Chapter 127: Chapter Thirty-Seven

**Enid**

Leo and I had slept for a long time. Neither one of us had been sleeping in the days before the battle, and it all seemed to catch up to us at once.

I had been awake for a little while now, though, staring out of the skylight as the sun got ready to set again. Another hot tear streamed down my face and it amazed me I had any left. But the bed felt so empty. I knew that sounded ridiculous because there was barely any room left on Leo’s queen sized mattress with the two of us.

But the spot on my right side where my best friend and my constant companion should be was shockingly empty. If I looked too quickly at the windowsill, I swore I’d see him laying there and I’d have to look again. I really didn’t understand how I was supposed to go on when something that had been so constant in my life had been so suddenly taken.

After my initial outpouring of grief, a new numb feeling had taken over my heart and I hated it. I supposed it was my body and mind trying to cope with everything that had happened. I knew it was going to take a long time to get past the survivor’s guilt I was feeling.

*‘It won’t last forever, I promise,’* Skadi soothed me.

I didn’t want to feel numb though. I wanted to feel something—anything. I wanted to feel alive.

I could feel that Leo was awake now, and I knew he could tell I was in distress because his grip tightened around me. I didn’t know if he was getting images from me or not because I had a hard time telling when I was projecting to him.

“Is there anything I can do?” he asked quietly.

Instead of answering, I straddled him and kissed him deeply.

Suddenly I stopped, though, and asked, “What happened to your lip ring?”

Its absence was so noticeable when we were kissing. I had grown so used to it being there, it felt strange to kiss him without it.

He sighed. “I chewed it so hard after they took you that I pulled it out of my lip.”

I raised my eyebrows, looking down at him in surprise.

“That must’ve hurt.”

He shrugged. “Not really. I didn’t even notice until it fell out and was in my mouth.”

“I’m sorry.”

He looked surprised. “For what?”

“Causing you so much stress.”

“Of course I was stressed.” He sighed, looking thoughtful, “Stressed is not the word for it. I was… lost. I love you. I can’t imagine walking through this life without you by my side. It wasn’t your fault. I know you went with them to save Daro. I wouldn’t have expected you to do anything else because that’s who you are.”

I leaned down and resumed the kiss, pressing my body against his. We were both still naked, and I felt his body react underneath me. We’d only been apart a few days, but it felt like it had been forever.

Desire burned in my stomach and it nudged away the awful numbness I’d been feeling. I pushed my feelings through the bond and he wrapped his arm around my back.

He turned us over, taking control, which was what I wanted. I was tired. Tired of being the person always expected to decide. Tired of being the one to lead. He understood that. I knew he did.

His weight pressed against me, trapping me, and I loved it. I needed it, as my desire burned hotter. I pushed my hips up against him as he kissed down my neck.

“Mmm… I love you,” he purred against my skin.

He kissed his mark on my neck and then nipped at it. Shivers ran through my body and I gasped, lacing my fingers through his hair.

He moved down to my breasts, and I glanced down, glad to see the bruising was mostly gone.

I let go, losing myself in the sensations as my skin heated another degree. I moaned loudly as his hand found its way between my legs and my body trembled with desire as he caressed me.

My stomach jumped from the sensation as he planted kisses down the front of it. His tongue replaced his thumb on my clit, making me answer with another loud moan. I called his name as his arms wrapped around my legs, his hands resting on my thighs and holding them open.

I panted at the waves of pleasure, my voice growing louder as my own cries filled the room. My body clenched, and I wanted to push my thighs together, but he didn’t let me. He held me there, continuing until I was pushed over the edge of my desire.

I was still recovering, not completely returned to reality when he picked me up and turned me over. I was on hands and knees when he pushed into me swiftly, without warning.

I felt his strong, warm hands wrap around my hips as he took me. It was a savage and erratic claiming. It was unexpected, but not unwelcome. I couldn’t think, I could only react, and I cried out loudly. My voice mixed with the sound of slapping skin as he slammed into me, showing no signs of slowing down.

I closed my eyes, my toes curling, and got lost in myself, clenching the bedsheet tightly in my hands. I was near the edge again, the friction of the thrusts coaxing my body to climax again.

I felt he was close, too. I knew his body and his actions well, and he slowed down as his hands tightened on my hips. I found my release and cried out, shaking and moaning weakly as he gave a few more deep thrusts before groaning and finding his own.

When we laid down beside each other, we were both sweating and out of breath. We were in a dazed afterglow when Eris’ tentative voice flowed into my head.

*‘Do you guys want to have a late dinner? I’m worried about you.’*

*‘I’m okay, don’t worry,’* I lied.

*‘Please,’* she asked again with sadness in her voice.

*‘Okay. Be down in thirty minutes.’*

I looked at Leo and he softly brushed my hair out of my face. He ran his thumb over my lips and then kissed me. It had been a pleasant reprieve while it lasted, but real life always had an annoying habit of going on even when you weren’t ready.