She felt him wince, and knew that he still hurt, if not physically then a mental scar that had been left behind. In a way, Evras was scared when he admitted he could think of nothing but her. Perhaps this was better? At the very least when they were in the turmoils of argument and deceit, Zanon would not lose his focus and his head when the time was crucial for his survival. For Evras did not think she could live through his death.

But if it was necessary... then why did it hurt?

"Your fear for me... is making you lose me, husband." her voice choked out in reply. Why did he fear her? And why has he not told her in so many years? This explains a little, but was insufficient to erase out so many years he had spent tossing her by the wayside.

She sunk into the kiss like a drowned man coming back for air, her lips exploring his like she needed him more then humans needed oxygen. Tugging gently at the hair curling at the nape of his neck, she shivered when his unshaven beard brushed against her chin, and angled her head so she could direct his lips down her neck, squirming against him.

Why did his hands remain there? She wanted it on her, wanted to be reminded of the heat that burnt itself like a brand on her skin. Because eleven years later, Evras still could not get rid of his effect on her, of how much she ached for her husband, and was denied at every turn. Turning upwards she picked the hand braced against the bed, and brought it to be placed palm on her chests, allowing her naked body to arch against his, her actions obvious.

"What must I do, to make you see that I love you."

His moan made her squirm under him even more, wriggling in ways that brushed every part of her skin against his. And yet, he did not react. Was it her? Did he simply not love her anymore? His touch brought fire to her skin, made her sizzle like he wielded electricity and used it to pick at her pleasure. She ran her fingers down his bare back, ghosting them across his bottom and then bringing them back up to splay her hands on his chest as she returned his kiss with equal ardor.

And yet, he had no response.

Prove it? How could she, when he denied her everything she said, everything she did? It was to a point where he no longer even gave her the time of the day unless they were in the public eye, and... and Evras was tired of being the one doing all the trying. All she did was push, and push over the past eight years, and she had received nothing but insults, shamed as a wife and abandoned as a lover.

Evras tilted her head towards him as he nuzzled her cheek, his breathe tickling the lobe of her ear. "How can I, when you don't believe me,husband?" she choked her words out, moaning again as she shifted under him when he buried his face in the space of her neck, and yet felt nothing, no sort of response from him. A garbled choke escaped from her lips, and unable to bear how Zanon seemed to no longer derive any pleasure, even if she was bared under him, skin against his length and nothing in between, Evras put strength into her two hands splayed on his chest, and pushed him away.

Dragging the sheets to her chest, she turned away from him to hide the tears that had began to form at her eyes again. Never had she felt so unwanted, so undesired by her own husband. To be bare and naked and yet receive no response in return is perhaps the cut that hurts the most, and she drew her legs to her chest, biting her lip to silence the sobs that wanted to escape. "Sl-sleep, husband. You have a guest to tend to, tomorrow." Was that why he did not desire her then? Because their beautiful Taengean guest was infinitely more beautiful then she was? She didn't even want to linger on the thought, for she no longer knew what she wanted, or if she could take the life her husband put her through any longer.