Don't Stop

In one smooth motion, he pulled away and peeled off his dark bluish shirt, revealing his toned and tanned torso. She lightly touched his chest, pushing him backward until he collapsed onto the bedroll, his breath coming in ragged gasps. She stepped back, her eyes wide with admiration as she beheld the intricate tattoos that covered his right arm. The dragon on his upper biceps was particularly impressive, its wings seeming to fan out and stretch in fierce majesty. His triceps bore the crest of Iris, and a row of swords ran down the length of his forearm. Emelia couldn’t help but reach down, her fingertips lightly tracing the lines of each image as if to feel the story they told. “You have tattoos?” she finally asked with a mixture of surprise and awe.

“The soldiers always get another one after a win. Even though I’m the king. I wanted them to know I’m one of them.” He glanced down at the intricate tattoo on his arm, the thick lines intertwined with the others, each symbolizing a battle won and a life lost, “That we’re in this together.” His eyes flickered to hers, “Simon says a king shouldn’t look like a bandit.”

Emelia ran her fingertips up his arm, tracing the outlines of the complex designs inked into his skin. Her eyes widened as she examined the colorful array of symbols and shapes spanning his arm. “It looks....” she began, her voice an almost inaudible whisper.

“Distinguished?” Leon said, chuckling.

Emelia tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eye. Her cheeks were flushed, and her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. “Sexy,” she murmured as she rolled up her sleeve, revealing her tattoo.

His gaze fell on a small tattoo perched on her wrist. His eyebrows rose in curiosity. “Have you always had this?” he asked.

Emelia nodded her head, “Since I could remember.”

Leon tenderly moved her arm up to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her wrist. His lips lingered there for a moment before he looked into her eyes, “What does it mean?” he asked quietly. “Maybe it’s a clue to help you remember your life before you were taken,” he continued, hopeful.

“I’ve scoured every history book I could get my hands on,” she said, her voice heavy with frustration. “But I can’t find any information about this symbol.”

Leon leaned in closer to inspect the design. “It looks like a family crest,” he said, his brow furrowing. “However, I can’t recall any families that tattoo their crest on their house members.” He peered at the image, his expression a mix of curiosity and confusion.

“I know,” Emelia’s voice was faint as she spoke, “I’ve tried genealogy books, too, with no luck.”

Leon reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards him. She stumbled slightly, then collapsed onto his lap, her legs straddling him as her knees rested on the edge of the cot. He met her gaze, and she could see a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “When this is all over, I’ll help you figure out what it all means,” he said. He held her face in his hands, the intensity and desire in his eyes making her heart race. He brought his lips to hers and kissed her with an almost animalistic ferocity. It was like his soul was consumed by her very being, and every kiss felt like the first and last. Her embrace brought out a wildness in him that couldn’t be contained, and in turn, she became a willing captive of the wildness that he exuded. He broke away from the kiss and trailed his lips down to her ear, where he whispered, “Marry me,” his voice was hoarse, showing the moment’s intensity.

The words died in her throat as her eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected Leon to propose, let alone consider it herself. Images of James flooded her mind, and despite her reservations, she wanted to say yes. She opened her mouth to respond, “I...” but the doubt soon overpowered her own desires.

“If we survive this,” he said, his voice low and determined, “Marry me. You don’t have to give me a yes or no answer now. Just think about it.” He leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to her lips. The touch of his mouth sent flutters through her body. She could almost feel the rising temperature between them as his lips moved over her jawline, each kiss like a whisper. He paused at the tender spot beneath her ear, and she shivered, her breath catching in her throat. Softly, he nibbled at her neck, making her moan in pleasure. With a ragged gasp, he pulled away, his brown eyes smoldering with desire. “Let’s stop here,” he breathed heavily. “If we go any further, I won’t be able to stop myself.”

Emelia leaned in towards Leon. Her voice conveyed desperation when she whispered, “Then don’t stop.” There was an unspoken understanding between them, and she hoped he could feel the same want she did.

Leon ran his hands along Emelia’s hips, every curve outlined against him. He looked deep into her eyes, his words resonating in her chest. “I respect you too much to do this any other way.” He ran his thumb along her jawline, his voice deepening. “I want you to be my wife when we first lay together.”

She looked into his warm eyes and placed her hand on his cheek. Her lips curled into a half-smile as she lightly kissed him and said, “I understand. We’ll wait.”

Leon’s smile was kind and gentle as he said, “Now, let’s get some sleep.” He shifted his body, patting the bedspread with both hands in a small gesture inviting Emelia to rest beside him.

Emelia nestled her head into the crook of Leon’s neck and let her hair fall in waves around them; then she looked into his eyes and said softly, “Goodnight.”

His lips grazed her forehead gently, and he exhaled a contented sigh. “Goodnight, Emelia,” he whispered into the night air.