Doing it right

If Dina wanted to do whatever it was she wanted to do right, then Vel thought she was off to a good start. His sister wasted no time getting naked, revealing that toned and ludicrously sexy body of hers, then dropped to her knees at his bedside, gazing up at him with real pleading in her eyes.

“I am so sorry, Vel, and I apologize. I apologize for being wrong about you, for how I treated you, and above all for not seeing your strength.” His gorgeous naked sister took a deep breath, making that massive chest of hers heave hypnotically. “I know I do not deserve it, but I beg you to give me a chance.” Her hands were actually clasped in front of her in supplication now. Vel felt himself growing hard under his nightshirt. The sight of his powerful and deadly oldest sister, who for so long had treated him with scorn and disdain begging and pleading on her knees, was simply beyond hot. “If forgiveness is beyond what is possible, I understand, I really do. And I will accept it. But please, at least give me a chance to earn a place at your side, with our family.”

Vel was actually somewhat stunned. The emotion in her voice was so real and raw, and the pleading in her eyes so naked and ****. Dina was really baring herself to him in every way she could. “Anything, do you mean that?” Dina was not blushing anymore, nor was she fidgeting or looking away. His naked and kneeling sister looked him straight in the eyes and nodded gravely. “I do.” He saw the truth of it in those deep blue eyes every bit as much as in her troubled mind. “What if forgiveness were on the table, but it might take your whole life to earn?” A flash of hope and excitement cut through her mind. “Then I would gladly spend the rest of my life doing my utmost to earn it, even if I never do.”

Vel once again saw the truth of it in her mind. He couldn’t see her thoughts of course, but her emotions didn’t lie. And despite being unable to see them, he thought he had a good idea of at least a partial reason as to why she was so happy to pledge her life to him. Guilt played its part and a desire to rejoin the family of course, but there was something else. Vel was pretty sure that, now that he had proven to be the worthiest man in her eyes, probably the only man worthy to claim her, he was also someone she would be happy to serve for the rest of her life. His oldest sister was a warrior at heart, and she sought someone to fight for. The one she had dedicated her life to until now had proven unworthy, she would do whatever it took to be permitted to serve one worthy of it. At least that was what he thought was going on in that beautiful and thick head of hers.

Dina looked at him in silence with a mingling of despair, hope, and sadness in those gorgeous blue orbs. She hadn’t interrupted his introspection at all, although Vel suspected he must have been thinking in silence for multiple minutes by now. She sat silently on her knees, her naked form on display throughout it all. Vel was impressed. “Will you serve me in any way I see fit, will you do whatever I tell you to in order to please me, granted it doesn’t seriously harm you?” She nodded without hesitation, her hope growing. “I will, of course I will. Even if it does harm me.” Vel of course had no plans of causing her real harm, at least not himself. That was not his way, but it was nice to hear she was that committed. Now, for the biggest ask, the most important one. One he thought was kind of inspired and brilliant, and one in which harm might indeed come to her. “Will you swear yourself to me as my sworn shield and put my safety above all other concerns?”

Dina’s mouth dropped open and tears rolled down her face as she silently started crying. “But, Vel, I, do you want, but… But I don’t deserve that honor, I’m not worthy, I-“ Vel cut her off by gently cupping her cheek and wiping some tears away with his thumb. It was a kind but futile gesture, they kept on rolling down, quickly getting his hand wet. “You are the greatest warrior and best fighter I know, save perhaps myself. I can think of none worthier, and I can think of no better way to prove what you say than by pledging your life to mine and by making my safety your first and foremost duty.” Dina tried and failed to stifle her tears as she put her own hand over the one on her cheek. “If you want me, then of course I will, Vel. I will swear the oath right now if you want me to.” She took a shaky breath, finally stopping the flow of tears. “And thank you, Velas. It is an honor.”

Vel smiled at his sister, genuine warm feelings for her welling up inside him. “I believe we should do the oath in the old and traditional way, with witnesses and all the pomp. For now, your word that you will do it is good enough for me.” She returned his smile, but Vel wasn’t quite done. “And the earlier promise to serve me in any way I see fit, to do whatever I tell you to. Are you still willing to do that as well, even as my sworn shield?” Her eyes grew a bit wider and Vel felt a bit of worry in her. “Of course! Please, never doubt that. I will do anything you say, from now until the day I die!” She was desperately trying to convince him, worried he had started to doubt her word. He didn’t, of course he didn’t at all. Dina spoke again, sounding calmer now. “I know what my place is now, you’ve shown me. It is here, at your feet.” Vel took a breath, he knew what to say next. He knew he wanted to say it, but it was a big deal. Should he mull it over a bit more? No, he had decided, and he was done incessantly second guessing himself, those days were long past.

He slowly pulled his hand back and sat up straight at the edge of his bed. “Very well, in that case, Amordina of House Andros, you are forgiven. I forgive you” Shock and surprise only briefly registered in Dina’s mind as her eyes opened wide. Then, to Vel’s shock and surprise, her eyes narrowed and anger replaced them. “Like hell I am!” She was genuinely angry, it was a much more familiar sight than her contrite self. She was still naked tough, so that dulled the effect a little. “I am not forgiven, not that easily. I will spend the rest of my life earning it whether you ask it of me or not!” Vel shrugged. “What can I say? I will hold you to your promises of course, but I have forgiven you. I cannot change how I feel.” Dina’s next words would be etched into Vel’s memory as one of the most meaningful and impactful things anyone had ever said to him. “You might have forgiven me, but I have not forgiven myself.”