It seemed like an eternity before Paul emerged from the show. Dozens of my mother’s employees trailed out of the entertainment hall before him, scarcely paying me any mind in their joyful excitement. From what I could discern, the show had been wonderful, and I couldn’t deny the sense of mourning in having missed it.

I could imagine what Paul would think of me, unable to enjoy his hot bod in action for being a mommy’s girl. I should have simply allowed my mother to leave. I shouldn’t have chased her and I shouldn’t have felt so broken at her rejection.

Was I truly that bad of a daughter? Were my dreams so unspeakable that she couldn’t even accept me as her offspring until I allowed that which she had laid out for me?

God only knew what Paul would think, and he was the only thing I had aside from my absent mother. I knew it was a bit soon to be relying on him for my emotional needs, but I needed someone to count on, to talk to, to love me.

“What’s wrong little bird?” Paul asked, startling me. I quickly wiped my eyes, though I knew it wouldn’t sweep away all the evidence of my weeping.

He was still slathered in body paint, the silver of it and his clothing making him look like a statue of a Greek god. I longed for him with all of my body and soul, but how could he see anything in someone who couldn’t even stand her ground?

“Ella, honey,” he murmured, stepping closer. I realized belatedly that the tears were still falling, and cursed myself for what a giant baby I was being.

“I’m sorry,” I blubbered. Paul looked taken aback, but who could blame him?

Before I could sputter out some other apology, he drew me into his arms and rested his chin atop my head. I pressed myself into his chest, aware of the body paint smearing onto me but not caring enough to pull away. He stroked a hand through my hair, and I sniffled softly, the scent of the paint stinging my nostrils.

“I really wanted to see the show. You were so handsome, and, God,” I paused, my voice strained. “I couldn’t have asked for a better performance, from what I managed to see,” I whispered.

He chuckled warmly, drawing back just slightly to look me in the eye. I could only stare in wonder at just how well the body paint adhered to his skin, even after I had been sobbing against him. I traced my fingers along his pectoral muscles, smirking at the darker shade of blue they had used on his nipples. It was a welcome distraction from the guilt at missing his performance, though that came flooding back as I met his gaze.

There was an unfamiliar sadness in his eyes, and my heart ached at the thought of being the reason for it.

“There will be other shows,” he said soothingly, brushing a hand through my hair.

I took my lip between my teeth, nibbling at it as I tried to discern if he was truly upset or not. I was so used to manipulation from those who claimed to love me; saccharine sweet smiles that prefaced a soul-shattering insult. Such was what made Martha Beck tick, it seemed.

“How can you not be angry with me? I tucked tail and chased after my mother like some sort of child,” I muttered softly, and his expression turned stern.

“Ella, you have every right to miss my shows if it means patching things up with your ma. While I certainly don’t agree with the old broad’s methods, I know you love her dearly. Makes my heart ache to think about how she treats you, but come on, love. I wouldn’t be so cold; I thought you knew me better than that by now,” he murmured.

He brushed the pad of his thumb across my lips, and I took a moment to revel in his gentle touch.

“I take it things didn’t work out how you might have liked,” he said gently, tugging me from my reverie.

I felt my eyes prick with tears again and quickly raised a hand to wipe them away before they could fall. My mascara was long past being salvageable at this point, and I knew I likely looked like a raccoon. Paul didn’t seem awfully put off, however, so perhaps it was safe to share my innermost thoughts with him.

“She said that no daughter of hers would behave in the way I am currently. She seems prepared to disown me over the fact that I want a life beyond EBgen. I’ve been thinking about what you were saying about fate. About how we’re on these trains, waiting until we come to our stop. For so long, I’ve been convinced that my railway lay alongside my mother’s. But now…I’m not happy with where it’s taking me. I want to change directions; I want to…I want to change my fate. I want to be with you, Paul. More than anything, I just want to be your little bird.”

I wept, and he drew me near to his chest again. His skin was as warm and welcoming as ever against my own.

“Your old ma is headed towards a train wreck, baby girl. Hell, maybe I have been too. Now I know, though, that you and I are due for a new ride. I’ll change my future, I’ll change my fate, I’ll change everything if it means being with you. As long as we reach that final destination together, I can die a happy man,” he murmured.

I leaned in to kiss him, sucking on his bottom lip. He shivered, tensing a hand in my hair. There was a pressure to his touch, but nothing harsh. It was simply enough to ground me, to keep me from drifting back into hysterics.

“Tomorrow, I’ll collect my last check. The money I get from this job will be enough to get us a plane ticket to somewhere in Europe, or something. We may be living paycheck to paycheck for a while, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take if it means being together. I can’t offer you riches, Ella, but I can show you the world as best as I know how,” he said warmly.

I felt my insides shudder with delight and a touch of disbelief. Was I truly going to run away with this man, this gorgeous performer who I scarcely knew? Was I willing to give up the life I knew for a chance at exploring my destiny? The answer was an easy one to come to.

“Tomorrow, we’ll talk about the future. For now…we have tonight,” I whispered.

His eyes danced with mirth, and he abruptly scooped me up in his arms. I had to swallow a squeal as he carried me, bridal style, across the deck.

“Where are we going?” I giggled, the doubt I had felt slipping away with ease.

“To my room. Your mother won’t know where I’m staying, so we shouldn’t have any interruptions. You’ll have to give me a minute to wash this body paint off, though.” He chuckled.

I grinned, leaning in lick his cheek. The paint seemed to be water resistant, and I imagined he would have a hell of a time getting it off, which meant less time in bed together.

“Leave the paint on. You’re my fantastic fairy prince, carrying me away on the adventure of a lifetime.” I grinned, tracing my fingers along his jawline.

He rumbled a laugh, quirking a brow at my choice of words.

“Fairy, huh? That’s a new one.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Sweeping you off of your feet is something I have no problem with, though, I gotta say.”

The sun was sinking towards the horizon as we made our way to his room, and I stared at the mishmash of colors in the sky as the clouds melded together. I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

“You’re so wonderful. Too good to be true,” I mused aloud.

He might have thought I was being mushy, but in my eyes, it was the truth. He was better than any man I could have ever imagined meeting. Though we had not yet said the words, I had no doubt that he loved me as dearly as I loved him.

“I could say the same about you, missy,” he replied, stepping around a corner and swiping his key card in his locked door.

The light flashed green before the door unlocked, and he swept it open with gusto. I giggled as he carried me into his messy room, squealing as he tossed me up into the air. For a moment I was flying, but soon I crashed onto his mattress with a loud thump. He grinned, looping his thumb in the waistband of the shorts he was wearing.

“You sure you don’t want me to wash off first?” he inquired, sauntering towards the bed. I reddened, excitement flowing through my veins.

“Come on and take me, my prince,” I announced grandly, shimmying out of my gaudy evening gown. I tossed it carelessly to the floor, deciding I would be just as content if I never saw it again. Paul tilted his head, chuckling as he shifted the shorts down his legs.

Wow. It seemed like whoever had applied the paint had been painstakingly thorough. I wasn’t sure if I should feel jealous or excited. Perhaps a mix of both. He seemed to sense my trepidation, flicking the tip of his blue-painted cock with his finger.

“I applied it myself, little bird. You don’t have to worry about sharing the goods.”

He grinned, waltzing towards the bedside table and grabbing a condom out of the drawer before approaching the bed. He wasted no time, slipping on top of me and curling his fingers in the waistband of my underwear. I took the initiative to unclasp my bra, and he smiled toothily as my bare skin was exposed. I shivered at how animalistic he looked in that moment, like I was some morsel, ready to be devoured. For all I cared, he could consume every ounce of me.

“So, if you’re my fairy prince, what does that make me?” I inquired softly, ghosting my fingers along his abdomen.

He smiled, peppering kisses along the length of my collarbone.

“I imagine you’re some human princess, held captive by an evil witch. Evil not-step-mother? Hell, I don’t know. All I know is that she’s the bad guy in our love story.”

I smiled bashfully, taking no small pleasure in his use of the L word. While it wasn’t an outright confession, it was only a matter of time before we were saying it with every other breath. I tangled my hands in his hair, shivering as he aligned himself with my entrance.

“What happens when the clock strikes midnight?” I asked.

“Oh honey, you just wait and see,” he riposted, easing into me with a groan.

It was still a process adjusting to his large girth every time he entered me, but you wouldn’t find me complaining. He sank his teeth into my shoulder, and it was all I could do but to scream his name as he began to rhythmically rail into me.

His thrusts were slow, almost agonizingly so. He seemed intent upon dragging our pleasure on throughout the night, and I was certainly in no mood to stop him, even if I could have gotten the words out.

Once my shoulder was thoroughly marked, he tilted his head to meet me for a kiss as he worked me towards my first orgasm of the night. I tensed around him, and he paused for a moment before quirking that predatory grin once more.

While I wasn’t quite sure I could make it all the way until midnight, I was certainly willing to give it a go, and it seemed that Paul was all too eager to push me to my limits. All my worries were swept away as we carried into the night on a wave of orgasmic bliss.

I couldn’t have asked for a better source of comfort than his lips upon mine as I came, time and time again.