Thorns between us

Seventeen: Want you

Author’s POV

They didn’t talk about the elves.

Not yet.

They made it back to camp in silence. She washed him. He watched her hands shake.

By the time the sun was down, both of them were empty.

Exhausted.

“sleep,” she said. She spread the blanket out.

Drayk shook his head. “I can’t.”

“You have to.” She sat down and patted the space next to her. “I’ll stay awake. I promise.”

“you and me both,” Draygon muttered.

Drayk sighed and lay down. Stiff. Like if he relaxed, everything would fall apart.

She lay down too. On her side. Facing him.

For a long time neither of them moved.

Then her hand found his. Under the blanket.

“today was bad,” she whispered.

“yeah.”

“I thought—” Her voice cracked. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

Drayk’s chest hurt. “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

“Don’t.” She squeezed his hand. “You came. That’s what matters.”

Drayk turned on his side too. Now they were close. Close enough to share breath.

“you’re allowed to be tired,” Draygon said quietly in his head. “let yourself.”

Drayk looked at her. At the bruise starting on her cheek. At the dirt on her neck. At the way she was looking at him like he hadn’t just killed three people.

“can I touch you?” he asked. Voice barely there.

She nodded.

His hand came up. Slow. He brushed his thumb over the bruise on her cheek. Gentle.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered again.

“Stop saying sorry.” She leaned into his touch. “You saved me.”

“I didn’t want you to see that.”

“I saw you,” she said. “Not just that.”

Something in Drayk unclenched.

He moved closer. Until his forehead was against hers. Until his other arm came around her back.

“is this okay?” he asked.

“yes,” she breathed.

So he held her.

Really held her. Like if he let go she’d disappear. Like if he held on tight enough the day wouldn’t have happened.

She made a small sound and tucked herself against his chest. Her arm came around his waist.

They were both still shaking.

“drayk,” she whispered into his shirt.

“hmm?”

“stay with me.”

“I am.”

“No. I mean—” She pulled back just enough to see his eyes. “Stay. With me.”

Drayk understood.

His heart was pounding. Not from hunger. From something else.

“are you sure?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’m tired of being scared. I’m tired of bad things. I just want—” She stopped. “I want you. If you want me.”

Drayk swallowed. “I do. I’ve wanted you since the ball.”

She smiled. Small. Tired.

So he kissed her.

Slow at first. Checking.

When she kissed him back, deeper, he let himself go.

he discarded her clothes and bridging the space between them. he kissed her neck nipping lightly. he settled between her thighs.

“look at me. don’t look away”

he said finally bridging the remaining space between them he growls quietly holds her thighs apart.

He continued his pace seeking their release.

“Drayk!!” she screamed

“dionne”

he collapse against her both of them panting.

After, she stayed in his arms. Her head on his chest. His chin in her hair.

“you okay?” he whispered.

“mmhmm.” She traced patterns on his chest with her finger. “you?”

“Better than I’ve been in years.”

Draygon was quiet.

For once, he didn’t have anything to say.

Outside the wind moved through the trees. No elves. No blood. Just night.

“I’m glad you fell asleep,” she said sleepily.

Drayk laughed softly. “That’s the first time anyone’s been glad I messed up.”

“I’m glad,” she repeated. “Because if you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have come running. And I wouldn’t know how much you—” She yawned.

“How much I what?”

She didn’t answer. She’d already fallen asleep.

Drayk stayed awake a little longer. Just watching her.

“we did good today,” he thought to Draygon.

“yeah,” Draygon agreed. “we did.”

Drayk closed his eyes.

finally finding peace

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