Last time on Blind Hope

"I'm not exactly sure myself, Viv," Hope whispered. "I had supper with his family for the first time, and they started arguing. His father, Basil, hates me. Dorian started yelling at him in my defense, and Basil was yelling," Hope whimpered just thinking about the incident. "William - that's the man who fought me at my coronation - took me outside because it was too much." She paused, thinking carefully about that night. "Red went crazy..." Hope's voice could barely be heard. "I think I killed people." And that's when Dorian made his appearance, desperately needing to see Hope after his conversation ended with John.

"Dorian, Dorian, Dorian," Tammy laughed harshly, and he shivered, wishing he was back with John.

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Hope smiled, smelling Dorian. "Dory," her sweet voice, tender and full of love, stopped Tammy in her tracks, and she looked over at Dorian. He only had eyes for Hope.

"Hello, sweet." He walked over and kissed the top of her forehead. "Sorry to interrupt."

"It's nothing," Tammy interrupted with a frown, waving him off. "Hope, do you remember what you just said?"

"Yes," Hope blinked, as if not understanding what Tammy was asking and turned towards Dorian once more. "Did you need something?" Dorian flushed. Hope. Hope was what he needed. Tammy, taken back by the sudden ugliness of Dorian's scarred face turning red, was momentarily speechless and allowed Dorian to pull Hope to him, whispering something in her ear.

"Do-Dorian," Tammy cleared her throat, and Vivian looked away to keep from laughing. It was rare to see her mother dumbfounded. "Did you cause Hope-"

"Uh, Mom," Vivian interrupted her, taking her hand and looking at her with an expression that clearly said "not now." However, instead of saying that, Vivian said, "Maybe we leave them be for now, yeah? Clearly, it's all made up."

"What's made up?" Dorian paused in his affection and looked over at the two women, only vaguely aware that he and Hope had been cuddling before them unashamedly. Vivian shook her head, watching Hope with understanding eyes. She needed her mate right now, not two women fussing over her and each other.

"Why don't y'all go spend the rest of the day together?" She suggested gently to the shock of her mother. "It's been a taxing few days, don't you think, Dorian?"

Dorian couldn't out of that room fast enough. He picked Hope up bridal style and practically ran to their bedroom. Tammy just couldn't understand it, and she made it quite clear. Vivian looked at her mother and smiled a slow smile, one full of understanding.

It was hard to let go of her.

"Mom, Hope now has a mate. I have a mate. We have separate lives now." Tammy tried to interrupt, but Vivian shushed her and kept talking. "No one will ever take away the bond or how I feel for her, but... I am no longer her Protector. Dorian is, and we have to respect that. After everything that just happened in that courtroom, didn't see how happy she was just to touch him? That, Mom. That is what she needs now. Not you, not me, telling her that night her ears bled should drive a wedge between her and her mate." Vivian swapped seats once more to be next to her mother. "Let me tell you about Blake." Her eyes sparkled, and Tammy smiled.

Her little girl was all grown up now. When had it happened?

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Dorian and Hope sat suspiciously far apart on the couch in their room. Dorian was trying his best not to pressure her into anything and sat as far as he could, panting quietly. "Dory, I sense you're stressed."

"NO!" He blurted out, causing Hope to flinch. He covered his eyes with his hands and groaned. "Sorry. Do you want... to talk about it?" He watched Hope's every move, but she didn't budge. She didn't do anything, not even blink. It seemed that seconds slowly turned to minutes, and minutes into hazy moments. She just sat there. "Sweet?"

"Dorian?"

"Y-yes?" He hadn't been prepared to hear his full name and was surprised by the reaction it caused. He shifted in his seat, slightly uncomfortable.

"Why don't you get along with Basil?"

"Because he's a horrible father who tried to take the throne from me after I rightfully took it from him." Hope hummed to herself and turned in the direction of his voice, though only slightly. He knew the question bubbling in her thoughts and sighed. "He was becoming a dictator. So after the last war, I just... claimed the throne. No one opposed, and he was expelled. He stays around though..." Hope nodded, thinking about his story. She glanced over at him, and smiled.

"So I guess we both have family problems then." Her smile was weak, and he noticed she was trembling. Her silver eyes were more hazy than normal, and slowly the tears began to fall. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, but Dorian moved over next to her.

"It's okay to cry," he whispered, gently pulling her down into his lap and stroking her hair. "It's okay."

"I've already cried so much." But even despite her best efforts, Hope couldn't escape the body wracking sobs that quietly escaped her. "They tried to kill me! Then left without a word!" Her small white hands clenched as she steadied herself once more. They remained still on the couch, until finally Hope raised up slowly. "May I..." She looked nervous, and Dorian smirked, placing his fingers below her chin and easing her head up so she was looking at him directly.

"Yes, sweet?"

Her breath hitched and fluttered out in the form of rushed words. "May I feel you?" Puffed with pride, Dorian hastily carried Hope to their bed, setting her down beside it, and took his shirt off while she looked in vain, wishing she could see him. She knew in her heart Dorian couldn't be ugly as every one said.

But she was blind. And he was hideous.

Dorian took her arm and placed it on his chest, making her body move to stand between his legs.

She gently let her hands trace his body, letting the sparks soothe her. She traced every muscle, every curve, every vein and crevice. Her hands rested on both sides of his face, and she used this position to ease herself to his lips, going to the place between her thumbs. She was slightly off, but quickly corrected as Dorian's arms sought out her waist, pulling her close to him.

Without wasting a moment, Hope dropped to her knees and began fumbling with his pants. "Ho-Hope, you don't have-" Dorian moaned when contact was made. "Hope, you don't have to do this..." Even as he said it, he couldn't bring himself to move her hands away.

"I want to." It was a simple response; however, their night was anything but simple.

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