NOVEL NEXT Chapter 264: Fiery Morning
Leon pulled the under-armor off carefully, leaving her in nothing but her black panties and matching bra. The practical undergarments were a stark contrast to the vulnerability of her current position, but Seraphine felt no embarrassment. Only a deep, bone-tired satisfaction at being cared for.
"I want to sleep while hugging you tightly tonight," she said softly, her voice carrying none of its usual sultry undertone. Just simple, honest need.
Leon paused, clearly caught off guard. His eyebrows rose slightly, and Seraphine could practically see the thoughts racing behind his eyes.
Hmph! He's expecting me to be horny, she realized with internal amusement. Usually, I would be.
And she was aware—acutely aware—of his presence, his body, the desire that always simmered between them. But tonight, that wasn't what she needed. Tonight, she needed something more straightforward and more profound. She needed to hold him and be held, to feel his heartbeat against hers, to verify through sustained contact that he was alive and real and keeping his promise.
"Okay," Leon said finally, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. His lips were warm against her skin, and Seraphine's eyes fluttered closed at the tender gesture.
She opened them again as he straightened, watching intently as he began removing his own clothes. His shirt came off first, revealing the defined musculature beneath. Seraphine's eyes traced over his form with shameless appreciation, noting every detail.
He's different, she observed, her analytical mind cataloguing changes despite her emotional state. More defined. The muscles are denser and more pronounced. And he's slightly taller too—maybe an inch or two taller than before.
Her gaze drifted lower as Leon removed his pants, leaving him in just his shorts. Even in her current state of emotional exhaustion, she couldn't help but notice the prominent bulge there, seemingly larger than she remembered.
Everything about him is enhanced, she thought, heat stirring low in her belly despite her earlier resolution. The trials didn't just make him stronger—they've refined every aspect of his physical form.
The temptation was there, undeniable and intense. Her body responded to his proximity with familiar heat, an ache that begged to be satisfied. It would be so easy to reach for him, to give in to the impulse that screamed at her to claim him, to verify his presence through the most primal connection possible.
But tonight wasn't about that.
Tonight was about something deeper, something that couldn't be satisfied through physical pleasure alone. She needed the simple intimacy of sleeping in his arms, of drifting off while listening to his heartbeat, of waking up still held by him. That was what would soothe the fear that had cracked her composure, that would make his promise feel real and permanent.
Later, she told herself firmly, tearing her gaze away from his body to meet his eyes again. There will be time for everything else later. Tonight, this is enough.
Leon climbed into the bed beside her, and immediately Seraphine moved closer. She pressed herself against his side, her head finding its natural place on his chest. One arm wrapped around his waist while her leg hooked over his thigh, as if trying to tangle them together as completely as possible.
Leon's arms came around her automatically, one hand resting on her back while the other came up to stroke through her purple hair. The gesture was soothing, repetitive, and precisely what she needed.
"I love you," Seraphine whispered into the darkness, her voice muffled against his skin.
She felt Leon's chest rise and fall with his breath, felt the steady beating of his heart beneath her ear—proof of life, evidence of his promise, proof that he was here and real and hers.
"I love you too," Leon replied softly, his hand never ceasing its gentle movements through her hair.
The words settled over them like a blanket, warm and comforting. Seraphine felt the last of her tension drain away, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion that she'd been fighting since the moment he'd mentioned nearly dying.
He's here, she thought as her eyes grew heavy. He's alive. He promised. He won't leave.
The thoughts became a mantra, repeating as she drifted toward sleep. Leon's heartbeat provided the rhythm, steady and strong and reassuring. His warmth surrounded her, his scent filled her lungs, his presence anchored her.
She felt him shift slightly, adjusting to make sure they were both comfortable, and she made a slight sound of contentment. This was what she needed—not passion or possession, but this simple, intimate closeness. The knowledge that no matter what trials he'd faced, no matter how close he'd come to death, he had survived and returned to her.
Mine, she thought drowsily. Always mine.
Leon's breathing began to even out as well, and Seraphine smiled against his chest. Even someone as powerful as him needed rest, needed this moment of peace and connection.
The miniature castle stood silent around them, its walls keeping the world at bay. Outside, the night continued its eternal march toward dawn. Stars wheeled overhead, indifferent to the two figures tangled together in sleep, holding each other as if afraid to let go.
Seraphine's breathing deepened into the steady rhythm of sleep, her body completely relaxed against Leon's. And shortly after, Leon too surrendered to rest, his arms never loosening their protective hold around her.
In the darkness of the miniature castle, beneath the endless stars, they slept—wrapped in each other's warmth and the unspoken promise that whatever came next, they would face it together.
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Seraphine was the first to wake as pale dawn light filtered through the window. Her eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the soft illumination that painted the room in shades of gold and amber.
The first thing she registered was warmth—Leon's body pressed against hers, his arms still wrapped securely around her just as they had been when sleep claimed them. The solid heat of his embrace enveloped her completely, and she couldn't help but sink deeper into it, savoring the sensation.
He's still holding me, she thought, warmth blooming in her chest. All night, he never let go.
The memories of last night flooded back with crystal clarity: his confession about the trials in the dimensional space, the casual way he'd mentioned nearly dying, her own emotional breakdown that had shattered her usual composure. His kiss. His promise. The desperate need she'd felt to simply be held by him, to verify through sustained contact that he was real and alive.
She felt calmer now, more centered. The frantic desperation had faded with sleep, replaced by a quieter, steadier form of love and possession. But that calm lasted only a moment before her attention was drawn elsewhere.
There was something pressed against her stomach—something hard and insistent that made her breath catch slightly.
Seraphine's eyes widened as awareness flooded through her. That's definitely bigger than before, she thought, heat beginning to pool low in her belly despite the early hour.