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Morning sun and callused fingertips brushing against her skin--his love language, face buried in her hair to mark her with his scent. The gentle grip on her waist, curled against her body protectively, a hum as she stirred; Cedric expressed himself without words, using his actions to apologize for every ounce of pain he’d ever caused his mate. The scar on her shoulder, the claw marks that marred her cheek, and the nick in her ear, the flesh completely gone from an accident...all things that he felt guilty for. But he wanted to do better, for himself and for her too.
Annmarie’s language of love was wrapping her arms around him, curling soft fingers into his hair, peppering kisses on scars both old and new. Leaving him clothes to change into on the nights when he had to leave, the moon’s call too strong to ignore any longer. Bandaging up his wounds and fussing over him when he would fight with her friend, soothing the pain that came with years of changing alone and the torment of knowing that he could leave at any time.
Their love was weathered by time, tested again and again, hard won and worn along the edges; neither one of them could ask for anything more, except for a quiet morning’s sunrise together, curled beneath blankets in a place where the world falling apart around them didn’t matter so much anymore. Together, they breathed, enjoying the moment of profound peace that they’d found; his hand slipped against her stomach, feeling the slight roundness there as he murmured endearments softly against her ear, a kiss to her neck.
His chest swelled with love for the unspoken knowledge between them, and for his mate, for there could be no better bliss than creating a life with love as the foundation.