your arms were still wrapped tight around him, as were your legs, locking him in place. Not that he wanted to leave, he would stay here, in this bed, between your legs, until moss grew on him like an old boulder that no farmer could move. 

He was home. 

Endless miles stretched out behind them, thousands if they cared to count them. Pero did not. All he could see was the white cliffs in front of the ship, like a beacon, a sign that their long journey was finally coming to an end. 

They returned, not as poor as they’d set out, but not as rich as they thought they’d be, but the only thing that mattered to Pero was that he was returning. He’d fought with his friend, felt betrayed by him, even abandoned him in the end, so strong was his need to return home. It had almost cost him his life, caught by the very army he was trying to escape as he left William behind, brought back and then thrown in chains. He thought he’d die there, locked up in a dungeon, never seeing you again. 

It burned in his chest as the chains gnawed at his wrists, to never see you again, to leave you behind in this world without a word. He could see your face as he closed his eyes, conjured it up in his mind and remembered the tears clinging to your lashes as he pulled back one final time and turned for his horse. Riches or not, he was a damn fool for leaving you, he should’ve been content with what he had. 

In the end it was only by the grace of God, or maybe by William’s good heart, that he’d been freed by the very friend he’d betrayed and allowed to leave and make the long journey home. 

Now he stood on solid ground again, readying his horse for the final stretch home. 

Home. 

A word he’d never thought he’d be able to say and for it to mean something worth fighting for. A woman he loved. A house where he could keep her warm and protected. A place to raise a family. 

Home. He was going home. He knew he never should’ve left. 

The last ride was easy and he drove his horse fast, the afternoon barely past its prime as he saw the cottage at the end of the path, tucked in among the heavy oak trees. It looked well kept, but the door was shut tight and no animals roamed around the yard. 

“Mi amor!” he called, spurring his horse on for the last few yards, “Mi amor!” he called again as he swung himself from the saddle. 

But the door was shut tight and wouldn’t budge and a lap around the small house showed him that it was indeed as empty as it looked. He mounted his horse again, not yet uneasy, and set a fast pace down the lane, towards your father’s farm a mile through the forest. 

Here there was life at least, chickens in the yard, a dog pulling on its leash and the door open. Again he swung himself from the saddle, throwing the reins around the gate post and striding forward. 

“Stay back!”

Your sword was raised. Your sword? No, his sword, the one he’d left with you. Held up by you now, threatening him to not take another step forward. 

“Mi amor, it’s me, Pero,” he smiled, spreading his arms wide and taking long strides to you, wanting nothing more than to pull you into his arms and feel your soft body melt against his after so many months. 

“Stay back!” you snarled, taking a step back and settling into the fighting stance he’d taught you and Pero floundered, stopping in his tracks. 

“Amor…Have I changed that much? Don’t you know your husband?” 

“I don’t have a husband,” you replied, your sword still raised, “Now, leave before I set the dogs on you!”

Pero felt a cold dread rise in his chest, confusion clouding his mind, he didn’t understand why you didn’t know him and he dropped his arms, his face a pained mask. 

“Mi amor, it’s me, I left a year ago on a foolish mission, you were my wife when I left and I have fought so hard all this time to get back to you and…” he trailed off as your eyes showed no recognition, no flash of relief. Just a hard stare at him. 

“Tovar!” 

A voice called out, an elderly man coming around the corner of the cottage, his white hair in tufts around his ears and neck and his face concerned. 

“Tovar, it’s good to see you safe after all this time, my boy!” 

The man forced a pained smile at Pero before he reached you. 

“Daughter, lower your sword, he is a friend, he just hadn’t been past here in some time,” the old man put his hand on your arm and gently made you lower the sword, “Go inside and make sure the stew is not burning, I will speak with Tovar and join you shortly.” 

Pero looked on in confusion as you sheathed the sword, smiled at your father and turned back into the cottage. 

“John, tell me what’s going on, why does my wife not know me?” 

“Come with me,” he replied and gestured towards the edge of the farm yard, the low stone wall serving as a seat as he sank down. Pero remained standing, glancing back at the cottage. Part of him wanted to storm into the cottage and grab you, shake you and make you see him, see him, your husband. But John’s hand landed on his arm and pulled his attention back to the old man. 

“It began not long after you and William left, her memories have been slowly going and neither the priest nor the physician know why or what caused it.” 

“What do you mean, her memories are going? She doesn’t know me?” Pero gripped the handle of his sword, not a threat, just a comfort, to hold on to something familiar as he rubbed his thumb over the pommel, “I am her husband, she loves me, how can she forget me?” 

“I don’t know, Pero,” John sighed, rubbing his weathered hand over his face as he shook his head, “she just doesn’t. And it’s not just you, she seems to forget most new things from one day to the next, a new neighbour, the cow giving birth to a new calf, selling a few of the chickens, she just forgets,” he looked over at the cottage where a thin tendril of smoke rose slowly from the short chimney, “She remembers her childhood, her brother and mother dying, after that it all becomes hazy.”

John looked up at Pero again and Pero could see the toll the past year had taken on his father-in-law as pain flashed across his face, his usually bright eyes sunken and dark. 

“I’m sorry, son, she doesn’t even remember meeting you, nothing of your life together, and not you leaving.” 

It hits him like a dagger to the chest, piercing in its pain and wrenching his chest open; he left, she begged him not to, but he left and this is his punishment. Her mind is protecting her from the pain he caused. With a groan he turns around, sinking down on the wall, his head buried in his hands, it feels as if his throat is closing up, a sob tearing its way up, like broken glass cutting him open. 

“I left her,” he groaned, choking around his words, “She begged me not to go, that last night before I left, and I thought I had to and left her anyway. I broke her heart and this is my punishment, her mind has removed me from her so she doesn’t have to live with my betrayal.” 

“Son…” John said, his voice choking too, but he put his hand on the younger man’s shoulder, “We do not know the will of the Lord, you did what you thought was best.” 

The hand on Pero’s shoulder burned like fire, guilt over taking him and he stumbled to his feet, shaking off the other man’s grip with a shrug. 

“I’ll leave, it’s for the best,” he replied, striding towards his horse without looking back, his jaw tight around his words, “Take care of her for me.” 

“Tovar, wait,” John called after him and hurried to his feet. He grabbed the reins of the horse just as Pero swung himself into the saddle, “She loves you, still. I know she does, she just needs to remember you.” 

“Remember how I broke her heart and left her? What kind of a husband was I? No,” Pero shook his head and gathered the reins, making John let go of them, “Let her have a good life without me.” 

The door of the cottage creaked as he spoke the last words, making him look up towards it. You were standing in the opening, an empty water bucket in your hand, your eyes on him. 

“Are you really my husband?” you asked, glancing over at your father, but finding Pero’s eyes again. Pero felt his throat close up again as he saw the way you looked at him, a complete stranger, not a trace of recognition. 

He just nodded in response, not trusting his voice. 

“He is, my dear,” John replied in his stead,  “Do you remember me telling you about him when your mind first started to go?” 

You shook your head at that, your eyes still on Pero. 

“I’m leaving,” he said, a deep furrow in his brow as he ruefully shook his head, “I caused you both enough hurt.” He nudged his horse to turn around, walking it through the gate and out onto the road, avoiding John’s look of pity.  

“Wait!” 

The call came just as he was about to spur his horse on, away from your empty stare. 

“Wait,” you called, hurrying after him, stopping as he halted his horse and turned in the saddle. You came up to stand by its neck, looking up at him, “Stay at least the night, I…I know I lost so many memories, but...if you’re my husband then you should stay, maybe something will come back.” 

“No,” he shook his head, looking away from you and down the road, “I caused too much harm, I don’t want you to have to relive the pain I caused you.” 

“Please, my life has been cut in half, I can’t remember it, but I know something big is missing. I will gladly take the pain again if I can have the rest of my life back,” you put your hand on his horse’s neck, tilting your face up to him as you waited for his reply, “Please.” 

He couldn’t resist looking down at you and he felt his resolve weaken as your eyes met his. Such a familiar face, the one he loved so deeply. The colour of your eyes was seared into his mind, the small imperfections on your cheeks that he’d mapped with his lips so many nights, the shape of your perfect nose that he’d traced with his calloused fingers when you complained that it was all wrong. So many long, cold nights, picturing this face in his mind’s eye as he tried to do what he thought was right, the desperate moments when he thought he wasn’t coming back to you at all. Facing monsters from nightmares in overwhelming numbers, even as he fought for his life, this face was floating before him. You were the one he was fighting so hard to get home to. 

Now you were looking back at him, pleading with him, and he knew he had no choice. The last time he denied your request, he’d almost lost his life and you’d lost your memories of him. He would stay. The pain he would feel at seeing you look at him like a stranger would be a small price to pay compared to the pain he’d put you through with his greed and stubbornness. 

He gave you a nod, a short movement of his head as you held his gaze. He searched in vain for a glimmer of recognition, a flash of the woman you were before he left, but there was nothing. Just a small, uncertain smile as you dropped your hand from his horse’s neck and took a few steps back. 

“Thank you,” you mumbled, glancing back at your father, “my father will be glad to have you with us too, he’s probably tried to make me remember you so many times.” 

Pero slid off the back of his horse and took hold of the reins as he turned to you. His rough fingernails dug into the palm of his hand as he clenched his fist, the familiar scent of your skin washing over him as he got closer. He could feel every bone in his body aching to reach out and pull you into his arm, bury his nose in the soft skin of your neck and breathe you in, feel your hands on him again. He could feel himself torn in two; the urge to bolt when you took a step back from him, the need to stay near and never leave again. 

“Amor…” he mumbled, tearing his eyes away from you as you took another step back, the pain and emotion plain on his face. 

“I’m…I’m sorry…” you whispered, “I don’t know what that means…” 

For a few moments you looked at him as he refused to meet your eyes again, his gaze wavering as his hand closed around the reins of his horse. His knuckles were pulled taught, the tension in his still form clear, and you took another step back. 

“Please, put your horse away and I’ll heat up water for you to wash. Father said you’ve travelled far, you must be weary. There's good stew cooking too,” you raised your hand and gently put it on the neck of his horse, “Come, please.” 

He followed you into the house once he’d put the horse away, your father leaving to bring the small herd of cows in for the evening. Water was heating over the fire and you mixed it with the cooler water from the barrel as Pero stepped over the threshold with his heavy saddle bags by his side. 

“You live with your father now,” he said, a statement rather than a question, but you nodded, wiping your hands and turning to the stew pot. 

“Yes, well, I don’t remember living anywhere else but he tells me the cottage down the road is where I lived before…” you trailed off, putting your hand to your temple as your brow furrowed, screwing up your eyes as if trying to search for a memory. Pero shifted by the door and you turned to him with a surprised look on your face. 

“I-I guess…that’s where we lived?” you asked and a look of anguish flashed across his face. 

“Yes….yes, we lived there,” he replied, still holding his heavy bags, looking like he was almost on the verge of leaving again. “We moved there on our wedding day and I… Do you ever visit it now?” 

You shook your head but hesitated, “Never…but maybe I have been back, but I forget from one day to the next, I know it’s there but if I see it now, it’s like I see it for the first time.” 

Pero dropped his bags on the floor and rubbed his hand over his face, his shoulders slumped as if under a tremendous weight. 

“Amor…” he said to the floor before looking up at you again, “I don’t know if I can do this. We lived there, you and me, they were the happiest days of my wretched life, and now it’s all been taken from us. You look at me like a stranger and I can’t stand it.” 

You didn’t know what to say, the man in front of you was a stranger, nothing in his voice or face was familiar. The only reason you asked him to stay was your father telling you he was your husband, and that feeling in your chest of something missing, that empty space in your mind, a big piece of your life’s memories missing. 

“I’m sorry…” you said again, but he shook his head. 

“Don’t. It’s my fault, I did this to you. And I’m staying until you tell me to leave.” 

“I might not remember you in the morning,” you said, “I often forget meeting new people.” 

New people

It cut through him like the sharpest blade. He’s ‘new people’ to you now, not your husband, or even a friend. Just a stranger in your house. 

He nodded at the large bowl that you’d filled with water, “I’ll get cleaned up now, do you want me to go outside?” 

The cottage was familiar, he’d spent much time here before the wedding, and not much had changed in the year he’d been gone. It had only two rooms, and he presumed you were sleeping in the bed nook against the back wall, your father in the other room. The small cottage didn’t hold much space for privacy. 

You shook your head and turned back to the fire, “I’ll keep my back turned, I need to watch the stew.” 

He stared at you for a beat, the achingly familiar shape of your shoulders, your hips and the way you cocked one out to the side as you leaned forward over the large pot. How many times hadn’t he come up behind you, run his hands over your soft shapes, pushed your hair to the side and pressed kisses to your neck as you giggled at the way his beard tickled your skin. Now you stood with your back to him to not see as he pulled off his clothes, something you’d done to him almost every night. Unlaced his shirt, pulled it from his breeches and caressed his skin with your soft hands. 

The dirty shirt dropped to the floor with a soft sound and you heard him wring the washcloth as you added the last of the herbs to the stew. You couldn’t help yourself, you glanced over your shoulder and stole a look at him. He was a stranger, but supposedly your husband, and either way, he was handsome. Under that layer of grime and sweat, he was a striking man, unlike any you’d ever seen. Or, at least, unlike anyone your mind would let you remember. So you glanced back at him and was struck almost dumb by the sight. Broad shoulders, a muscular back tapering into narrow hips where his breeches hung low as he rubbed the washcloth over his abdomen. 

The back of his neck was tanned golden, his back lighter and marred by a long scar that shone bright in the dim light. It looked like a painful injury, old and long since healed over, and you wondered if he’d ever told you what had happened to him. Had you run your fingers over as he told you the story? You realised you must’ve spent countless nights next to this man in your marital bed, his hands on you, your hands on him. This man, this stranger in your father’s house, would know you better than anyone else, every inch of your body and your most intimate secrets. 

As if he could sense your eyes on him, he glanced back over his shoulder and met your eyes, and he seemed to hold his breath for a moment. Then he turned fully to face you, the washcloth forgotten in his hand. 

“Amor…” he whispered and you bit back a sudden sob. His eyes were so hopeful, you wanted nothing more than to remember him, to have all the memories of him flood back into your mind as he dropped the washcloth and took two quick steps across the floor. 

“I don’t remember,” you sobbed as his arms wrapped around you, “I don’t remember anything about you.” 

He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t let you go. Instead he let you sob against his chest, holding you close as he rested his chin on your head. His heart was beating wildly, thrumming so hard you could hear it as you pressed your cheek against him, and even though he was a stranger, his arms felt safe around you, the scent of his skin comforting and soothing. 

With a small movement he rubbed your back, slowly up and down, “It will come back, amor, it will. And if it doesn’t, I will make you fall in love with me again and tell you about all the memories we have.” 

You nodded against his chest, your sobs subsiding, but you didn’t pull away from him, and he didn’t let his arms drop. He held you just as tight, reluctant to give up the feeling of having you in his arms again after all he endured to get back to you. 

“Although…I’m still not sure how I made a woman like you fall in love with a reckless mercenary like me, how will I manage that again?” he said, a small smile to his voice and you looked up at him. He’d lifted his chin from your head and was looking at you with a sad smile, tears clinging to his dark lashes. 

“Promise me you’ll try,” you said, your voice low and broken. 

“Every day for the rest of my life, amor,” he whispered, “I will make you fall in love with me again and then we can make all those memories one more time.” 

A/N - I hope you enjoyed this bitter sweet little story! Bonus points to anyone who caught the LotR reference :)

Tagging some of my fellow Pero lovers:

@nerdieforpedro @din-cognito @harriedandharassed @morallyinept @inept-the-magnificent

@mysterious-moonstruck-musings @lady-bess @angiewatson @cozylittlepigeon @604to647

@survivingandenduring @for-a-longlongtime @gnpwdrnsnshine @wintersquirrel @grogusmum

[criticallyacclaimedstranger]

Sprout [Pero Tovar x f!reader]

Read on AO3

Sequel to Seed.

Fandom: The Great Wall

Ships: Pero Tovar x f!reader

Tags/warnings: Pregnancy, pregnancy kink, pregnant sex, dirty talk, some angst and fighting but also making up with more sex, labor, you get it. Soft Pero!

Words: 5,999

Summary: After trying long and hard, you are finally pregnant. Pero is delighted, but now begins a time of waiting and fussing and, well, lots of sex. That's the plot.

When you finally become pregnant, you know it immediately.

It is eerie, almost magical, the way you just feel something take root in your womb. Not the presence of a person, but just something new, something growing. It is early morning, you awake before Pero, last night’s coupling still a warm, sticky memory on your skin along with his breath, his limbs so tightly wound around yours. You mean to rouse him with kisses and caresses, but then you feel it, and you just know. A blissful smile spreading on your face, you decide to relish this feeling for as long as you can, and so you just stay still and quiet, one hand on your lower abdomen. When Pero eventually stirs, hands and lips starting to claim you, you gently peel them off of you.

“I’m sore,” you whisper to him, accepting a chaste kiss on your lips.

“I’m sorry, my love.”

“Don’t be. I just need a rest.”

He pecks your lips again before releasing you to start the day. You hear him use the chamber pot, and when he comes back into the bedroom, he stops and looks at you, brows drawn together.

"What?" you ask.

"You look different."

"Do I?" You can feel heat rise to your cheeks, but in the same moment you decide not to tell him, not just yet. You want to be sure, live with this new presence by yourself for a couple of days.

"Yes."

He grabs his shirt and trousers, pulling them on while regarding you. You shrug innocently.

"Don't know what it would be."

That was all for that morning.

You tell him about a week later. The feeling of attachment deep within you had not diminished, and you have become more confident that it is real. During the entire week, you have gently turned down Pero's advances, citing tiredness and aches. Pero may be a loving husband, but he does not keep track of your monthly bleeding, and so he seems to have accepted that it's your time of the month, and been content with sweet caresses and kisses.

It's evening when you tell him. You're sitting together outside the house, facing the back garden. Surrounded by fragrance in the dying light, listening the first cicadas of the night starting the concertos, you feel that it is the right time to tell him.

"Husband," you start, lifting your head from his shoulder and facing him. "There is something I need to tell you."

His features are immediately painted with a wariness, like he is expecting bad news. Your sweet warrior husband, always ready for life to be full of hardships. You give him a reassuring smile.

"It's nothing bad, I promise."

"Then what is it?" he barks, hand squeezing yours like he's afraid you are going to get up and leave.

"I'm with child."

His eyebrows shoot up, leaving his eyes round and wide open, just like his mouth.

"Are you?"

"Yes."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes," you giggle now, his reaction too amusing not to cause you mirth. "I am certain, Pero, that you are going to be a father."

His face is as raw as it was on your wedding day, the joy shaving years off his scarred features. He raises your hand to his lips and kisses your knuckles before pressing your hand to his heart, and then his lips are on yours. You feel him tremble a little, from nerves, happiness, or excitement you don't know, but you pull him in for the kiss, and he relaxes in your arms.

He carries you inside and lays you on the bed, never stopping to kiss you until he has to, in order to pose a question.

"Can we...?"

"I think we can," you answer breathlessly before pulling him in for more kisses. Pero needs no further permission: he lays down over you, stealing your breath away with him kisses before sitting up to get you undressed. When you're naked before him, he leans down to trail soft kisses over your belly.

"My child," he murmurs, looking up at you, eyes shining. "You will take care of my child, won't you?"

"You know I will," you promise, shivering from the goosebumps of pleasure induced by Pero's bristly skin.

"And I will take care of you, wife," he vows, trailing light kisses down between your legs, which fall open to accommodate him.

He’s more gentle than usual, more perceptive of your mewls, the way your legs twitch, your grip on the sheets. It may not be his intention, but he ends up tormenting you even more with his slowness. It is a stark contrast to the frantic fucking of the past few weeks. His seed, shot inside you on a daily basis, has finally taken root, and he seems determined to nourish that little sapling as best he can. Even if that means teasing you at the brink of release until you’re sobbing.

“Pero…!” You’re writhing, trying to push yourself against his mouth for the relief you need, but his arms tighten around your thighs, rendering your lower body immovable.

“Hush,” he admonishes you in a thick whisper. “You have to relax, my darling, you can’t get overexcited.”

You press the back of your head into the pillow and run your fingers through your hair.

“Please,” you whisper desperately, “please, Pero, I can’t bear it any longer.”

You know he’s smiling from the curve of his lips against your sensitive inner thighs, and then he finally takes mercy on you. The orgasm feels stronger than usual, maybe due to the prolonged, sweet torture, or because of your condition. When Pero presses a kiss to your inner thigh, you almost kick him, your legs coming together to seal in the pulses in your pussy, and you turn over onto your side to get away. He lets you be for a moment, hearing from your breathy moans that you are unharmed, but he soon takes a gentle grip of your arm, and makes you roll onto your back again.

“My love,” he hums, dipping down to brush his lips over yours. “Are you well?”

“Yes,” you manage, and that works as enough of a reassurance for him to press his lips to yours. The kiss is sweet enough, but you sense the urgency in him, and his cock is hard and leaking against your thigh.

“Come to me, husband,” you mumble, opening your legs anew. Pero is instantly between them, guiding his cock into you. He slides in easily enough as he lays down over you, and you brace yourself for his usual brand of frenzy. He does, however, stay still, sheathed deeply inside you, as he cradles your face and kisses you. You are full of him, so full, and yet you want more, so you raise your hips to urge him to move.

“Patience, my love,” he reprimands you gently, kissing your forehead before moving his hips only enough to be able to push them into your again. “We have time.”

“I need you,” you pout, happy with how it makes him swallow hard.

“I know, wife, and you shall have me every single day, but we need to be careful. “ Another thrust, slow but so deep, makes you whimper. “We will make sure that the baby grows big and strong.” He thrusts again and your nails press into his back. “I will make sure that you are satisfied, my love, and that our baby is happy as it grows inside you.” One more thrust has you running your nails down his back. Hissing, he punishes you with a stab of his cock right up against your womb, and when you bare your throat to him, he dives down to suck his love marks into your skin. His hips move with more insistence now as he fucks you bruising deep, and when he releases his seed into you, he whimpers in a way you have never heard before. Your arms wrapped around him, you pull him down over you, forcing him to stay inside of you for as long as he’s hard. When he finally rolls off of you, he whispers his I love you first into your ear, then to your belly.

A couple of weeks later, you have your first morning of being sick. Pero had taken to a morning routine of greeting both you and your belly with kisses and caresses, but he barely touched you before you fly out of bed, barely making it to the slop bucket in the kitchen before your stomach turns inside out.

Pero hovers behind you, unsure how to help you as you retch into the bucket, but when you rise and wipe your mouth with the back of your hand, he’s there to embrace you, combing your hair away from your face.

“Are you done?”

“I think so,” you tell him weakly, and he carries you back to bed and tucks you in before bringing you water. He then proceeds to building a fire, and making breakfast that he brings in to you.

“You don’t have to fuss,” you tell him, a little embarrassed at his extreme measures. “I’m perfectly capable of making us breakfast.”

“You need rest,” he tells you with a finality that you have never heard from him before. “Take it easy. You work so hard already.”

“No harder than you.”

“When I’m not escorting caravans, I don’t do much. Now eat, if you can stomach it.”

You can, and you’re suddenly ravenous.

After breakfast, you take your basket and go down to the marketplace to do your daily shopping, and when you return to find Pero outside the house, brushing down the horse, you sigh deeply as you put down the basket.

“Well, everybody knows now.”

“Knows what?” Pero asks, resting one hand on the horse’s strong neck. The warm sun has already turned his hairline damp, and he’s squinting against the light. You give him a what do you think? look, and he nods.

“I threw up the second I smelled fish,” you tell him, the sour taste still fresh in your mouth. “We’re having meat for the time being, husband.”

He shrugs, not having a preference one way or the other.

“Suits me fine. Are you well?”

“I’m fine.” You pick up the basket again and kiss his cheek, careful not to exhale what with your breath being so foul. “I’ll go in, put all this away.

“Leave the basket, I’ll carry it inside when I’m done with the horse.”

“I can do it, it’s not heavy.”

He glares at you then, clearly unhappy, but you kiss his cheek again.

“Don’t worry, Pero.”

But he does worry. And his worry grows with each day that starts with you throwing up. You are not showing, and the only sign of your condition, to him, is you being sick. He can’t feel what you feel, the presence inside you, although he tries every night, digging deep and slow into you until you’re begging him to cum because you can’t take it anymore.

That worry culminates one afternoon when he catches you carrying water from the well in your garden.

“Just what the hell do you think you are doing?” he glowers at you as you step in, burdened with one bucket in each hand. You stare at him, not even understanding what he’s talking about.

“What do you mean?”

“You shouldn’t be carrying something so heavy!”

“Pero – “

“You need to be more careful.” He makes it sound like you have been living irresponsibly, and it makes you furious because he has never spoken to you like this before. That scowl of his would scare anyone else in the village, but not you. You simply put down the buckets, your hands coming to your hips as you scowl right back.

“Now you listen to me, Pero Tovar! I am not frail, I am not ill, I am able to perform my chores! I may be pregnant, I may not be able to keep my breakfast, but there is nothing about my state that is abnormal!”

He seems a little taken back with your response but collects himself quickly.

“You should be resting more,” he insists, “and you getting this upset isn’t good for you, either.”

“I am not getting upset, you are making me upset!” you snap, heat rising to your cheeks. “I am doing fine and I would be doing even better if you weren’t so hell-bent on making me feel like I was dying!”

“It is precisely to stop you from dying that I am being so protective!” he bites back. You clearly hit a nerve there, and you’re angry enough to keep pinching it.

“So I cannot carry water during the day, but you can nail me to our bed every night?” you spit. “That’s a very strange way of protecting me, is it not?”

His jaws move, like he’s screaming something new at you, but then he casts down his eyes, his frown still prominent and neck muscles bulging. You cross your arms in front of your chest, waiting for his next move, but he just mutters something before storming out. You stare at the closed door, not expecting his departure. Pero has not survived by backing away from a fight.

You go on doing your chores, your blood coming down from its boil, and by the time supper is on the table, Pero returns. He stands by the door, leaning against it like he’s unsure that he’s welcome, but you gesture silently at his customary seat at the table, so he comes and sits down. You serve the food, you both eat it, and not until your plates are empty does Pero clear his throat.

“I’m sorry for earlier.”

You meet his soft gaze, seeing the regret – but also fear.

“Husband,” you whisper, but he shakes his head.

“I’m so afraid of losing you, my love.”

“I know.”

“I have never had anything as… good, and beautiful, as you, and the thought of losing you…”

“I know, my love,” you nod. You know this fear, but you have not known the same hard life as Pero has, and that helps you in not being ruled by that fear.

“Losing both you and our baby…”

“But you won’t,” you cut him off, softly but with conviction.

“You don’t know that. There is so much that can go wrong.”

“I don’t know that, no. I just believe it. I believe we will be okay in the end.” You reach your hand across the table, and Pero takes it. “Can’t you believe with me?”

A small, hopeful smile lights up his face. “I’ll try.”

Leaving everything on the table, you take him to bed. As you undo his belt, the belt pouch falls to the floor, and you hear the clinking of glass.

“Fuck,” Pero grunts. “I forgot.”

He bends down to pick up the pouch, pulling two bottles from it. He exhales in relief when discovering that they’re not broken.

“What are those?” you want to know, eyeing the two bottles, one larger, the other no bigger than Pero’s thumb.

“I went to the midwife,” he tells you, rolling the small bottle between his fingers. “She says that a couple of drops of this on your tongue every morning will help with your vomiting.”

You pick up the bottle and pull out the cork. The sunny, sweet smell of oranges wafts out. You quirk a brow and look at Pero, who shrugs.

“It’s worth trying, don’t you think?”

“It is.” You put the cork back and close your fingers over the bottle. “Thank you. That’s very thoughtful of you.”

“It’s been hard for me to see you be so sick,” he confesses, hand coming to a soft rest on your waist. “It doesn’t seem fair.”

“It’s not so bad, husband,” you assure him. “It’s just in the mornings, and it’s not going to last.”

“I hope the tincture will help.”

“If not, you have another bottle?”

“Oh.” Pero holds up the bigger bottle, as if he had forgotten about it. “This is not medicine.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s oil for your belly,” he explains, and now his gaze turns soft. “The midwife said that as your belly begins to grow, the skin often turns dry. This is to help with that.”

You smile, your hand coming up to his bristly cheek.

“That’s so sweet of you, Pero.”

“I promise I’ll rub it onto you every night, starting now,” he vows with a mischievous little smile, and you giggle.

“I’m not showing yet!”

“The midwife said it’s important to start before the skin begins to stretch, so would you please take your clothes off, wife, and lie down on the bed.”

You laugh, but it’s not you who ends up lying on the bed, it’s Pero.

“You’ve been so good to me,” you purr, sitting astride him and teasing his cock hard by rubbing your cunt against it. “Let me take care of you now, husband.”

“Yes,” he swallows hard, “my love, please.”

You kiss the wet tip of his cock, nip at the head, trail the veins down his length with your tongue, make him whine and writhe and come apart for you. You give him only a moment to catch his breath before you take his cock in your hand and stroke it to keep it hard. Pero inhales with a hiss.

“Oh, fuck, careful…!”

“I am being careful,” you promise as you keep your touch light. “I just need to make sure that you are able to service me, husband.”

“Always,” he chokes as you sit astride him.

“My cunt is hungry for your big cock, my love.”

“Oh, please… please… ahhh!” You sink down on him, your wet cunt splitting open but taking all of him, your lower lip caught between your teeth as you exhale in a loud moan. Your eyes have closed involuntarily, and when you open them, you see Pero looking up at you with awe in his eyes.

“I love you,” he whispers, and you bend down to kiss him.

“I love you, too.”

His hands splay over your lower abdomen. “And I love you.”

You kiss him again and start to move your hips. Your love life has been less frantic since you became pregnant, but it is not lacking in passion. Your slow, meticulous grind reflects that, and when Pero reaches for the oil bottle next to him on the bed, you sit up straight and let him rub the oil onto your skin.

“You are so beautiful,” he sighs as he circles his rough hand over your soft stomach. “And you will be even more beautiful when you start to show.”

“Will I”? you coax him, and he nods.

“I want you to ride me like this when you’re big and round, wife.” His voice drops, and the way it drips hot honey down your spine makes you clench. “I want you to take your pleasure from me likes this when you’re so big that you can hardly move, and your tits are leaking milk.”

“And if I can’t?” you breathe. His eyes are molten coal when he stares at you.

“Then I will help you.”

With that, he slides hand to where your bodies come together. His oiled fingers dance easily on your nub, and with his help, you ride him home, taking his load deep into your slick, warm cunt.

Your nausea does not bother you as much the following morning. Pero credits it to the tincture but you know that something has shifted in your relationship, become easier and more earnest.

“Maybe I shouldn’t go.”

You squeeze Pero’s arm against your side. “It’s a little too late for that now.”

“I can still tell them – “

“They need you,” you remind him. “So many people depend on you.”

“You are the most important one of all of them,” he points out, stopping in the middle of the street and turning to you. His free hand, the one that’s not holding the reigns of the horse, comes to rest on your slightly rounded belly. “You, and the little one.”

“It’s only a week.” You cup his cheek, stroke your thumb over his lips. “It’s not a long time. You’ll make good money, and I promise that I’ll rest.”

He raises his brows, and you laugh at his skepticism.

“I promise!” you hold up your hand to your chest. “I promise, Pero, you know you can trust my word, right?”

“I know,” he nods, now smiling, before dipping down to kiss you softly. The horse snorts, and Pero ends the kiss with a quick peck on your lips, before you once again take his arm, and walk to the town square where the caravan is getting ready to leave. Pero was early on asked to provide security for it, and even though he was loathe to leave you for an entire week, both of you knew he would. Winter is on its way, trading will come to a stop, and he will be free to spend the rest of your time at home.

You nod at familiar faces when you reach the square, but soon have only eyes for Pero as he takes you in his arms. You expect admonition and reprobation, but only receive whispered assurances of his love for you.

“You will take care of yourself, won’t you?” he finally asks, when the caravan leader is announcing departure. You give him a naughty smile.

“Take care of myself how…?”

He grins back. “You know how. I left you the oil, and the memory of me.”

“My own fingers are nothing compared to you, my love.”

“As my hand is a meagre substitute for your warm, wet cunt,” he breathes against your ear. There is time for a hot yet subdued kiss, and a quick caress of your belly, before Pero has to mount his horse. He blows you a kiss and is off.

The week passes slowly and uneventfully. It rains a lot, which means you keep mostly indoors, and it makes you a little restless. The baby is restless as well; you feel it twitching and floundering almost every hour that you are awake. It is a comfort, knowing that you are not alone, but you still miss Pero.

It is late night when he returns. You are already in bed but the sounds of the wagons returning to the village draws you out of bed. You pull a shawl around your shoulders, but don’t get dressed, loath to leave the warmth of the house to go out into the late autumn chill. It does not take long before Pero rides into the yard, dismounting midstride when you come out onto the doorstep. He rushes to you, lips on yours before he’s even wrapped his arms around you. His lips are cold but his breath is warm, and his body fits to yours perfectly, shielding you from the cold.

“Are you well?” are his first words to you.

“We are both well, husband. How about you? How was the journey?”

“Uneventful. I am unharmed.”

He falls to his knees, hands tracing the roundness of your stomach through the nightgown before pressing a kiss to it.

“Hello, little one.”

You feel the baby move, and then a powerful jerk. Pero flinches, then looks up at you, mouth open.

“Was that…?”

“Yes,” you smile, hand coming to cup the top of his head. “That was our baby, my love, saying welcome home.”

“Was it really?”

You nod, your smile growing wider as you watch Pero stare at your clothed belly, hand circling it in search of another kick. A light breeze sweeps across the yard, and you shudder.

“Let’s go inside, husband.”

He has to put away the horse first, so you prepare a small supper while you wait for him to come in. When he finally does, he forgoes any food, instead taking you to bed. Balls deep in you and kissing your breath away, he tells you over and over again how much he loves you.

Winter slows down the entire village, although you feel slower than ever before with each passing week. Your belly grows, and with it your tiredness. Your feet hurt, your hips hurt, you back hurts, you feel clumsy, and you're hungry all the time. Pero takes all your griping in stride, helping you with your heavier chores that you finally relinquish to him. He rubs your belly and breasts with oil every night, and pleasures you with his mouth, fingers, and cock every time you ask for it – which varies from day to day. Some days you cannot have enough of him, others you can barely stand the thought of sleeping with him. Your patient husband takes no offense at your ever-changing mood.

You realize very soon that you have been incredibly lucky in your choice of husband – not that you didn’t know that before, of course. When going to the marketplace and meeting the village women, your growing belly gives you a new role in the group. The younger women titter, the older give advice or tell crude jokes that make you blush.

“Glowing skin, hazy eyes,” one comments one morning by the vegetable stand, “and him looking like the king of the world. Neither one of you goes wanting, that’s for sure.”

Your cheeks heat up. The comment is spoken without malice, and in a pleased tone, but it feels like the speaker had direct access to your bedroom that morning, seen you come apart on Pero’s cock, witnessed him fuck his cum deep inside you.

You mumble something, and the older woman chuckles.

“I’ve had five, and my husband serviced me with all five of them. A father’s seed will make the baby grow strong. Your child will be born big and healthy, I can see that.”

The baby moves in your belly, bringing a smile to your face. You look up at the woman, see her friendly face, and thank her, before slinking away and finding Pero at another stand. He takes the basket from you, offers you his arm, and you walk home together. As you put away your purchases in the kitchen, Pero breathes life back into the fire, and you sink down onto a chair with a sigh. He runs his gaze over you, a frown on his face.

“Are you okay, my love?”

“Just a little tired,” you promise as you rub your belly. The baby kicks against your hand before settling down, maybe to sleep. You look at your husband, crouching by he fire, and clear your throat.

“Pero?”

“Yes?”

“Do the men in the village talk about… pregnancy?”

He looks up at you again. “What do you mean?”

“The women – “

“Women talk a lot of rubbish,” he scoffs, and you grimace at his dismissal of your sex.

“Sorry,” he immediately apologizes, and you glare at him to let him know that he is only barely being let off the hook. “Tell me, my love, what do they say?”

“They talk about pregnancy, how the baby is carried, what sex it probably is, cravings, pains, aches… and intimacy. And I was wondering if men do the same.”

Pero directs his attention to the fire for a moment.

“They do speak of the pregnancy, but more of the children once they are born,” he tells you softly. “They speak of what it is to watch a child grow, how to provide for it, the way you worry about it all the time.”

“But nothing of the pregnancy?” you press, and he shoots you a teasing smile.

“A little, but only things I will not repeat to you.”

“Pero, I am no dainty little thing that you have to protect!” you roll your eyes, and Pero laughs before putting another log on the growing fire, then closing the hatch.

“I do know that, wife,” he acknowledges. Coming to his feet, he walks over to you, and sinks to his knees before you.

“I will tell you what they say,” he rumbles, his deep voice making your heart skip a beat. “Many of them speak of wives who become voracious when heavy with child.”

His hands, warm and large, rest softly on your knees, and start to carefully separate your thighs. You lick your lips quickly, leaving your mouth open as your breath turns heavier.

“They speak of wives who crave cock every single day.” Pero lifts your skirt up, leaning in to kiss the inside of your thigh. “They say that fucking a pregnant wife is the best feeling in the world.” He presses another bristly kiss to your sensitive skin. “To fill her already full womb even more…” Another kiss. “To have her sensitive cunt wrapped around your cock… how she mewls underneath you as you fuck your seed into her… it is heaven.”

He looks up at you, eyes dark, a smug smirk on his lips. “And they are right.”

“Pero,” you beg breathlessly, your cunt dripping from his words, your body ablaze for his touch.

“Come here, my love.”

He pulls you down on the floor, and you help him undo his trousers to get his cock out. Crouching astride him, feet firmly planted on the floor, you sink down his length, Pero supporting you with strong arms, even he can no longer reach around you. You ride him with impatience, one hand on his shoulder, the other gripping his leg behind you, your lips on his lips, his neck, his shoulder.

“My love,” he gasps, “take what you need from me, use me, just like that, use my cock…”

You whine before baring your throat and hanging your head back, chest out, Pero dipping down to suck a leaking nipple into his mouth. You moan as your body is in spasms from the sweet release, and Pero plants a hand on the floor behind him, and thrusts up into you, grunting with effort as he seeks his own climax. You encourage him with moaned filthy words of your own, choked out as he slams into you, again and again, until he grips your buttock hard to keep you still on his cock, and you feel him fill up your core.

He lays down on the floor after, pulling you down next to him to give you a sweet kiss.

“My darling wife,” he sighs before kissing you again.

“My darling husband,” you smile, a satisfied shudder running through you as his seed oozes out between your swollen lips. “I am utterly disheveled. I won’t be able to show myself at the sewing circle later today.”

“Good,” he yawns, pulling you closer. “It is a husband’s duty to keep his wife disheveled with his love.”

“I cannot argue with that,” you giggle, and he kisses you yet again.

It starts in the early hours of the darkest winter morning. You wake up from a sharp pain, and before you’re properly awake, you realize that your nightgown is soaking wet. As you sit up to light a candle, another stab of pain makes you whimper, and you drop the fire striker. Pero stirs and reaches for you, only to be awake and sitting straight almost immediately.

“It has started,” you whisper. “I’m all wet. Pero, light a candle.”

He does as he’s told, and you throw the covers to the side, finding that your water has broken. No blood, as you secretly feared, but only water.

“I’ll get the midwife,” Pero tells you resolutely, but you can hear the worry in his voice. “My love, are you in very much pain?”

“Not too much,” you reassure him, getting out of the bed as he springs up to get dressed. You pull your shawl over your shoulders and start walking around, as the women of the village have told you to do. The pains come in sharp stabs, but they’re manageable.

Pero looks desolate to leave you, but you wave him off with a smile and a kiss.

“I’m fine, I’m fine, just go get her.”

When the midwife arrives, she gives you a quick examination before shaking her head.

“Go back to bed,” she tells both of you. “It’s going to be another day or even two before it starts, so get all the rest you can.”

“Are you sure?” Pero demands in his most imposing voice. The midwife does not even blink as she collects her things.

“Make her as comfortable as you can.” She turns to you. “Rest but walk around every chance you get. And if something seems amiss, come get me again.”

She takes her leave, and Pero grumbles about the lack of sympathy. You, however, have heard a lot more about labor, so you just shake your head at him.

“Help me change the sheets, husband, and come to bed. You heard what she said.”

“You are in pain!”

“It’s not so bad anymore,” you tell him truthfully, and start to strip the wet sheets from the bed. Loath to have you do it by yourself, Pero comes to help you, giving him something else to think about. When you’re back in bed, embraced and sleepy yet too nervous to rest, he caresses the roundness of your belly.

“I can’t wait to meet our baby,” he whispers to you.

“I feel the same.”

“What are you hoping for? A boy or a girl?”

“I don’t care,” you yawn, “as long as it’s healthy. Any child that is half you is going to be perfect.”

“I love you.”

“And I love you.”

Late in the following night, the contractions change, become more intense and frequent. You send Pero to the midwife again, and this time she stays. You have prepared during the day so there are linens and boiled water to be had. Pero is dismissed from the bedchamber, and you see that he wants to fight the midwife on that decision, but you just shake your head at him, and he heeds your wish. But when the midwife tells you that you are crowning, that the baby is coming, and the contractions are sucking all the strength from your muscles, you scream for your husband. He nearly takes the door off its hinges as he barges in, all but brandishing the sword he has not touched since his last caravan. He takes your hand between his and kisses it.

“My love,” he breathes, “my strong, beautiful wife. You can do it, I know you can.”

Your baby is born with a few pushes, and the first scream that cuts through the night makes your tears fall.

“You have a son,” the midwife announces as she wraps up the baby and puts it on your chest.

“A son,” you repeat, not really understanding the words.

“I have a son,” Pero mumbles, his voice thick. You glance up at him, but he is only looking at the baby.

“Pero…”

“I have a son.”

Suddenly, he spurts out of the room, leaving you to stare after him, mouth agape. You hear the front door slam open, and then Pero bellowing into the night:

“I have a son!”

You chuckle, tears streaming down your cheeks, and when Pero returns, his eyes are shining as well.

“My love,” he whispers. “My love. My life. I love you so much.”

You can’t speak, this is all too much, you are exhausted and hurting and happy and sweaty and bursting with joy. As the midwife retires to the kitchen, Pero lays down next to you, cradling the baby in your arms.

“My son,” he whispers, his voice thick. “We have a son, my love.”

“We do.”

“I will always take care of him, and of you, this I promise you.”

“You already do, my love,” you smile, and Pero kisses first your forehead, then the baby’s.

[flightlessangelwings]

Watch Over You

Pero Tovar x fem!reader (no use of y/n) Word count- 5.3k Dialogue prompt- “ i can look after myself, you know. but... i do appreciate you stepping in back there. you saved my life. “ Action prompt- [ INCAPACITATE ]: sender, seeing the receiver in immediate danger, intervenes by knocking out their assailant before they can harm the receiver. Warnings- smut (18+ only!), fingering, unprotected sex, needing a kiss to hide from bad guys, mutual pining, protective!Tovar, bodyguard, minor violence, minor character deaths, reader is a royal/high rank but her status is only vaguely described and left open for interpretation, reader’s country of origin is also never mentioned so it can be read however you choose, reader has no physical descriptions and is only described as wearing “fancy clothing” so it’s open to interpretation Notes- Month 2 of my Year of Protectiveness! Thank you @yearofcreation2023​ for this event I’m having so much fun with it!! I also used an ask that @misspearly1​ sent me as inspiration for this fic as well! Enjoy!

To stay up to date on when I post, also follow my update blog and turn on post notifications @flightlessangelwings-updates​

~

You sat in your little carriage as the horses pulled it along the windy and bumpy road. You were a long way from home, but you had a duty to fulfill. So you accepted a marriage to the lord of a distant land in hope of fostering peace and trade between your kingdoms. Everything around you felt different, yet it still felt the same as you watched the world from the safety of your carriage. But there was a sight that brought you more comfort than any other.

Joining you for the last leg of your journey was a mercenary you only knew as Tovar. He was rough and fierce, yet there was something about him that you couldn’t tear you eyes away from. Especially watching his profile as he rode his horse next to your carriage, you became familiar with the outline of his face and his strong beautiful nose.

If only his attitude matched how beautiful his face was.

He was tough with you as he was with the other guards. He never let you wander too far or speak to anyone not in your caravan. And when you did stop to rest, he didn’t let you stay out of the carriage for long. Not to mention he called you the most infuriating nickname.

“Let’s get moving, princesa,” Tovar grumbled as he ushered you back to your carriage.

“Don’t call me that,” you snapped back.

Your guard rolled his eyes before he looked around to make sure no threats were nearby. Secretly, the fire you held within you intrigued him. And you were the most beautiful person he had ever guarded. But this was a job, nothing more. With one final scan of the area, your caravan pushed on, and the two of you kept all your true feelings hidden and unspoken.

*

The sun lowered in the distance and became blocked as your caravan made its way around the winding path in the mountains. From your carriage, you watched out the window, taking in the majestic sights of the land, but something else constantly caught your eye. Tovar, the handsome, yet stubborn and grumpy guard was never far from you. And while the two of you bickered constantly, you couldn’t help but feel a rush of heat through your body when his gaze caught yours.

There were even nights that your hand slipped between your legs as you imagined it was his. You bit your lip as you kept your fantasies to yourself and you prayed he never heard you as he kept watch only a few feet away from you. A soft moan escaped your lips as you watched him atop his horse, his swords secured to his hip and his eyes sharp as he kept his guard up. You felt safe with him around, and you couldn’t quite explain exactly why.

But his service was about to be put to the test.

Out of nowhere, a scream echoed in the forest of the mountains and the horses were suddenly spooked. The men scrambled to calm the animals, but before they could, an explosion of dust blocked out the fading sun completely.

Tovar yelled your name as he jumped from his horse and ran towards your carriage, but before he got there, it tipped over after the horses bolted and the wheel hit a rock. You screamed from inside as you grabbed onto the side to keep yourself more steady as it fell sideways. All the air was forced out of your lungs as you hit the opposite wall on your shoulder.

Outside, you heard shouts and the clangs of swords and you knew that you were under attack. With a gasp, you pushed yourself up no matter how much your shoulder screamed at you. Ignoring the pain, you forced the broken door open with a few strong shoves and climbed out before you stumbled onto the ground. And the sight that you met made your blood run cold.

Dozens of men wearing uniforms you had never seen before attacked your guards and other members of your caravan. Fear pulsed through you as you stood frozen for several moments. And then your eyes landed on Tovar. He fought more fiercely than any of the others, and you watched him as he gritted his teeth and swung his sword with precision. The way his large hands gripped the base made you forget your fear for a moment… until someone yelled and ran towards you.

The man’s roar caught Tovar’s attention too, and he looked in your direction as he shouted your name. His own fear overtook him for a moment as he saw you in danger. 

Thinking quickly, you grabbed a sword of one of the fallen guards and held it up just in time to block your attacker. Sword clanged as you grunted and held your ground as your attacker charged at you again and again, but again and again you blocked and perried his attacks. After a few bouts, you were able to dodge his swing before you used your sword and knocked him to the ground unconscious. 

“Hmmf,” Tovar huffed as he flashed a smile. 

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t impressed, and watching you hold your own sent a pulse of warmth through his veins. But now was not the time to dwell on that, and he quickly snapped back into focus as another man rushed at him with his sword drawn.

You joined the fight as you all sparred against the attackers. Tovar kept you in the corner of his vision while he tried to make his way towards you. While he pretended not to care, he had grown fond of you while traveling through the woods together and your safety suddenly became his top priority. 

Once by one, the attackers slowly fell, along with many of your guards. Tovar didn’t care about the others though, just you. And once the opportunity presented itself, he ran towards you to be at your side. You didn’t notice as you were too focused on the assailant in front of you but another man snuck up behind you.

Tovar grunted as he hoped he reached you in time.

With one final thrust of your sword, you knocked down the man who gave you extra trouble. You exhaled heavily in relief as you took a moment to breathe, and you cracked a smile as you were proud of yourself for defending yourself. But, your relief didn’t last long and a rustle of movement behind you caused you to gasp.

But before the man’s bland hit you, another sword blocked its path and you heard a familiar voice at your side.

“Attacking from behind is the coward’s way, hermano,” he growled as he stepped in front of you, blocking you from the attacker’s path, “But I suppose it doesn’t matter anymore,” Tovar sliced his sword and easily took down the man. When he hit the ground dead, Tovar turned back to you and grabbed your arm, “Are you alright?”

“Fine,” you replied back, sounding bewildered.

Before he could say anything more, another explosion of dust hit the group. Tovar acted before thinking and grabbed you and hurled you both down the side of the cliff. He kept his arms around you to keep you close and safe as the two of you tumbled down the mountain for what felt like hours. 

Both of you grunted in pain as you took turns hitting the ground as you fell down the side of the mountain. The entire time, though, Tovar never let go of you, keeping you close to his body so you wouldn’t get separated. After hitting one final large rock, the two of you landed hard on the ground in a clear landing, Tovar on top of you.

“Ow,” you groaned as you blinked your eyes open. But you gasped softly when all you saw was the chest of your guard, and you suddenly realized how tightly he held you… and that he was on top of you. The pain you felt seemed to vanish as other thoughts flooded your mind.

“Shit,” Tovar grumbled as he pushed himself off of you, “Are you hurt, princesa?” he asked.

“Please don’t call me that,” you snipped back as you sat up and cradled your own body, “I think I’m ok though,” you paused as you looked into his eyes and noticed for the first time how soft they actually were, “Are you ok?”

Your question seemed to catch him off guard and his facade broke for a moment as his eyes widened, “Fine,” his tone matched yours as he slowly stood, “We need to get inside somewhere,” he extended a hand to you to help you up, “If we are where I believe we are, there is a village just down that way. We will find lodging for the night and get you back in the morning,” he explained his plan as he helped you up.

But even once you were on your feet, he didn’t let go of you right away, and it wasn’t until you gave his hand a squeeze that he realized and quickly jerked his hand away from you, “You will be on your way to your lord in no time, princesa.”

This time you chose not to comment on the nickname that annoyed you so, “You think I want to go back?” you asked.

Once again, your question caught Tovar off guard, “Why would you not?” he huffed, “How can you turn away from your life of luxury?”

Too filled with adrenaline from the fight, you couldn’t control your emotions as you burst out, “You think I want to go back to them?” your loud tone made Tovar blink, “I’m just a pawn in this whole thing. My father sent me to marry the lord of… I don’t even know where I am. The agreement was made to unite our lands and foster peace, but I don’t think that is their real agenda. I think they want to take our land for themselves. That’s how they always are. My father just wants to hope for the best though, so I did my duty to make him proud.”

Tovar stayed silent.

“Even a fancy cage is still a cage, Tovar,” you added in a softer tone.

He couldn’t deny that you weren’t wrong, yet it was still hard for him to imagine turning down a life of luxury after living the life of a penniless mercenary for so long. And there was something in your eyes that he just couldn’t refuse. You were unlike any of the other’s he had been hired to protect in the past. Something about you drew him in, even when you didn’t see eye to eye. But, this discussion would have to wait; protecting you was still his job after all, and the longer you stayed out in the open, the more vulnerable you became. 

Before he spoke, Tovar shrugged his clock off and draped it over your shoulders. When you tried to protest, he shushed you, “Your fancy garnets will stand out here,” he murmured, “Keep this on. We need to stay discreet.”

“Ok,” you whispered as you adjusted the clock and threw the hood up over your head, “Thanks,” you mumbled.

“Come on,” Tovar nodded towards the town, “We’ll find an inn and get off the streets for the night.”

“Right behind you.”

Tovar’s broad shoulders stayed in your view as you followed him through the town. You had never been in a place like this before, and it fascinated you. Every scene was a wonder to you, and you loved just seeing people go about their business. The inn he found was small and quaint and he guided you to a table in the far end of the open space while he went to the innkeeper to find a room. In the meantime, you got yourself two bowls of… whatever it was, for you and Tovar.

You cradled the bowl in front of you as Tovar came back next to you, his legs straddling the bench so he could face you. When you looked up, his face was so close to yours and it made the breath catch in your throat for a moment. You felt the heat from him, and you wondered if he felt your own heat radiate from your body as your nerves flared. 

“We have a room for the night,” he said plainly.

“And then what?” you asked in a hushed tone.

Tovar’s eyes narrowed, and you could tell he had something he wanted to say. Before he had the chance to, however, the front door burst open and three men wearing the same uniforms as the group who attacked you walked in.

“Shit,” he spat under his breath. When you tried to turn to face them, Tovar grabbed your face and forced you to look at him, “Do not look, they will recognise your face.”

“Shit,” you whispered as you looked into his eyes with a look of panic, “What do we do?” 

Tovar looked deep into your eyes and his chest tightened. He wasn’t used to seeing you scared like this, and he did not like it. Looking around, he knew that fighting was not a wise option in the inn. The smarter move was to stay hidden, but it would look too suspicious if both of you got up and scurred off. As your lips parted and you let out a shaky breath, he got an idea.

“Do not slap me,” he warned in a low tone as he grabbed the hood and pulled you even closer to him.

Before you could react, Tovar crashed his lips to yours, his large hand splayed out across your face to cover as much of it as he could as he pulled your body against his. Your moan was muffled by his lips as you clung to his sleeve. But what surprised him the most was that you parted your lips for him almost immediately to deepen the kiss. And God you tasted incredible.

Tovar got lost in your kiss for a moment as he groaned against your face. His hand tightened on you as he laid the other on your hip and held you close. He tilted his head to allow your tongue to pass by his lips as a rush of warmth shot through his body and went straight to his cock. For a moment, he was so lost in you that he almost forgot about the guards that lurked just feet away. 

“Disgusting,” one of them commented when he caught you and Tovar in your fit of passion, “There’s rooms upstairs. No one wants to see that.”

Tovar growled as he subtly pulled your hood up just a little more to hide your face. He wanted to lash out at the men, but protecting you was more important. His eyes fluttered open for a moment to make sure they didn’t come any closer, but he quickly closed them again to not look suspicious.

It was a few long moments before they mumbled amongst themselves and left out the door. Tovar lingered for a bit longer than he had to before he broke away from the kiss. His hand stayed on the side of your face, tenderly cupping you as you blinked your eyes open and looked at him with a bewildered expression. 

“Tovar…” you breathed as you tightened your grip on him and looked as if you were disappointed that the moment passed. But, you collected yourself and glanced over your shoulder, “Are they gone?”

He nodded, “For now,” his voice was low, “We should get into our room before they come back again.”

“Ok,” your voice was hushed that you barely even heard yourself, but you knew he heard you. There was something about being in his arms that made you feel unlike anyone ever had before. The rough edges of his features softened when he looked at you, and it made your heart skip a beat. And you felt safe in his arms, as if the whole world could be after you but as long as you had him, you knew everything would be alright.

The room that greeted you was not what you had expected. Not because it was small and bare, but because it only had one bed. Your body instantly heated up as you thought about the possibilities and what the night could bring, and how things could change between you and your trusted guard forever. But, a grumble from Tovar quickly brought those dreams down.

“Fuck,” he muttered, “I will take the floor.”

“Oh…”

He looked at you; you actually sounded disappointed. And he had no idea what to make of that. Tovar felt an undeniable attraction to you, especially after seeing you fight on your own and showing your strength. But you were… and he was… No. It could never work. It was his job to keep you safe, to deliver you to the lord and then never see you again.

“You can slap me now,” Tovar said, “For… Before…”

The two of you stood together in an awkward silence for several long moments. You fiddled with your fingers as he stood still, his eyes scanning you up and down. Neither of you knew what to say next. Tovar anticipated your slap, and he knew it would hurt, but the longer the time went on, the more he realized you weren’t going to. Instead, your next words caught him off guard. 

“Thank you,” you broke the silence in a meek voice, “I can look after myself, you know. But…” you took in a deep breath as you felt nervous, “I do appreciate you stepping in back there. You saved my life.”

He flashed a smirk at you, a gesture you knew was rare for him, “It was my duty princesa.”

You winced, “Please don’t call me that,” your voice was softer than times you said that to him before as you pleaded with him. 

“What do you want me to call you then?” Tovar stroked the side of your face.

“Maybe my name?” you trembled as the rough pads of his fingers brushed against your skin.

Tovar was silent for a moment before the next sound left his lips, and hearing him say your name for the first time made you gasp softly. But what he did next surprised you even more, “Since we are sharing first names…” he leaned in and whispered something in your ear before he pulled back and looked into your eyes once more.

“Pero…” you repeated what he whispered to you.

And that broke the dam. 

Pero yanked you closer and crashed his lips against yours in a heated and desperate kiss. He swallowed the moan you let out as he felt you cling to him, and he groaned when you hooked one of your legs around his to bring him even closer. Heat rose in the room as you both devoured the other, hands roaming all over the other’s body.

He tugged at your fancy clothes as he guided you back toward the single bed in the room, and his cock stiffened when you let him without hesitation. You tasted so good, and you felt so warm and soft under his touch that Pero couldn’t help but want more. He wanted to feel more of you, of your bare skin. He wanted to taste you wherever you would let him. He wanted to see what you looked like lost in pure bliss…

You moaned softly when he expertly unlaced your garments, and you felt a pulse through your body at the thought that this wasn’t his first time undressing someone who wore fancy clothes. But, that didn’t matter to you. No matter what the other had been through until now was irrelevant. All that mattered was you were here now, together.

Too needy to wait, you broke away from the kiss and with a deep breath, you helped Pero with the final layers of your outfit. You stayed steady as he yanked it off of you in one swift motion, and you felt hot under his gaze when he looked at your naked body for the first time. Nerves suddenly ran through you as he whispered a soft curse in Spanish before his hands were on you once more.

“Fuck you are beautiful,” he murmured softly before he pushed you back onto the bed and quickly stripped himself of his own clothing.

You felt yourself get wet as you saw more of his skin than you ever had before. Scars littered his body, but they only made him more beautiful to you. An involuntary moan escaped your lips as he bared himself to you in a way you were sure he didn’t do often. The vulnerability of shedding his armor and his weapons didn’t go unnoticed by you, and you hoped he knew that you trusted him just as much.

“Come here, Pero,” you whispered as you reached for him.

He exhaled deeply as he climbed on top of you without hesitation, silently accepting your invitation. He hissed through a clenched jaw when his already hardening cock rubbed against your body, and he felt you tense beneath him. The jolt pulsed through both your bodies, and it connected the two of you before he even touched you.

“I will take care of you, querida,” he murmured as he cupped the side of your face, “Do not be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid,” your voice was soft but he felt the strength and sureness in your words, “Please, Pero…”

You bucked your hips against his, and both of you groaned as your pussy rubbed against his cock. He growled as his hand ran down the side of your face and wrapped around your neck for a moment. Your eyes fluttered shut as the moan you let out made his cock twitch between your bodies. Pero didn’t squeeze your neck, but just rested his hand there for several moments as he rocked his hips against yours. 

“Que hermosa…” Pero murmured as he released your neck and grazed the skin of your chest until he reached your breast.

The moan you let out echoed in the room as Pero’s rough hand squeezed your soft breast, and when he pinched your nipple you cried out even louder. “Fuck… Pero…”

He growled as the need overwhelmed him. Part of Pero wanted to take his time and savor you, but when you sounded this tempting and looked this sensual underneath him, he knew that wouldn’t happen. With one last squeeze, he let your breast go and trailed his hand down your stomach to your cunt.

Pero cupped your pussy for a moment, his palm rubbing at your clit, before he slowly pushed a finger inside you. He groaned as you cried out in pure bliss. You clawed at his arms and dug your nails into the skin of his biceps, but Pero didn’t care. In fact, it added kindle to the fire that burned between you and spurred him on more.

He pumped his finger a few times before he added a second, groaning your name as your tight wetness consumed him already. You whined as you felt stretched by Pero’s thick fingers, but your mind swam in the pleasure they brought you. And when he hooked them and hit that spot inside you perfectly, you screamed his name.

“Pero…” you moaned as you felt like your body could burst at any moment. Never before had you felt anything like this, and you knew no one else would ever compare.

As much as he wanted to pull away and wait until he fucked you to let you cum, Pero found he couldn’t stop. He sped up his thrusts, and aimed at that sweet spot inside you over and over again until you completely fell apart. With a loud moan, you came hard on his fingers, thoroughly soaking them as he buried them inside you as far as he could.

You clung to his strong arms as you floated in your pleasure until you felt completely spent. With a heavy sigh you collapsed flat, letting go of Pero as you went limp on the bed. His cock strained with desire as he watched the show you put on for him, and when he saw you go limp, he carefully pulled his fingers out of you. Pero leaned forward and kissed his way up your body until he took your lips with his own in a deep and passionate kiss.

“I know you can give me more, querida,” he groaned in your ear, “As beautiful as that was…” Pero bucked his hips against yours so you could feel how hard he was.

“Y-yes,” you breathed as you kissed him again, “Please Pero… I need you inside me…”

The fire blazed behind his eyes as he growled and lined himself up without missing a beat. As he pushed the tip at your entrance, Pero felt the evidence of your first climax, and something overtook his mind. He grunted and murmured your name as he thrust himself inside you in one swift motion, perhaps a little too rough for you but in the moment neither of you cared.

You let out a loud scream as you felt stretched and filled beyond anything before. The burn quickly gave way to a pleasure unlike anything you ever felt before, and you immediately wrapped your arms around Pero’s broad shoulders and pulled him against your body.

He took that as all the confirmation he needed to keep going, and Pero thrust in and out of you in a fast and harsh pace. It was rough, it was needy, it was desperate, and it was everything you both craved. As he covered your body with his own, Pero whispered soft praise in your ear, contrasting with the harsh way he fucked you.

“Yes… Pero… Please… More…”

Pero growled your name as he grabbed your hips and snapped his own against your body over and over again. The passions between you could have burned the inn down, but neither of you cared. In fact, neither of you even remembered where you were at the moment as he thrust into you with his fast and harsh pace. 

Your breasts swung with every snap of his hips, and Pero found himself mesmerized by you. The way you writhed in pleasure beneath him, the way your mouth hung open and allowed the sounds to spill freely, the way you gave yourself to him… it was almost too much…

“Fuck, querida,” he groaned, “I’m going to…”

“Me too…” you whispered before you added in a lower tone, “Inside.”

“Ay fuck,” Pero grunted before he lost all control.

He thrust into you with everything he had as his climax quickly overtook him. With a low groan of your name, Pero came hard, spilling himself inside of you, and when you squeezed your inner muscles around him, he knew you were just behind him. It only took a few more thrusts for you to join him, and your second orgasm hit you with a loud scream as you clung to Pero’s body and dug your nails into his back so hard he bled.

When he had no more to give and both your climaxes were ridden out, Pero collapsed down on top of you, his cock still buried deep inside you. His weight was a welcome warmth and you immediately wrapped your arms and legs around him to keep him close. Heavy breaths filled the room as you both came down from your highs. 

“Do you need me to move, querida?” Pero asked in a hushed tone.

“No,” you pleaded, “Stay…”

He let out a single huff of a laugh, “Whatever you want, prin… querida.” 

*

The sun hit your face as you blinked your eyes open. You groaned as your body had never felt more sore, yet it was a welcome soreness. Before you even focused your eyes, a smile lit up your face and you reached out for Pero. But, when you felt nothing, you shot up with a gasp. The bed was empty, and he wasn’t in the room at all. You grabbed the sheets and pulled them up to cover yourself as your mind ran.

But before you were awake for long, the door creaked open and you braced yourself, “Pero?” you asked in a whisper.

The scowl on the mercenary’s face melted away when he noticed you were awake, “I am sorry querida,” his tone softened as he locked the door behind him and made his way to sit next to you, “I thought I would be back before you awoke.”

“It’s alright,” you traced a random pattern on his arm with your finger as you noticed that he only left in his tunic and pants. You sighed contently as you felt his muscles underneath the fabric as you scanned over his figure until you noticed what he held in his hands, “What’s this?”

“This,” Pero stood and showed you what he held, “Is your choice,” he leaned over and placed it on the bed next to you before grabbing your discarded fancy garnet from the floor and placing it next to it.

It was a dress. Nothing extravagant, just a simple peasant dress. It looked to be in just your size too. Pero watched as you looked over both outfits before you met his gaze.

“Whatever we do now is up to you,” he told you, “If you want to go back and marry the lord, I will take you there safely. If you want to go back home… Or stay here and disappear,” Pero fought to keep his voice level, “I will protect you,” he looked as if he wanted to say something else, but he only said, “I will go outside while you dress and get us something to eat.”

Before you could say anything, he was out the door again, leaving you alone with your thoughts and the choices in front of you. Pero had come a long way from the grumpy guard with the sour face that you had first met. Something about him changed, and it made your heart flutter. And he was the first person to give you a choice, something you did not take for granted.

You bit your lip as your heart fluttered in your chest. You stood and grabbed your choice and dressed yourself. Whatever lay next, you knew you would get through it because you had Pero Tovar on your side. You knew what no matter your choice, you were safe with him. And you were sure you made the right choice. 

With a deep breath, you reached for the door and pulled it open, ready to take the next step in your life… with Pero Tovar at your side. 

*

Tovar turned and for the second time that morning, the fierceness melted away into something more tender. He looked you up and down as he whispered your name, “So, you have made your choice.”

You bit your lip and nodded as you ran your hands along the scratchy fabric of the pain dress he got for you, “I have,” you breathed.

He closed the gap between your bodies and rested his hands on your shoulders, “I promise I will keep you safe, querida,” his voice was sure, “But, if you are to do this, you will need a new name… I am sure the attackers believe you are dead, and I would like to keep it that way.”

You smirked, “How about Tovar?” you gave him a mischievous smile.

Pero’s eyes narrowed, “Careful querida,” he warned, but his tone held no malice, “One day at a time.”

“One day at a time,” you echoed before you took a deep breath. “I’m ready.” 

[psychedelic-ink]

𝑨𝑭𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑮𝑳𝑶𝑾

pairing: chef!pero tovar x f!reader

genre: smut, fluff, romance, modern au, strangers to lovers

word count: 3.4k

summary: thanks to a reservation mishap, and an unexpected breakup via text, you find yourself sharing valentines dinner with a charming stranger.

warnings: oral (receiving), hint of dirty talk, piv

a/n: I was @lowlights secret valentine for the exchange we did in the dave server 💘 happy valentines, laura! I hope you have an amazing one, and I hope you enjoy this fic. It was super fun to write (and honestly a much-needed break from writing joel 24/7 lmaodfvdf) so thank you for that! 💘💘💘

The restaurant is flooded with people. The poor staff runs left and right, most of them carrying trays of food and the remaining others taking orders. It smells fantastic inside. You identify a hint of citrus in the air. The chatter is loud, but you can’t focus on any of it. Your bottom lip trembles, eyes glued to the phone screen in front of you. 

Sorry, I think we should see other people. This isn’t working out and I’m pretty sure you already knew this. 

Obviously, you didn’t have a clue he was feeling like this. If you had, you wouldn’t bother with making reservations two months prior. Your fingers hover over the keyboard, how on earth can you even reply to this? Who the hell would dump someone over text on Valentine’s Day. Not that you attach a lot of sentiment to the day, but still, it’s quite a dickish move no matter if you care for the day or not. He could’ve waited another day—He could’ve at least had dinner with you, knowing that you’ve put a lot of effort into planning it all. 

Frowning, you place the phone face-first over the ridiculously soft tablecloth. He was right. You should have seen it. You weren’t happy, you were just comfortable. 

“Excuse me ma’am?” 

Blinking, you look up to the waiter. He genuinely seems upset to have pulled you away from your train of thought, but honestly, you were grateful. When you smile, he mimics your expression, seemingly more relieved. 

“Will your date be arriving soon?” 

Ah, now that’s a question. 

“Uh…well,” you lower your gaze back to you phone, an awkward smile touching your lips. “He just broke up with me so…no?” 

“Oh, I’m very sorry to hear that Ma’am,” you’re not a fan of how robotic he sounds, like he’s used to it, but you swallow and wait for him to continue. “Do you want to proceed with the menu?” 

“Yeah, I mean I might as well. I made the reservations.” 

“Delightful—” he stills for a brief moment, clearly contemplating his next words. You raise an eyebrow. 

“Is something wrong?” 

“We’ve seemed to make a mistake when taking your reservation ma’am.” 

“Meaning?” 

“We accidentally reserved this table for another patron as well.” 

Isn’t that just delightful. Truly, this is just your luck, first get dumped and now you’re probably going to be asked to leave. De-fucking-lightful. 

“I guess you’re going to ask me to leave then,” you mutter, already reaching for your jacket. The waiter halts you by raising both hands, such a strained and calculated movement. 

“Ma’am, you have misunderstood. The other reservation has been made for one person only, I simply wanted to ask if it would be okay if he could be seated with you. I apologize for the inconvenience, we will be sure to bring complementaries for the both of you.” 

“Oh,” you slowly lower your hand, still a bit in shock. Swiping your tongue over your bottom lip, you nod. “Of course. And it’s alright, better than being by alone.” 

“Thank you, ma’am. I will be bringing him in shortly.” 

The waiter, true to his word, comes back only minutes later. 

The first thing you notice about the man meant to be your dinner partner for the evening is how broad he is. 

He looks down at you with a hint of amusement, dark brown eyes lingering over the empty chair sitting across from you. You swallow down your embarrassment. He’s wearing a white cotton pleat-front shirt, a dark forest-green velvet suit, a black bowtie, and a white pocket handkerchief for a pop of color. You notice a rather expensive-looking watch on his wrist. 

The waiter introduces the stranger, “This is Mr. Tovar. Once again I truly apologize on behalf of the establishment. We hope you enjoy your evening.” he says and disappears into the chaos. 

Mr. Tovar smiles, leaning forward, he offers you his hand. “You can call me Pero,” he says, a soft accent you can’t quite place in his voice. Your cheeks start to burn. “And you are?” 

Stumbling over your words, you manage to introduce yourself. He nods and takes his seat across from you, the waiters bring out the appetizers. It was a pre-planned Valentine’s menu. Looking down you notice the colorful and elegant platter, featuring thin, rosy-pink slices of beef arranged on a bed of dark green arugula and scattered with golden shavings of parmesan cheese. 

“Wow this looks amazing,” you mutter, and he agrees, picking up his fork. Not waiting for this to be a silent supper, you clear your throat before speaking. “So…Mr. Tovar—” 

“Pero is fine.” 

“Pero,” you repeat, enjoying the way the name feels on your tongue. “What brings you here alone? You got dumped too?” 

“I just enjoy food,” he stuffs a slice of beef between his lips, he’s surprisingly un-elegant despite the way he looks. However, the way he eats makes you forget where you are. It’s a big bite, that’s for sure. “Today was the only empty reservation they had. So it was either today or…five months later. I did not want to take the chance.” he swallows. “But it seems they didn’t actually have the reservation.”

“Yeah, I guess things get pretty intense on Valentine's.”  

He shrugs, another slice disappearing between his lips, “It is okay. It all worked out in the end.” 

“You don’t mind sharing a table with a stranger?” you smile, your tone light. “I bet you imagined this night differently.” 

“Very,” he grins then shakes his head. “But that does not mean this is necessarily bad. I can imagine worse people to eat with, compared to that this is nice actually.” when you stare at him, slightly mesmerized, he adds. “Can I ask what brought you here?” 

“Dumbassery,” a bitter chuckle drops from your lips, he looks up at you between dark lashes. “Sorry, basically I was supposed to be here with my boyfriend but well…he sent me a text that he wants to see other people about—” you check your watch. “A half hour ago.” 

“Ah, I am sorry to hear that,” he cleans the remainder of his plate and so do you. “However, you do not seem that bothered by it.” 

“I guess I wasn’t that into it, to begin with,” you mutter, feeling a pang of guilt in your chest. He must’ve sensed it because before you can say anything, Pero starts to apologize. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it in a bad way. For what it’s worth I’m happy that I ended up at your table,” 

“I guess this is what they call a silver lining,” the waiter scoops up your plates, and another one fills your glasses with Merlot to pair with the red meat entrées. “Anyway enough about me, what do you do? Who is Pero Tovar?” 

“Depends on who you ask, hermosa,” he quips. You can’t help the laughter that bubbles in your chest, his smile widens upon hearing the sound. “I am a chef.” 

“A chef? I guess that explains why you like food so much.” 

He nods, “It had been a childhood dream of mine. We didn’t have much…food, and mi mamá could make wonders out of very little. That inspired me heavily. And well, here I am now.” 

You’re speechless and he takes notice of it but says nothing. Swallowing, you muster a response. 

“That’s amazing, I’m sure she’s proud of you.” 

“She is,” he grins. “What about you? What do you do?” 

You’re about to answer when the waiter suddenly comes to place the entrees in front of you both; a perfectly cooked steak, set on a bed of crisp, green roasted herb butter, with a spoonful of dark red wine reduction drizzled over it. A basket of fresh bread and butter is also placed on the table. The butter is on top of small plates, made into a shape of a pyramid but honestly… they look like butter nipples and you fight the urge to giggle. 

“What is it?” he chuckles, brows pinched together. “Did I spill some wine on my shirt?” 

He makes a show of looking down and you laugh. You shake your head. “You’re good don’t worry. I was just…well the butter,” 

“Ah yes, the butter nipples—” 

You’re mid swallowing your wine when he says it, you nearly choke, your lungs burning from attempting to swallow and cough. He shoots you a worried look, cheeks dusted with a light shade of pink. 

“Sorry…was that not…what you were thinking?”

“No no, it was,” you suck in a breath and shakily palace the wine glass back. “That was exactly what I was thinking actually, that’s why I was surprised.” 

“I mean, it is quite obvious what it looks like, no?” he cuts into his steak. “I honestly would’ve taken the rest of your words with a grain of salt if you said it did not look like it.” 

“Oh, so it was a test?” you tease, grinning from ear to ear. 

“Not really, but if it was, you passed with flying colors.” 

“I’ve always been a grade-A student.” 

After the incident of you nearly choking to death over butter nipples, the two of you eased into the conversation. Pero is ridiculously easy to talk to. Despite what you had initially thought of him, he isn’t intimidating at all. He orders the two of you a second bottle, talking about his experiences as a chef. He prides himself in still enjoying the art of cooking, whereas, apparently, most chefs have lost that spark—which in return mirrored within the dishes they prepared. 

There is a lot of under-the-table touching, your knee constantly brushes against his. Honestly, you’re not sure if you’re doing it on purpose or not, you want to believe he’s the one initiating the secret touches. 

“Did you meet Gordon Ramsay?” you dumbly ask, the wine hitting your tongue. “I used to watch his shows religiously.” 

“I have…” he swirls the wine in his mouth, both of your plates are licked clean. “We got along…for the most part.” 

“There’s a story there, tell me.” you coo, pressing both your elbows against the table. Suddenly he feels physically closer, but you know he isn’t, at least you think he isn’t. 

“Maybe another time.” 

“There’s going to be another time?” 

Your question hangs in the air. You feel nervous, you had hoped to sound flirty, but honestly, you have no idea what you’re doing. Your eyes follow as his hand comes near, it hovers above yours for a brief moment. He lets out a sigh, and allows his hand to fall, it looks much bigger than yours, you hold your breath. 

“I would like for there to be another time,” he mutters, averting his gaze but still keeping his hand in place. “If you want to.” 

“I would very much so, yes.” 

Your cheeks ache from smiling. Looking down, you notice that the waiter had already placed an elegant-looking dessert in front of you both. A visually stunning dessert, with a bright red cheesecake layer atop a crumbly cookie crust, topped with a colorful mixture of fresh berries in a glossy compote. Pero takes a forkful into his mouth, groaning at the taste. 

A violent heat instantly flares between your legs. Mouth and lips feeling dry, you stick your tongue out to wet them. His eyes follow your tongue, his cheek moving animatedly as he chews. 

“Is everything alright?” 

“Yeah, definitely,” you look down and pick up your fork, you push a berry off of the cake. “You look good when you eat.” 

“Really?” 

You look up again, noticing that he genuinely looks surprised. You slowly nod, holding his gaze. He brings the fork to his lips, making a show of opening his mouth and closing his lips around the desert. He chews steadily and nods. 

He says nothing else, the conversation topic shifts. All you can think about how warm it is. 

Despite your protests, Pero pays the bill, saying that you’ll be paying next time. 

It all happens in a blur. The door closes shut, the sound of it nothing but an echo to your ears. He presses you up against the wall, lips on your neck, licking the salt from your skin with the flat of his tongue. With a whimper, you press your hips into him, feeling the hardness underneath. 

You had simply invited him upstairs for a cup of coffee. Who knew elevators could be such an aphrodisiac? 

“Is this okay?” he asks between soft bites, the tremble of his voice seeping into your skin. “Is this what you want?” 

“Yes to both of those—” 

He lifts his head away from your neck, strong arms caging you in. His breath ghosts over your skin and you breathe in, being under his gaze feels like melting under the sun. 

“Kiss me.” 

And he does. Over and over again. He can’t get enough of you and he conveys that with his lips. His tongue slips into your mouth, tasting the bitterness of wine and the sweetness of berries. He sucks the air from your lungs, teeth clattering and his nose pressing into your skin. Heat skims over your very being, settling between your legs. His palms knead the flesh of your hips, pulling you closer, guiding the sloppy roll of your hips. 

When he parts, you can see his lips glistening under the dim light, they’re completely kiss swollen and you fight the urge to suck his bottom lip between your teeth. 

He swallows and your eyes follow the bob of his adam’s apple, “Where is your bedroom, bebita?” 

“This way.” 

You feel the tremble in his chest, he squeezes your hips one more time before he allows you to guide him further into the apartment. Pero doesn’t even glance at the bedroom, he kisses you until you’re falling back first into the soft sheets. His hands cradle your thighs, thumb drawing smooth circles over your pantyhose. Your breath hitches, your mind disarray as his face comes into view. 

“May I?” he asks, sounding as if his mouth is flooded with saliva. 

You chuckle, brushing a lock of soft hair that covers his right eye, “You may.” 

A loud rip follows your answer. The cold air rushes a shudder up your spine, your hips raising without a second thought to seek his heat. The thin fabric falls to the floor in tatters. You yelp when he tugs you further to the edge of the bed, he kneels between your legs, gently raising your hips to reach where his mouth is. 

“You’re still hungry?” you tease. 

“I’m fucking starving.” 

He presses his nose against the seam of your panties, inhaling your scent before mouthing along the soft folds, he teases you with the tip of his tongue, applying pressure when he finds your clit. You gasp, fingers curling into the sheets. You’re sizzling, the heat of his lips adding to the fire. He slowly peels the fabric away, sticky with slick, and he drops it to the floor below your feet. 

Thumb pressing into your clit, he gently pulls to get a better look. You shine for him, wordlessly begging him to continue. 

“Tan hermosa,” he rasps, his breath chilling as it ghosts over your sex. “Have you been thinking about this during dinner?” 

When you don’t answer, he smiles, drawing quick circles around your aching clit. “Filthy girl,” he groans closing his lips around the sensitive bundle of nerves. 

You whimper his name, pushing your trembling fingers into his hair, your drag your nails down the back of his neck. He gradually moves down, tongue nestled between the lips of your cunt while the curve of his nose bumps into your clit, he kisses you tenderly—intimately. It never felt this good before, not that anyone before took the time to learn what made you feel good. Pero moves according to the sound of your voice, the trembling of your thighs, and the drag of your nails. Every little thing he picks up and uses to his advantage. 

It doesn’t take you long after that. You come with a sharp cry, tugging him by the air and pulling his sinful mouth closer. You’re shaking like a leaf, thighs pressed against both sides of his face. Slurps and groans echo from the back of his throat, tongue moving greedily, making sure not a single drop escapes him. 

“So good,” he moans, looking up to you and licking his lips. “I think I am ready for the main course now, cariño.” 

“Oh god,” you sigh, the sheets feeling extra sensitive against your skin as he pushes you up the bed, taking his place between your wet thighs. He strips quickly, you notice. “That was amazing, Pero. God— I’m lost for words,” 

“I’m flattered but also a bit sad that it is such a surprise to you to feel so good,” he answers, a sly smile touching his wet lips. Leaning in, he drags his nose up the column of your neck, inhaling you. “Do you want to feel good on my cock, princesa. Tell me.” 

“I do,” you murmur. “Please,” 

“You sound pretty when you beg.” 

“Please,” you repeat again, raising your hips. “I need to feel you.” 

His cock lays heavy between your legs, he licks the salt off your skin as he rolls his hips, coating himself with slick. Heat pools in the pits of your stomach. You feel the touch of his lips over the swell of your breast, tongue moving around your nipple ravenously before he pushes himself inside. The stretch makes your entire body go stiff. 

“Relax,” he whispers into your skin. “Do you want me to stop?” 

“N-No,” you breathe out as his hands skim the frame of your body, it’s a soothing touch, one that makes you arch and take more of him. “‘Feels good,” 

Pero moves slow, burying himself inch by inch until he sinks into your heat completely. During this, he continues to touch and kiss you. Thick fingers rolling the hardened peaks as his tongue slips into your mouth, swallowing your moans and begs. 

His cock feels heavy and warm inside, you flutter around him, slightly grinding your hips as a silent beg for him to move. He does. Pero drags his cock out, only the head stretching you, and buries himself back in with one hard thrust. Your eyes go wide, your jaw goes slack. It’s like electricity shooting up your spine, every nerve singing with pleasure and very much so alive. 

“More,” you manage to choke out. “More, Pero—Please,” 

Pero dips into the crook of your neck, kissing and nipping at your skin, he thrusts into you with the same enthusiasm, if not more. His strokes are hard, yet slow. He moans openly into your skin, lips caressing the column as a need, a necessity. Arousal and slick pours between your legs, the way he reacts is very similar to a man taking breath after being denied of oxygen. You squeeze around him, your second orgasm already starting to simmer deep in your gut. 

He must’ve felt it because he pounds into you with fervor, one hand skims down your body and grips your thigh, forcing you to spread yourself even wider for him. The slick sounds accompany your moans, every movement deeper than the one before. You see a flash of light under your eyelids, black dots hovering in your line of vision as your entire body convulses and shudders, pleasure scorching your skin like the desert sun. 

Your eyes flutter open in the midst of a lustful haze, you see Pero pulling way from you, the sudden emptiness makes you feel cold. He wraps his fingers around his weeping length, holding your gaze and groaning as he strokes himself until he’s coming in thick ropes, staining your stomach. You moan at the warmth splashing over your skin, your body a trembling mess. 

Pero leans over you, softening cock in hand, he crashes his lips into yours, licking the inside of your mouth eagerly before pulling away. 

“Let me clean you up,” he says, voice barely above a raspy whisper. “Bathroom?” 

“Down the hall first door to your left.” 

You can’t help but watch as he makes his way out of the bedroom, gorgeous ass in its full naked glory. Sighing, you fall back into your pillows. 

Little did you know, being dumped at the last second would turn out to be the most fortuitous twist of fate.

[simpingcowboy]

The Rancher's Kid

Pairing: Pero Tovar x GN!Reader, no use of Y/N, reader is described as short, use of pet names

Word Count: 2.6k+

Warnings: SMUT!! size kink (mostly fixated on height, but Pero does kind of lift up reader), very quick mention of family, passing reference to sex work, reference to oral sex, slightly degrading language, height insecurities, pentrative sex, unprotected sex, creampie, cock warming, bit of aftercare

Summary: A handsome stranger has a personal request for you and offers you an opportunity you cannot pass up.

A/N: Soooo this has kinda maybe been in my WIPs since Kinktober hehehe but it's heRE NOW!!! :) I did include a handy-dandy Kamasutra illustration of the position I was trying to describe at the bottom (drawing is M/F but this fic is inclusive to all! I simply could not find a M/M illustration to include 😭)

You were grabbing some water over at the local pub. Standing in the small corner where the jug of cool water sat for thirsty patrons. "The Rancher's Kid" the town's folk called you. Though it'd been many moons since you were actually a kid, the name stuck. You often were seen running around town to fulfill delivery orders for your family.

As you drink your water in the corner, a disgruntled noise interrupts your peace. You turn around, your eyes meeting the chainmail armor of the large man behind you. Looking up, you see a very handsome, rather bothered looking face. His dark brown eyes looking down straight into yours. A large scar covering over his right eye. The curls atop his head peeking over his brow as he bows his head to look down at you. He's broad, practically filling the small corner up with his width. The armor only enhances his large features, filling up even more space around him.

"Hello?" You offer up conversation meekly, unsure of the nature of his intrusion.

"You are in my way." He speaks in a thick Spanish accent.

"S-sorry" you stutter feeling intimidated. You step off to the side, clutching onto your cup of water.

You watch the stranger closely. He ridgedly approaches the water pitcher and pours himself a cup of water. You squeeze up closely to the wall behind you, finding yourself barricaded in the corner. The stranger's hand lifts the glass up to his lips to drink. You note the way his hand grips the cup with ease. His thick fingers taking up the height of the cup; his thumb and middle finger almost touching around its circumference. Looking back to your own hand you see you've barely been able to reach around the middle of the cup.

The stranger speaks again. "You are the ranchero's kid? Sí?"

"Y-yes I am…"

"What do you sell?" He asks, turning his body towards you.

"Different things, I don't have anything with me now, but I could bring whatever you need to you tomorrow?"

The stranger brings himself closer, his broad chest threatening to push into your face with each breath he takes. His harsh gaze brings itself down across your body, lingering over your form.

He hasn't taken a lover in many moons, the area around your town baren of most life. It was not unusual of him to go stretches of time without sex, the life of a mercenary not always affording him the luxury of someone to warm his bed. But he knew it. As soon as he saw you, he wanted you. You looked like the perfect little toy for him to play with.

"Are you for sale?" He asks coldly with a curious arch of his eyebrow.

"Am…am I for sale?" You repeat his question, certain you must have misheard him.

He answers you with a grunt and a nod.

An embarrassed heat runs across your face. You hastily shake your head no. "No. I'm not for sale." The stranger's gaze on you suddenly feels much heavier than before.

He pouts, and ponders for a moment. Still trapping you in the corner. "Then, what should I do- to convince you to lay with me?"

You swallow around your pride, the weight of which is sitting heavy in your throat. "I'm not sure…why should I lay with you?"

You didn't have many viable prospects realistically. The town was small, with limited availability at any one time. You certainly could not deny your attraction to the stranger, no matter how gruff he may be. With each passing moment, he grew more tempting.

The smallest smirk comes over the stranger's face. "Because little one…" He reaches up, taking your face in his hand. His large hand stretches the length from one temple to your other cheek, consuming your face in his grasp. "I will make you feel better than any man ever has before."

As much as you may like to deny this stranger the satisfaction, you couldn't deny the urge to feel those thick fingers in other places…

He'd returned you to his chamber for the night, a rented out little room off the side of a home. Pero was his name so you learned when he asked you to scream it out for him. You had learned very quickly that he was keen on keeping his promise of pleasuring you. It'd been over an hour of him teasing you with his mouth, licking, kissing, sucking. All the while stretching you out on his fingers. One…then two, and now three of his thick fingers eagerly stretching you out to take him.

"You are doing so well."

Pero greedily takes in the sight of your stretched out hole around his fingers before slowly removing them. He sits back in his haunches, towering over you laid on your back. His face and golden chest glimmering in the warm candle light. Warm brown eyes look up to peer into yours. His sulky expression is much softer than it was before.

"So stretched yet …" Unbreaking his eye contact with you, he steadily unlaces his breeches revealing his cock to you. "Maybe it will not fit." Pero says with the crook on his mouth. A teasing smirk growing on his face. He's big, long, thick. Even in his large hands, he barely fits around himself. Pero leans forward, resting his heavy cock along your hip. "Dimé, do you think your tight little hole can take me?"

You return his smirk, wrapping your thighs around his hips. "Only one way to find out."

He lets out a groan, your warm legs pulling him closer. His cock rubbing against your stomach.

"We will see, Quierde."

Pero pulls back enough to line himself up. He pushes in agonizingly slow. Letting you feel the stretch of his cock filling you up. The heavy weight of him pinning your hips to the bed. Inch after inch after inch he stuffs you full of him. Finally he plants his hips tight against yours. You swear you can feel him in your stomach.

"Bueno…muy bueno." He sighs out, satisfied with the way you've taken all of him.

He leans forward, caging you in under him as he slowly rocks his hips against you. Pero's body fills up your vision, casting his broad shadow over you. Even while lying above you, he still has a height advantage. His head starts where yours ends. You eagerly nip at Pero's neck, being the only thing really within your reach. You lap at the pulsing vein running up the length of it. Your arms stretch around his wide chest, nails scraping over his shoulders.

"More, I can take it." You plead.

Pero moans loudly on top of you. It's like you'd read his mind. He'd felt nervous about hurting you. You were well stretched out for him, but he didn't wanna break you. He was a heavy man,tall and sturdy. If he put his weight behind his thrusts he knew he'd risk hurting you, or knocking your head up against the headboard. But Pero Tovar was a man of great improvisation.

"Hold onto me."

As swiftly as he snuck into your life, he grips your hips and turns you both over. He sits back against the headboard with your legs still wrapped around him. A satisfied moan comes from his lips as he looks down at you sitting on his cock.

"Ride me." Pero asks of you.

You nod, a desire to satisfy him burning through you. Though, try as you might, your legs only barely made it from one side of his hips to the other. Your body didn't permit you the extra room needed to properly take him like this. You whine in frustration, only able to rock against him. He chuckles at your whine, causing his cock to twitch inside you.

"Shh, little one. I see." Pero's hand goes to your thighs, already so spread to accommodate his hips. "Turn around."

You do as he says, hopping off and quickly retaking your position on his lap now facing away from him. A moan coming from both of you as you sink down on him.

"Lean back against me, Girasol."

You recline against his warm chest, tucking your head under his. Reaching back to wrap your arms against his neck for support.

Without warning, Pero grabs your legs out from under you. Pulling your legs up and keeping them spread wide on either side of your body His large hands holding you tight in his grasp. Experimentally, he lifts you up on his cock, moving your whole body. Before slowly lowering you back down on him. Each muscle in his arms and chest was so controlled. Shit- how had you not noticed just how strong he was?

"There you do, Quierde." Pero bites back a growl. "Just like a pretty toy for me. You still want more?"

"P-please Pero. Play with your toy."

"Mierda" he moans loudly.

That sends him over. Any semblance of self control he had was quickly slipping from him. He lifts you again and again. Fucking you harder and faster with each lift of your hips. Enjoying the way your hands cling to his neck and shoulders.

"So good Little One…so small" his nails dig into your hips. "So tight for me."

Pero's head rolls back in pleasure. He knew you'd be so perfect for him. Letting him fulfill a fantasy, getting to use his body to its full advantage to fuck you. Even the slight burn in his arms turned to pleasure as you relinquished any power over to him. Sometimes Pero hates the mirror. His body is evidence of the many difficulties in life he's overcome. The scars, his muscles, even the scowl he wore on his face all evidence of his marred existence. But in this moment? He was so grateful to this body for bringing him to you. And for being strong enough to bring you pleasure like this.

Your moans echo off the cabin walls as you tuck your head into Pero's neck. You didn't always love your short stature. It came in handy sometimes on the farm. Being lower to the ground was convenient for gardening, or for lots of miscellaneous things here or there. Not like any of the animals cared, but other people? It felt hard to not feel a sense of inferiority. So many people towering over you, literally looking down at you. Right now though, you felt so grateful to be shorter. Letting Pero use you in ways that'd be impossible otherwise. Allowing him to fill and stretch you to your brink. You felt so safe in his grasp.

Pero's hips piston up to meet your bouncing form. Delicious groans spill from him with each thrust. A hand comes up between your legs, grabbing your jaw and forcing you to look up at Pero. He growls as he leans down, meeting you in a feverish kiss. He's all tongues and teeth. Brash, but no less passionate.

"Need you to cum." He grunts into your mouth. Teeth nibbling at your bottom lip.

Pero shifts beneath you. The other snakes down and takes you in his hand. Fingers rubbing in circles and short flicks with perfect precision. Making you whine out at the way he works you. With one hand firmly in place, the other arm stretches across your thighs. Pressing them close together and pulling you as tight as he can against him. Each thrust has him slamming you back down on his cock.

"Pero!" You cry out. The tightly wound knot in your stomach threatening to snap. "I'm s-so close." You mumble, barely able to speak over the vigor with which he fills you.

"Cum Girasol!" Pero demands, lips tracing over your face and neck. As much as he longs to kiss you, he needs to hear your cries for him. His fingers work you faster, harder.

You're eager to comply. It's just too perfect. His large form, keeping you safe in his embrace, arms wrapped around you. His warm breath in your neck. Feverish kisses pressing in your skin. The way his beautiful cock stuffs you full with every hard thrust. The feeling of Pero's hair just barely brushing over your finger tips. The sound reverberating off the walls and filling your ears with the sound of delicious sin. His hand working you even closer to orgasm. Pero feels like a dream around you. A dream you happily let yourself give into. The band snaps as you cry out for the mercenary for the final time that night.

"Pero! Pero- fuck!" You moan into the room. Cumning all over his hand and leaking onto his cock. Your body pulsing around where he's still firmly fucking you. Filling you with himself all the way to the root.

"T-too good…dios Quierde. I-I" He cums with a loud cry of your name. His whole body tightening up around you. Thrusting one…two…three more times as he cums, filling your holes with rope after rope of his cum. Finishing by planting you down on his hips, keeping you on his now softening cock. His hips are just barely grinding up into you, enjoying the heat of your body. Pero heaves into your shoulder, breathing heavy from his orgasm. "Mierda…" he murmurs. His arms still wrapped tight around you, hugging you. A trail of soft kisses make their way up your neck. "Such a good toy. So good for me."

You chuckle as Pero tickles you with his moustache. You let your arms fall from behind his head to feel down along his arms. Feeling slightly dazed from the intensity of your orgasm.

Finally catching his breath, Pero asks, "Did I keep my promise, Quierde?"

"Promise?" You murmur.

He smirks, "To please you better than any man ever has before."

"Oh-" you feel your face run hot, "yes…I'd say so."

He huffs, obviously satisfied with himself. "Relax with me." He gives you little choice as he repositions the two of you together. His arms untangle from your thighs, slowly bringing them down to an outstretched position. The mercenary shimmies down off the headboard, lying down on his back and bringing you with. He's careful not to remove himself from inside you. He sighs out and closes his eyes. Strong hands come to your waist, just rubbing up along your sides. Imprinting your figure into Pero's mind. His skilled fingers draw delicate shapes into your skin where he touches you. With each deep breath of his, his stomach presses up into the curve of your back. He's so relaxed, unlike the way he was when you first encountered him.

"Pero?" You whisper, not wanting to interrupt his peace, but uncertain if he's planning on allowing you to stay or kicking you out.

"Hmm?" He groans, rubbing his eyes. "Need to rest-" he yawns "Or else I can't fuck you again."

Your face goes hot at the indication. "A-again?"

"Mhmm…you stay, Quierde." His hands hold onto your hips keeping you in place. A moan catches in his throat as you squeeze around him. "I'll clean you and then," Pero leans in to give you a soft kiss on the cheek. "Make you messy again. Okay?"

You nod quietly against his head. "Okay Pero." You say trying to hide your smile.

"Good, Little One. Now rest." He nuzzles you before planting his head back down on the pillow.

You yawn, a wave of exhaustion rushing over you. You press against Pero's warm body, letting yourself relax against him. Enjoying the gentle ache between your legs, and the light weight of Pero's soft cock inside you. His hands embrace you in a comforting hug. A soft snore coming from the man beneath you. A feeling of warmth encapsulates you as you slowly lull off to sleep. Grateful for your encounter with the mercenary.

Position name, Full Nelson