Chapter 68
68
~Elara’s POV
I pulled away slightly, just enough to look at him, my heart still hammering in my chest. His eyes were dark, filled with that familiar intensity that always made me feel like I was the only person in the world. Without thinking, I leaned in again and kissed him.
His arms wrapped around me instantly, pulling me closer. The kiss deepened, slow and full of heat, and I felt my pulse racing even faster. Every touch, every brush of his lips against mine, made my body hum with warmth. I could feel the way he held me like he never wanted to let go, and I didn’t want to either.
When we finally broke apart, breathless and smiling like fools, he pressed his forehead to mine. “You’re amazing,” he murmured, his voice low and full of something I couldn’t quite name—admiration, love, protectiveness.
We stepped back into the room, our hands still entwined, and I sat down on the edge of the bed, still feeling the aftershocks of the kiss. I looked at him, curiosity mixed with a hint of awe in my voice. “Darlon… when did you even start… gathering all this information about me p>
He smiled, that small, secretive smile he always wore when he knew he was about to surprise me. “Years ago,” he admitted casually, like it was nothing, but the way he said it made my stomach twist. “I didn’t want to scare you. I thought you might be angry p>
I shook my head immediately, my lips curving into a gentle smile. “No… I’m not mad. I actually… appreciate it,” I said softly, my fingers brushing against his hand. “I never realized how much thought you’ve put into keeping me safe. I… I really do appreciate it p>
He chuckled, a deep, satisfied sound, and leaned down to kiss my forehead. “I knew you’d understand eventually,” he said. “I just… wanted to make sure you were protected p>
I felt my chest tighten with warmth and gratitude. “I know,” I whispered, and it was the truth. Even though part of me had been shocked, part of me had felt this weird sense of safety all along, knowing he was watching out for me.
He pulled me into another gentle hug, holding me close. “Years of watching, years of waiting… just for the moment I could finally tell you everything,” he murmured. His voice was low, almost reverent, and I rested my head on his chest, letting the rhythm of his heartbeat soothe me.
“I trust you,” I whispered, feeling the words sink in. “I really do. And I… I love you p>
His hand slid into my hair, fingers threading through the strands as he pulled me slightly up to look at him. “I know,” he said simply, his eyes shining. “And I love you, more than you’ll ever understand p>
I leaned back slightly, looking into his eyes, and laughed through my tears. “You’re ridiculous. I mean… all of this? You’ve been planning, monitoring, keeping me safe… it’s insane p>
He grinned, a playful light in his eyes. “Insane? Maybe. But you’re worth every bit of it. Every single second p>
I shook my head, smiling, laughter bubbling up even through my tears. “I can’t… I can’t believe someone actually loves me like this. I’ve never… never felt like this before p>
He cupped my face, his thumb brushing across my cheek. “That’s because you’ve never had me before. But you do now. And I’m not going anywhere p>
I pressed my lips to his in a long, slow kiss, savoring the safety, the warmth, the sheer certainty of it. “I know p>
A soft knock at the door pulled me from him.
“Your Majesties,” a gentle voice called. “Your dinner is ready p>
I lifted my head from Darlon’s chest, smiling at the sight of him watching me with that easy, content expression. “Thank you,” I said softly, feeling a little shy at the formality of it.
Darlon stood first, brushing his hand over his shirt, and I followed him to the dining area. The table was beautifully set, candles flickering softly, giving the room a golden glow. The smell of roasted chicken, herb vegetables, and warm bread made my stomach rumble. He held the chairs out for me with that teasing smirk, and I laughed softly, feeling the quiet thrill of being cared for so intimately.
We ate slowly, savoring each bite and stealing small glances at each other. Sometimes, our hands brushed across the table, and I felt the familiar spark run through me. He leaned close, whispering little teasing comments about how messy I was with the bread, and I pushed back playfully, laughing.
After dinner, we didn’t move far. Darlon guided me back to the couch, draping a soft blanket over us. I nestled into his side, the warmth of his body pressing against mine. He wrapped an arm around me, and I felt my shoulders relax, the tension of the day melting away.
“You feel tired?” he asked again, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering just a little longer than necessary, warm and gentle against my skin.
“A little,” I admitted, nuzzling closer to him. “But I don’t want to move. I just… want this p>
“Good,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “Because I’m not letting go p>
I sighed softly, letting my head sink further into the curve of his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was comforting in a way that made all the tension of the day fade.
“You know he began, voice low and teasing, “I could stay like this forever, too. Just holding you p>
“I’d like that,” I murmured, smiling against him. “No talking, no moving, just… us p>
He chuckled softly, and then his tone shifted, gentle and playful. “Hmm… should I give you a massage? Your shoulders look tense p>
I blinked at him and then nodded without hesitation, the thought of his hands easing the tightness in my back making my chest flutter. “Yes, please p>
He shifted slightly, letting me lie fully against him as he guided my arms around so he could work on my shoulders and neck. His hands were strong but careful, kneading gently, pressing into the knots I hadn’t even realized were there. Every motion sent shivers of relaxation down my spine, and I sighed again, the tension melting under his touch.
“That feels… amazing,” I whispered, closing my eyes. “How do you know exactly where it hurts p>
“I’ve… paid attention,” he said, voice low and a little husky. “I want you to feel good. Comfortable. Happy. I want to take care of you p>
I shifted slightly, tilting my head so he could reach the tight spot between my shoulder blades. He hummed softly, the vibration of his chest against my ear making me shiver in delight. “There,” he murmured. “Found it. You’ve been carrying too much, my Luna. Let me take it away p>
I relaxed completely into his hands, feeling the tight knots unravel under his expert touch. Sometimes, he would lean close, pressing his lips briefly to my neck or shoulder, and I would gasp softly, a mix of surprise and pleasure.
“You’re amazing,” I murmured, nuzzling into him again. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you p>
He smiled against my hair. “You have earned it p>
The massage continued slowly, methodically, with Darlon shifting just slightly when I adjusted, never breaking the rhythm. I felt myself sink deeper into his warmth, the safety and comfort of him wrapping around me. We talked quietly at times, sharing small thoughts and laughing softly at fleeting memories, but mostly, there was just the quiet, punctuated by the occasional soft kiss to my temple, my cheek, or the top of my head.
At one point, he rested his forehead against mine, voice low and reverent. “I love this. Just being with you like this p>
“I love it too,” I whispered, reaching up to cup his cheek. “I could stay here forever p>
And so we stayed, wrapped in each other, sharing warmth, whispers, gentle laughter, and soft touches, until the night deepened and the world outside quieted. Darlon’s hands slowly eased their way from my shoulders down my back, lingering lovingly, and I felt completely, utterly safe.
When my eyes grew heavy, he pressed a lingering kiss to my hair. “Sleep well, my Luna. I’ll be right here p>
I rested against him, breathing in his scent, heart full, letting the quiet of the night and the gentle afterglow of his care carry me into the deepest, safest sleep I’d ever known.