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Dan Heng was feeling uncharacteristically nervous.
He already felt bad for bothering Stelle with his nightmares again, but then he also went and blurted out how he actually felt about her. Normally, the Vidyadhara would feel so mortified after such a stunt that he’d lock himself in the archives for the foreseeable future.
Stelle, however, reciprocated his feelings.
Dan Heng wasn’t stupid. He was aware that the young woman was attracted to him, even more so after their shared experiences during the Amphoreus expedition. Still, he didn’t want to burden her. And he definitely felt that she deserved better. Better than someone who already failed in saving her before. Someone who let her die.
Dan Heng was brought out of his thoughts by the mechanical hiss of an opening door as he and Stelle entered her room. He turned to face Stelle, finding her golden eyes staring at him in return, taking in the sight of his face, and couldn’t resist doing the same. Stelle was always beautiful: Dan Heng regularly found himself stealing long glances at her radiant eyes, her beautiful gray hair, and most of all – her smile. And Aeons, he would do anything to keep her smiling forever.
“Stelle… are you sure about this?” Now he wanted to smack himself. Why was it that words failed him in most crucial moments? Making a fool of himself in front of Stelle wasn’t something he wanted to do.
“What, are you trying to back off?” Even though she tried to act tough, Stelle’s expression faltered.
“No, that’s not what I mean.” Dan Heng desperately tried to salvage the situation. “What I meant was… are you fine with me? Even after everything?” His voice cracked at the end.
“Especially after everything, you silly dragon.” Stelle took his hand in her own. “I want to be with you. Because it’s you. And I wouldn’t want anyone else.”
That seemed to do the trick. Dan Heng longingly stared into Stelle’s eyes, searching for any trace of indecision. Finding none, he leaned closer, their faces now mere inches apart as he could feel his breath on his skin. Before he could check her opinion once more, Stelle leaned in as well, their lips meeting in the middle. Dan Heng could almost feel Stelle melting against him. Their first kiss was tender and slow. Longing. Careful.
The pair separated as the air in their lungs started running out, both panting heavily, their faces almost crimson. Dan Heng held his gaze on her pink lips for a second, then looked at her golden eyes, and saw the world in them. They barely managed to catch their breath before he claimed her lips again, this time desperately, hungrily. It was as if a draconic part of him awakened in this moment, wanting nothing more than to claim his mate. He felt Stelle moan into his mouth as the kiss turned rougher and more invasive.
Once again, they have separated, both out of breath.
“I should have forced you confess months ago.” Or years, depending on your perspective. Amphoreus was weird. “To think I could get kisses like this from you earlier? So much lost time.” She almost whined, holding Dan Heng tightly. Neither noticed when exactly they embraced each other.
“We have all the time in the world right now.” The Vidyadhara almost growled, his teal eyes filled with raw emotion as he picked Stelle up in a bridal carry, causing her to yelp in surprise, and carried her to the bed. He carefully laid her down, looming over as if he was a dragon staring down his prey.
Stelle looked incredible this way: panting and out of breath, her hair a tangled mess, beads of sweat rolling down her flushed face as she looked up at him with timid anticipation and with her clothes in a state of total disarray. She looked so erotic like this, so his.
With any trace of the restraint he once had, long since forgotten, Dan Heng dove in, claiming Stelle’s lips for the third time. She immediately reciprocated, matching his passion with her own. She was not content with only being on the receiving end. It was as if her Stellaron fueled the fire in her soul: the fire of passion that threatened to consume both of them. Neither of them would mind, however.
Their kiss and each other – that was all that existed for them in this moment.