I nuzzled her neck again, a soft smile on my features as I imagined her wearing it. “Definitely not,” I murmured. “You don’t have to worry about anything. Once everything’s normal, I’ll get you anything you want. Everything and anything.”
“All I really want is for my family and friends to be safe. And you, of course. I want you.” Smiling, I reached up to trace his jawline.
I sighed softly against her touch, closing my eyes. “They’ll be safe,” I promised her. “And you already have me.”
“I want you out in the open,” I amended myself with a smile, “I can’t wait for that. To be with you and not have it as a secret.”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, letting her head rest against my chest.
“That day will come, too,” I told her. “The day I can kiss you out in the open. Announce to the world who you really are. Lift you up in the sky to let people know where you stand.”
“I stand with you,” I answered lovingly, “Two feet on the ground. Not above, not below.”
Oh, how much I loved this woman. I breathed her in, wishing just as much as she did for this insanity to die down.
“If that’s what you desire,” I smiled softly at her. “You will stand with me at the same height.”
I flashed a grin, mischief sparkling in my eyes. "Well, you're taller than me. So I'll need a pair of high heels. Or a podium. Or both."
I threw my head back, letting out a laugh. I shook my head.
“You are hilarious, love,” I pressed a kiss to her cheek, body still shaking with laughter. “I’ll simply lift you up with my Wind Manipulation. You could sit on Key. Why rely on such things when you have me?”
"Of course," I laughed, pushing myself up and slipping into his lap. "How could I possibly forget?"
God only knew how much I loved this man….. And although things had happened quickly, my feelings for him had taken months to grow. Before the night in the armoury, I'd been afraid to admit how deeply they ran. But now….
I wrapped my arms around her waist, my chin on top of her head. “Have I mentioned how perfect it is when you’re in my arms?” I murmured. “It’s like you’re made to be here. With me, by my side.”
I wondered—if women were allowed, if the Academy was open to both, would he and Elle have gotten along? Would she have fallen for him then as well?
He shook the thoughts out of his head.
They were meant for each other. No matter which universe they met in, they belonged together.
"What can I say?" I murmured, pressing an affectionate kiss to a spot below his jawline. "Maybe I am. And even if I wasn't, I'd be here nonetheless."
I moved to place my hands on his shoulders, but a sharp burst of pain made me yank them back. In my haste to kiss him, I'd forgotten about how badly torn up they were, and as a result of it, blood was seeping through the bandages around them.
I almost kissed her lips when she winced and recoil, holding her hands out in front of her. The bandages were getting soaked in blood. I wasn’t even the one with the injured and seeing the blood caused me to feel pain.
“Let’s get you to Andreas and Kaden,” I said softly, one arm sliding down to her knees while the other remained on her back. I pulled myself to my feet, holding Elle in my arms. I almost walked out of the door when I realized how wrong it would seem for a man—specifically the Crown Prince—to carry another man like this.
I hopped carefully down from his arms, an affectionate smile tugging at my lips despite the pain burning along my palms. "Secret lovers, remember? And my hands are injured, not my legs, silly. I can walk—but we don't have to go. They don't hurt that much, I don't mind."
I pouted when she jumped down from my arms. I wanted her back in there, but there was nothing I could do about it. For now.
“We should,” I insisted. “I would rather you don’t suffer.”
"But I'm not suffering," I insisted, giving him my best doe-eyed look. "Just lazy. I want to cuddle with you. Besides, we wouldn't want to interrupt another makeup session, so….."
I crumbled to her look. Sighing, I hung my head.
“At least let me change the bandages,” I said to her. “And speaking of makeout… I really want to do that, but then you’ll hurt your hands if you tried tangling your fingers in my hair.”
(*makeout, not makeup, sorry for my typo)
I blinked innocently, looking up at him through lowered lashes and tapping my pointer finger against his pouting lips. "Don't worry about that…. I can be creative.."
(It’s all good~)
I let out a smile at her seductiveness, carefully taking her hand in mine. “Oh? Do show me, Elle.”
I let a soft laugh slip, putting my arms over his broad shoulders and clasping them lightly behind his neck. "Carry me back to the bed, and I just might."
I responded immediately, lifting her up in my arms and setting her on the bed. “Done.”
(No pun intended.😏)
(XD)
Chuckling quietly, I lay back against the mattress and pulled him down over me, so that he was on all fours above my body. "Must I initiate?"
I pretended to sigh dramatically, rolling my eyes.
“Yes,” I replied as if it was obvious. “You must.”
I hooked two fingers through his collar and tugged him gently down until our mouths were almost touching.
"Mm…. Don't feel like it."
I growled at her teasing. Of course she knew how to get to me. Why did I even let her have this opportunity?
“All right then,” I murmured. “Guess I’ll initiate as always.” I firmly clasped our lips together, my eyes closing, relaxing under against her lips.
"You know you love it," I teased back, letting my body sink into the mattress beneath me.
I chuckled against her lips. “Dominating you?” I questioned, pressing my mouth harder against hers. “No doubt about it.”
I released a noise halfway between a laugh and a groan, practically melting beneath his expert touch. “I’ll admit, you do that quite well…”
I bit down on her lip gently, the smile still choosing to interrupt our kiss.
“Don’t I?” I said in a rather arrogant tone. “You seem to melt every time I do so.”