Two days after the trip to town, it was safe to say that Felix was lost to the kitchen.
The very same day they returned with the ingredients, the teen read Isabelle's notes like a madman and did not leave the kitchen except for washing himself. When Joseph tried to ask him to go pick firewood, Felix just absently hummed and nodded. The result? No firewood, an angry Joseph and a yelled-at Felix who did not look apologetic at all.
He was busy creating stuff! There was no time for other things!
Once he read the recipes for the nth time and had basically memorized them, he put himself to work. He grabbed all the containers, washed them with boiling water, and left them aside to start preparing the ingredients.
The recipe he wanted to try as soon as possible was the Honeyed Lemons.
The process was not complicated and he only needed two ingredients: honey and lemons. He grabbed all the lemons they had left, the ones Joseph had not sold, and sliced them all. Then, after taking into account the amount of honey they were able to buy, he grabbed a medium-sized jar.
The instructions on how to prepare it were very clear; he had to put a bed of sliced lemons at the bottom and then pour honey. Then, he put another layer of lemons, then more honey. He repeated that until the jar-like container was completely filled. Finally, the container was sealed and put in a dark place.
Seeing the creation, Felix felt immensely accomplished and once again dove into the notes to see what else he could do.
His eyes landed on the Orange Marmalade recipe. The process was longer but still simple enough that he could do it without looking at the notes.
He started with washing and cutting the leftover oranges, leaving the cut pieces aside. Then, in a big pot, he put water to boil. Once the water starting boiling over, he put the pieces in until they softened down. Next, he added plenty of sugar and stirred so it would not stick to the pot. With time, the kitchen was suffused with the sweet smell of the oranges and sugar being combined.
The marmalade was ready when it was thick, and then it was left to cool off to then store in yet another jar.
If it was not because Lucas reminded Felix that it was time to make dinner, the teen would have continued with the recipes. His cooking fixation continued the next day, when the others were woken up by the smell of apples and oranges being boiled together with cinammon and nutmeg. It was the smell of orange cider being made.
Felix's cooking spree was finally stopped by two things: first, he did not have two ingredients for the Lemon Curd he was so eager to make; and second, because Ethan educated him that it was fine for him to try new recipes, but there were lots of things he had to do in the house, too.
With Isabelle sewing handbags and the tablecloths, Joseph taking care of the patch, watering the herbs, feeding the rabbits and chickens and gathering firewood (which was becoming harder with the recent rains), and Lucas going hunting more often to earn more money to buy vegetables and other stuff, then Felix was left with all the other chores like cooking, sweeping and washing the clothes.
The usual chores that he had left aside to focus on cooking.
So, after two days of cooking nonstop, Felix grabbed the basket of dirty clothes and headed to the river to wash them. He had to admit that, after being cooped up in the kitchen for two days, being out felt quite refreshing. The cool water running by his legs, the soothing sound of the leaves swaying to the wind, and the warm morning sun hitting his back energized him.
He even tackled the washing at speed record!
As the teen hung the clothes at the back, he could hear Joseph talking with Isabelle inside the house. "Why's our Belle so awesome?" Felix rolled his eyes. So much for 'working at the patch'. Though he admitted Isabelle was very awesome. "She's good at makin' money, but leaves us poor husbands aside."
Does she?
Well, Felix had been too focused on cooking and reading the recipes that he had not noticed if Isabelle had been attentive to them.
"Say that when you are not hugging me from behind." Of course, Joseph was taking advantage of Isabelle. Nothing new there.
"How many o' those ye've made?" Joseph asked. Felix blinked. Oh yeah, Isabelle said she would do more handbags as they had sold well.
"Hm… Maybe ten." So many?! Felix almost dropped Joseph's shirt. It seemed he had truly missed many things at home. No wonder Ethan scolded him.
"How much ye'll make?"
"Around 35 coins." Felix was proud of the money Isabelle could make. He could imagine Joseph's surprised face at her words, his brother's silence being very telling.
Finished with his task, Felix headed to the house to switch the basket in his hands with the recipes. He wanted to make sure what ingredients he was missing, and then ask Lucas to buy them. "With ye here, I won't work anymore." Isabelle's laugh stopped the teen in his steps. Should he go in and interrupt the two?
The decision was taken out of his hands when her laugh turned into a moan that made his lower abdomen pleasantly twist. The rustling of clothes jolted Felix and knew he had to leave, otherwise…
"Someone might come." Isabelle's breathless words somehow rooted the teen in his place by the window. He suddenly desired to hear her dissolving into a moaning mess. She only did that whenever she was with his brothers. What would happen if…?
"We should be quick then." Joseph said in a saucy tone.
"Wai- ah!"
Someday, Felix hoped to be like his brother: bold, provocative, confident and just able to please Isabelle, to tear moans from her mouth and expertly ignore his erection in favor of her needs. But that day was not the day, he wryly thought as his hand looked for his hardening cock and palmed it to the sound of their kissing.
"Hn… yes… faster..." The teen had no idea what was happening inside yet his hand unconsciously moved faster at her words.
"Want it in?" Joseph's rasping voice let Felix know he was not the only one affected by Isabelle's amorous sounds.
"Just-ah!" Felix's hips bucked at the sharp moan. He harshly bit his lips to stop any sound coming out while his hand tightly closed around the base of his cock to stop his early orgasm.
He opened his eyes and glassily stared at the trees around the house. He should not be doing such a thing. To touch himself at the sounds of his brother and Isabelle having a good time. He swallowed and decided to stop, yet the moment he moved he locked eyes with Joseph through the window.
I should have gone back not forward!
Though that thought flew out of his mind as he clearly saw what his brother was doing to Isabelle and the position he had her in.
One of Joseph's hands was used to spread wide one of her legs as the other moved frantically between her folds, even slapping her clit, which made her let out pleasurable yelps. Isabelle had no idea she was being watched, what with her eyes being closed and her head thrown back.
"Ya like this?" Joseph hoarsely asked as his hips also looked for some friction against her back. His eyes, which kept staring at his spectator, shone with an unholy light at having guessed what Felix was doing there.
"Yes, yes...Mm! Don't stop, don't stop..." Isabelle begged, the words slurring as she lost herself in her pleasure.
The hand that had been holding her leg moved to cover her eyes. His other hand continued its labor while he devilishly smiled at Felix and nodded at his younger brother, allowing him to continue with what he was doing. Although the teen was mortified at having being caught, his hand immediately grabbed his still hard cock and pumped it with abandon, matching his brother's speed.
It was instantaneous.
As Isabelle's hips wildly bucked and her mouth let out a delirious moan, Felix also came. He had to bite his fingers to not mirror her sounds but his breaths came out in a ragged mess as his hand deliciously squeezed until the last drop. Hunched over as he was, he could only hear Joseph's words as the latter also looked for his own release.
"Can't wait, Belle... Wanna be inside… Fuck ya so good… So hard…" His wanton words made Isabelle whimper. Felix huffed. Trust Joseph to know what to say even after satiating a woman. Seconds later, he was spilling his seed with a contained grunt.
The teen sighed. It was over. Straightening up, his slightly weak knees allowing him to remain standing (small mercies), he once again looked at his brother, who had Isabelle in the same position – eyes covered and legs spread.
"Joseph." Isabelle's confusion matched Felix's.
"We really want ye, Isabelle." Joseph rumbled, nipping her ear. The hand that had been pleasuring her beckoned at Felix, who shook his head not understanding. "One of us can make you reach heaven..." He paused, signaling at the teen and then at Isabelle's crotch. "Can ye imagine two of us?" Felix's pupils dilated. Oh.
"Huh?…" As Isabelle continued being unaware of what was happening around her, Felix hesitantly (and, as silently as possible) walked into the house and stood in front of the bed. "What do you mean?" Isabelle questioned, her hands wanting to move Joseph's hand away from her eyes.
Joseph nodded at Felix and pointed with his chin at what Isabelle was displaying between her legs.
Smooth hair, red and swollen lips, a still contracting entrance and the result of her orgasm wetting everything around. It was a captivating and enticing sight that made Felix kneel and push his face closer. A sharp gasp and the pressure of two legs jolted him out of his trance. Only then he realized he had slid his tongue between her wet folds.
The taste was peculiar but somehow addictive. Felix's hands resolutely spread her legs once again so he could keep sampling her. After his tongue tired of licking, he put his lips to work and sucked her whole, not leaving a single part untouched.
"...ahn! Mm… Gosh, yes! Yes, yes, yes,yes…" The teen's cock twitched at the whimpering sounds coming from above him. Was that him? Was it truly him making Isabelle let out such sounds?
"Ye enjoyin' yerself, Belle?" Joseph purred, one hand still covering her eyes while the other one fondled her breasts, teasingly brushing his fingers over her hard nipples. Felix was a total mess down there, so unrefined, but it was what Isabelle liked, it seemed.
Isabelle could only answer with moans and gasps and a curse word when a tongue slid into her entrance and moved around. Her undoing came when fingers pinched her clit as the tongue and lips kept doing their jobs. A choked moan accompanied the tightening of her body.
She once again closed her legs as her lower part could no longer endure more stimuli. Thankfully, the culprit of her second orgasm let her go.
"Well done." Joseph praised. His hand uncovered her eyes and combed her disarrayed hair. Able to see once again, Isabelle found out who was the responsible of her second orgasm.
Crouched by the bed, Felix cleaned away any fluids that remained around his mouth. "Was it good?" He smilingly and innocently asked. He was flushed with pride and excitement at having made Isabelle come so hard.
Isabelle stared at him in disbelief for a few seconds before huffing a laugh, leaning again against Joseph. "It was." She purred, her body twitching if she so much as pressed her legs tighter than necessary.
Something unfurled in Felix's chest at the sincere answer. The meager confidence he had in the pleasuring area started to bloom. "I'm glad." He grinned and stood up, his knees thankfully not wobbling on him. "I'll make you somethin' good to eat." He announced, stealing a glance at her still uncovered lower part. Both Joseph and Isabelle chortled. "What?" He asked confused.
"Nothing." Joseph waved his hand, not wanting to tell his brother about the innuendo he just dropped. "I'll help ya." He volunteered, wanting to stretch his legs that became a bit numb from Isabelle's weight. "Ye can sleep a bit. We'll call ye when the food's ready." He then said to Isabelle, pulling down her skirt.
Isabelle nodded at his suggestion. Her body felt too soft and mushy that a nap did not sound so bad. The weather was also perfect to have a midday nap. The two brothers walk out of the house after making sure Isabelle got comfortable for her nap.
The two tacitly split their chores, with one starting the fire and the other preparing the ingredients for a substantial meal. Not only they needed to feed their wonderful woman, Lucas was also going to return from his trip to town, having gone to sell game to Monthe.
It took quite a while, but Joseph's bantering eventually started. "Peakin' on others, I see."
Felix flushed in embarrassment at the reminder. "You're too indecent to do that to Isabelle so early in the morning." He feebly returned.
"I didn't see ye runnin' like the 'decent' person ye claim to be when I told ye to go down on her." Joseph dodged the kick coming his way with a laugh. "Now, now, 'twas good, wasn't it? She tastes really good." His smile would have made a woman swoon, yet Felix only rolled his eyes.
"You don't have to say it so directly." The teen grumbled.
Their banter continued in a good mood until it was ruined by the appearance of a problematic woman: the Ekore daughter, Milly.
"Is someone in?" Her voice was a like a cold bucket of water to their excitement.
"Joseph…" Felix nervously looked at his brother, whose face darkened in some indescriptible emotion.
"It's nothing. I'll go." With how crazy Milly turned out to be, Joseph did not want his little brother to face the woman, so he walked out of the kitchen and headed to the gate under Felix's hesitant gaze.
The teen did not think it was a good idea for his brother to meet with Milly. However, he also thought it was a bad idea to wake Isabelle up to do the talking. So, with his eyes glued to the food on the stove, he strained his ear to what was happening at the gate. After some time, Felix relaxed a bit as there was no shouting or…
"Don't fuckin' touch me!" Well, he spoke too soon.
Joseph's heated voice was enough to make the fourth brother forget all about cooking and rushed out to prevent any fight. As he approached the two, their discussion became clearer and was able to see the unrepentant and sorrowful Milly lowering her hand as Joseph took a step back and continued with his tirade.
"...you said nothing and just accepted being married off!" Joseph hissed at her.
"I didn't accept it, yet I had no other choice!" She heatedly replied, her eyes already watering from unshed tears.
If it was before, Joseph would have believed those tears and the anger inside him would have simmered down to reassure her; however, the fire just kept growing and reached a new height. More so when she tried to touch him again, to which he took yet another step back.
"Please, believe me! I love you! Marrying him, it wasn't my choice, I could do nothing. I don't like him. He's nothing to me…" Joseph could have believed any other lie, but not what was coming out from her mouth at that moment.
Because he had been going out and about, he had heard some gossiping from the other villagers. Milly had actually asked her husband to pay the debt from her family, which the man easily agreed to. To him, 10 coins seemed to be nothing. He was nothing to her, but she still relied on him.
If only her maternal home was as reliable…
According to the rumors, when Milly arrived with the money, the mother refused to pay the debt and used that money for her son's injuries. Milly left it like that and said nothing until her Husband had asked for the IOU to know if the debt was paid; reliable and wise, unlike Joseph who fell for someone like Milly. Apparently, the man did not trust his wife and wanted proof of her deeds.
Joseph could guess why Milly had come to their house: to ask for the IOU.
A voice halted the words Joseph was about to spit. "You could have run away with him. You could also have gotten pregnant with his child. Or, you could have been upfront with your family about your feelings for him, instead of hiding your relationship as if he was a criminal." Isabelle listed out to the surprised trio. Neither had noticed her presence.
"Isabelle..." Felix nervously called out, his gaze going back and forth between her and the other two.
"At least, if I had loved him as you claim you did, I would have done that." Isabelle stated with great confidence standing in front of Joseph. As Milly moved her lips to respond, Isabelle cut her off. "Did you bring the money?" She demanded.
Milly paled and looked at Joseph for help, who swiftly avoided her gaze. Slowly placing her hand on her bump, Milly appealed to Isabelle's kindness. "Can you give me the IOU beforehand? I really promise to pay you." She begged; her eyes reddening from restrained tears.
"Forgive me for highly doubting that." Isabelle immediately rejoined, immensely unimpressed at the other woman's shamelessness. "The point of an IOU is to give it after being paid." She acidly said. "If there is nothing else, do not come to bother us again if it is not to pay us." Isabelle was ready to close the gate door, when Milly actually knelt down on the ground.
"Please! I beg you! My marriage depends on this IOU." The tears finally spilled, the sobbing and kneeling figure cutting a sorry picture. The other three felt uncomfortable at the sight. Milly, after all, was pregnant. If she lost the child...
In the end, it was Isabelle who had to harden her heart. She hated making things difficult to other women, yet there were some who did not deserve her sympathy.
"Marriage depends on both husband and wife. If you only married for money, you could have stayed in your money-filled house. Instead, you came to bother us, humble people, with your affairs. I should be the one begging you to leave us alone." Milly only cried harder at Isabelle's words.
"Please… please..." She repeated, bowing her head.
As Isabelle was about to spit yet another scathing remark, her hand was held by Felix. "We can give you the IOU if you bring at least half of the money." He said, compromising. He did not want for Isabelle's reputation to worsen because of the woman who did not seem to realize that her actions and words put others in a hard place. "Take care on the way back."
With those words, the teen closed the gate and pulled Isabelle towards the kitchen. Joseph soon followed the two with nary a glance back to the woman he once liked.
Felix sighed after the two entered the kitchen, leaving all that uncomfortable situation behind, and turned to Isabelle to apologize for his sudden decision. Isabelle just grabbed his face and pulled it down for a heated kiss that almost made Felix's knees buckle under him.
"You are so good." She breathed on his lips after she released him, both panting for air.
"I… I, was I?" Felix stuttered out, surprised by her intensity.
"Best bro ever!" Joseph grinned and clapped at the teen's shoulder.
Felix smiled at Isabelle and Joseph who were looking at him as if he had solved a huge problem. He thought he had been a softie who crumbled under the pressure of seeing a woman in trouble; his decision weighted heavily in his heart during the short seconds of the walk to the kitchen. However, seeing the other's responses, he felt more confident.
"Even if she does not bring the money, I hope she stays far away from us." Isabelle sighed. Felix's attitude taught her to let go of that which brought her problems. She should have just given the IOU to the woman and be done with it; it was not as if they were in dire need of that woman's money.
Isabelle could earn more!
After her words, the mood between them lightened up, no longer burdened by the unexpected visit of the unwelcomed person.
Until...
"Ah!" Felix's screech echoed in the kitchen.
The food he had been cooking was burned.
Well, one problem might disappear but others would keep surging.