He was embarrassed about his meltdown at Excedra after leading Warrior of Light inside the Crystal Tower. However, it made him thankful for his cowl, as it hid most of his blush. It's been literally decades since he felt strong enough about anything to collapse like that.
But she always had such an effect on him.
Surr followed him with surprising meekness… almost timid. He could practically feel her gaze on the back of his neck, and it unnerved him. As well as her silence.
When he knew her, really knew her, back when everything seemed so much easier… When he was just a young historian, fascinated by the mystery of the Tower and beyond flattered that she, the Warrior of Light, showed interest in him, falling in love with her so quickly… then she was so different.
She was wild and as quick to anger as she was quick to laugh. She was mischievous, playing pranks on the scholars and engineers around the camp who earned her ire. Yet so loving and sweet when they were alone.
During those few, short weeks when he had the honor of calling her his, he was nearly delirious with need and bemusement, at some level shocked that she wanted him. Surprised by how openly possessive and adoring she was of him. Him, G'raha Tia... a nobody in comparison to her.
Even now, she didn't seem… furious at his deception back at Excedra. Didn't scorn him for… leaving her. No, instead, she held him, whispering assurances and promises that had his heart pounding and breaking simultaneously. That nearly broke his mind.
Yet now, as he led her inside the Ocular and closed the massive doors behind them, he felt… unsure. So uncertain. Hundred years of planning and patience were gone in the wind because of his moment of weakness. Logically, he knew he should feel… guilty. Maybe… terrified, even.
Future now seemed like a massive, unprecedented unknown. Even as he planned his own death… there was some peace in that, the certainty of his place in the play that was to take place.
Now he felt almost… lost.
G'raha sighed softly, silently, watching her from under the safety of his cowl while she looked around, her expression unreadable.
That was the difference, he thought, waiting. It almost seemed like a… mask, the way she was able to hide her thoughts and feelings. Surr, he used to know, was prone to expressing her emotions freely, in mischievous smirks, petulant pouts, even… whining. He loved that about her. He adored her affectionate and possessive nature. Now she seemed… distant. Guarded.
He tried not to flinch when unreadable, dark-purple eyes focused on him, a slight frown marring her delicate features. She folded her arms over her chest and pursed her lips in consideration… and he was glad for his cowl again, shielding the way his eyes were inevitably drawn to her gorgeous, plush lips while near-forgotten heat rolled through his half-crystalized body.
He caught himself looking away bashfully as he felt his face blaze with a blush. It's been… decades since he felt anything like this. But, then, he was sure Tower rendered his body… unable to feel desire, even as touch-starved as his long, lonely vigil made him feel sometimes. Yet now, one look at her, one whiff of her intoxicating scent, was enough to make him… nearly delirious with hunger. And even more uncertain.
Surely she wouldn't want him anymore…? Not like he was now, certainly. Half-eaten by the crystallization, with old and tired soul.
"So…" she hummed, drawing him out of his musing and certainly involuntary making his face flush harder. He focused his gaze on her collarbone, trying to collect his thoughts and drown out the embarrassment. "…I'm waiting, Raha," he did flinch now, shudder running down his back at the sound of his real name… heard for the first time in three hundred years. Hundred since he was awake. From her lips… the way her sweet voice dropped slightly to a purr on it… Wicked white… He swallowed thickly, dropping his gaze to the ground and silently thanking all the possible gods for his robes hiding his body's immediate reaction. "Why did you try to hide from me?"
He licked his lips, then cleared his throat and lifted his gaze to hers, her unreadable expression and dark, guarded eyes making him… nervous. He took a deep, calming breath and explained his original plan in short, broad strokes. The Lightwardens, the Light and his part as a villain of her story. Through it all, her expression didn't change; her eyes never looked away. When he fell silent, he involuntarily dropped his gaze to the ground, unnerved while the mask on her face was firmly in place.
He didn't know what to expect… but certainly was not prepared for what happened next. So he didn't dare to look up when she sighed deeply and stepped toward him… then flicked him on his nose.
"Ow!" he gasped, covering his painful nose with his hand, glaring in reflex.
"That's the most stupid thing I've ever heard," she growled, bracing her hands on her hips and bouncing on her heels. The mask was gone in favor of a deep frown and petulant tilt to her pretty lips. "Gods, but you're so hopeless, Raha…" she sighed. "So ready to throw your life away."
"I'm not…" he started, feeling his back go completely rigid. But before he could utter anything in his defense, nearly indignant at her dismissal… his jaw dropped. His eyes shot wide open when she smirked and, in a fast, near-violent movement, pulled her shirt off over her head, gracing his eyes with a sight of a glorious expanse of pale skin, beautiful breasts, fuller than he remembered. "What are you…?" he gasped breathlessly, unable to do much else than stare… his hands clenching and itching to touch. Gods, it was so hard to breathe suddenly…
"The way I see it, Raha," she hummed in an easy tone, seemingly unperturbed while she lifted her arms and pulled her hair back, binding them in a loose ponytail. The way it made her arch and muscles play under her skin had him completely mesmerized. "I have to remind you something."
"Wha…" he startled at how breathy and hoarse his voice sounded, then swallowed thickly again, trying to collect his thoughts and keep his composure. "Remind me… what?"
She chuckled, a dark and nearly… scary sound, as she kicked off her shoes and hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her shorts. Then she frowned slightly, looking at him from under her lashes as she bit her lower lip… he couldn't stop a small, broken whimper from tearing from his throat at sight. His heart pounded between his ears so loud he couldn't focus or gather his thoughts.
Surr giggled, pushing her shorts down her long legs, and soon stood in front of him completely, utterly naked… so gorgeous and shameless he couldn't catch his breath. Then her scent, so maddeningly delicious and swollen with arousal, hit his sensitive nose… his mouth watered as he shook, whining helplessly in the back of his throat. His blood, which turned to liquid fire, shot down his body, making him pant and ache; he was nearly dizzy with lust.
Shocked by the display, he couldn't do much more than stare when she moved closer to him, climbing on her toes with that smug smirk when she pushed the cowl off his head. Her eyes darkened considerably as they trailed across his face. He shuddered involuntarily at the sight of pure possessiveness in the purple depths.
"I think I have to remind you…" she purred, leaning her whole body against him while her hands untangled his braid quickly and soon enough fisted roughly in red-white strands, pulling his head down when she dropped to her heels. He didn't dare to move, panting harshly against her lips and drowning in her dark gaze. "…that you're mine, Raha," she hissed, then claimed his mouth in a rough, demanding kiss. She swallowed his breathless gasp, using it to plunge her tongue in his mouth, her intoxicating, addictive taste filling his head with static.
He whimpered, shaking against her as his hands shot up to tangle in her hair, his mouth devouring hers desperately, so hungry as his blood boiled. His mind swam in the maddening lust, a mix of her taste and scent setting all of his nerves to tremble. His involuntary, inviting purr mixed with her hungry, possessive growl on their tongues, and he nearly expired when its vibration shot down his spine, making his cock throb painfully.
G'raha whined with protest when she broke the kiss, panting roughly as he just couldn't catch his breath.
"You taste as good as I remember," she purred, then bit his lower lip with a quiet, warning growl when he tried to pull her back into the kiss, dying to taste her again. "But you have been a veeery bad boy, my Raha," she hissed dangerously. He swallowed hard, barely aware enough to choke down a breathy, needy whimper under her dark-purple eyes.
"Surr…" he choked out between ragged breaths, his senses overwhelmed by lust when she giggled, letting go of his hair as her hands trailed down his crystallized neck to hook in the collar of his robes. Then he gasped when she tore the front of it open, growling softly at his soft, indignant huff at such rough treatment.
"Your own fault, my Raha," she sing-a-songed playfully. Still, the way she bared her teeth at him was anything but, while she roughly pushed the heavy material off his shoulders, soon letting it pool around his feet. "Trying to use it to hide from me," she clicked her tongue, then pursed her bruised lips petulantly, narrowing her eyes and setting him to shudder under her gaze.
She trailed her fingers along the edge where the crystal met the skin on his chest. Her expression was unreadable again when she moved them to where her mark used to decorate his shoulder, now swallowed by Tower's greedy bond.
Surr's claim, their bond… one thing of hers that was only his… Not the dry notes and memories of others, but the only real – his - link to her, his beautiful, beloved mate. He wept for days when Tower took that from him. His heart clenched when a painful expression flickered over her features, then pounded unevenly when his gaze was inevitably drawn to her shoulder. His mark was still visible on her pale skin, though weak and faded now. Finally, his throat tightened, and tears pricked on the corners of his eyes when she wrapped her fingers around his chin, forcing him to look in her eyes again.
"I was only ever yours, Raha," she whispered softly, her lips tilting in a gentle, comforting smile as she trailed her thumb across his lower lip. His breath stuttered when her smile turned to smirk, her finger parting his lips to brush against his teeth. She looked up at him from under her lowered lashes, tilting her head submissively in invitation. "I only ever want to be yours, my mate," she purred right into his dazed eyes.
He swallowed audibly, his gaze dropping to her shoulder again as his mouth watered, his teeth itching… Twelve, he couldn't breathe, and his heart was so loud…
"Surr, I…" he whimpered, drowning in the haze as he leaned in involuntary, his mind trying to fight against the instinct… losing battle as his not-crystallized hand clenched in her hair, pulling her head harder to the side while the other dropped to her hip, holding her still. His blood beyond the point of boiling as his ears twitched at her loud, insistent purr… so inviting, so tempting…
"You know you want to," she smirked mischievously, smoothing her hands over his chest, down his stomach. He was too lost to care when she grabbed at the hem of his shorts, then pushed it off his hips. "Don't you, my Raha?" she purred even harder, louder, stealing his mind and reason.
He moaned breathlessly, shuddering as his ears rang with the sound; a sharp, instinctive growl tore from his throat as he bared his teeth, then bit her. His mind swam as copper taste, mixed with her addictive scent, filled his senses. He whined helplessly into her skin when she arched with a shout, driving her fingers in his hair and pulling his head against her shoulder harder, purring loud and insistent as she petted his hair and ears affectionately.
His head and heart were an utter mess when he lifted his head, lapping at the new mark tenderly, then nuzzled against her throat with his own loud purr.
"Mine," he rasped hoarsely, wrapping his arms around her tightly, possessively, pulling her hard against his chest. "My Surr, only mine," he whispered, burying his face against her throat.
"Only yours," she purred, dragging her hands delicately down his back. "As you're mine," she chuckled, and he twitched when she dug her nails hard in his backside. "Aren't you, Raha?" she sing-a-songed, nipping at the side of his jaw. He shuddered, gasping breathlessly, when one of her hands moved around his hip and wrapped delicately around the base of his cock. "Mine to do as I please, aren't you, my mate?"
"I…" he tried, struggling to catch his breath, moaning loudly into her skin when she started to pump her hand along his aching flesh delicately… not hard enough… "Surr, I…"
"So…" she whispered against his crystal-covered throat, then used her free hand to push against his chest meaningfully. So lost in sensation, it took him a moment to realize what she wanted, still whining reculantly as he complied, releasing her. He bit his lower lip, choking down a breathy whimper as his face blazed with a furious blush under her dark gaze, her smirk… then he gasped when she fell to her knees in front of him, his mind staggering under the realization of what she intended. "…you'll swear to me…" she drawled, nipping gently on his hipbone, her breath so unbearably hot against his skin. He stared numbly at the top of her head, his hands nearly involuntarily falling to pet her hair and ears as the air grew just too thick to breathe… "…you won't leave me again, my Raha."
"Surr, I…" he tried again, not even sure what he intended to say as his thoughts scattered when she giggled, then closed her hot, wet mouth around the head of his throbbing cock, forcing a broken whimper out of his throat as pure levin shoot along his spine. Wicked white… Barely aware of uttering breathless moans and curses while she set to swallow him whole, he clenched his hands in her hair, struggling not to jerk or pull her on him harder, faster… fuck her mouth as his body already begged for release.
He failed, arching with a choked groan when she relaxed her throat around his dick, driving his throbbing flesh deeper down her throat, his own voice ringing in his ears incoherently as he petted her ears apologetically when she drove her nails hard in his hips in a warning. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think… gasping and whining, and moaning desperately as she pulled back slowly, then pushed in on him, soon setting a slow, maddening rhythm as she let him fuck her mouth as he couldn't help but jerk and twitch out of the rhythm constantly, the pressure at the base of his spine so quickly growing unbearable.
He hung his head with a helpless groan, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to hold on, fisting his hands in her hair as his movement sped up involuntarily, growling wildly in the back of his throat when she took it, smoothing her hands over his hips and thighs, digging and dragging her nails hard over his skin.
"…Surr, I can't… can't… too much…" he gasped… growled… whined desperately, all his senses on fire as his cock throbbed, leaking pre-cum into her eager mouth, his thoughts completely incoherent. "…too much, too good… I'm going to…" he tried to warn, tried to hold back… then howled when she suddenly pulled back and wrapped her hand tight around the base of his dick, denying his release.
He whimpered in the back of his throat, trying to understand and failing miserably as he shook and twitched, panting desperately as his body burned all over, his heart going absolutely insane. Then, finally, his eyes shot wide open, meeting her dark, sharp stare as she licked slowly at the tip of his cock, such a teasing, a nearly evil smirk on her swollen, pretty mouth.
"…will you swear, babe?" she sing-a-songed playfully, fluttering her lashes at him innocently even as she dragged her tongue along his throbbing flesh. He nodded, utterly speechless as his body begged and cried for release. He would give her anything, sun and moon, if she so wished, just to relieve the painful pressure. And she knew that, the tease, as her lips tilted in a mischievous smirk. "I need to hear you, Raha," she clenched her hand around him tighter. He whined again, swallowing hard and shuddering violently, blushing under her sharp gaze.
Surr clicked her tongue, then pursed her bruised lips petulantly and got to her feet, narrowing her eyes at him.
"You can't remember what I asked, don't you?" she sighed patiently when his blush grew darker. He looked away from her eyes as his mind scrambled, trying to remember… and failing miserably when she flexed her fingers around his cock. A low, breathless whimper tore from his throat as his hips rocked involuntarily, yearning for friction. She giggled softly, resting her forehead against his chest for a moment, then kissed the crystal, then his skin as she pushed at his chest meaningfully. He blinked hard, trying to collect his thoughts enough to understand what she wanted over his heart's loud, insane beating between his ears. She chuckled breathlessly, then rested her free hand against his stomach, causing his muscles to flutter under her touch. "Sit down, my Raha," she supplied helpfully, nipping on his skin. To his relief mixed with dismal, she let go of him and moved a step back. But, again, her expression was unreadable as he panted, watching her with uncertainty from under his lashes. He licked his lips nervously, twitching and so tempted to wrap his hand around his throbbing flesh, finish what she started… but when his hand lifted involuntarily, she growled at him in warning, her eyes narrowing dangerously… and he froze, swallowing thickly. "I said sit," she drawled, baring her teeth at him in a sharp grin.
He looked down, blinking with uncertainty at the floor, then blushing furiously, he complied, slowly settling down on top of his carelessly discarded robes, gasping softly though not daring to look up when she moved closer again, petting his ears in reward.
"Good boy," she purred, carding her fingers through his hair. He couldn't help but twitch at the praise, uttering a soft, breathless moan as his tail thumped against the floor, his dick throbbing painfully in the insane rhythm of his heart. "You're so beautiful, my Raha," she sighed, and he whimpered softly when she fisted her hand in his hair and pulled his head back roughly. Then his heart stopped when a slow, dangerous smirk tilted her lips as she moved even closer, placing her feet around his hips. His nostrils flared, and he moaned when the smell of her arousal spiked, surrounding him and filling his head. His gaze dropped, his throat bobbing when his mouth watered at the proximity of the source of that intoxicating scent.
"Aww…" she hummed playfully, and his ears twitched at how breathy her sweet voice sounded, but he couldn't look up, licking his suddenly dry lips as he stared at the apex of her thighs intently. "See something you like, my love?" she whispered, relaxing her hand and combing her fingers through his hair.
"…yes," he rasped between ragged breaths, carefully lifting his hands and smoothing them up her legs. Now he was dying to know if his memory gave her taste the right credit. She couldn't really taste as good… as delicious as his mind insisted. "Can I…?" he murmured, leaning in and nuzzling against her thigh, his senses drowning as her scent invaded his head with every quick, sharp breath. "…please, Surr…"
She chuckled, though her hand shook in his hair.
"Later," she whispered, then laughed softly when he whimpered at the denial. Though it quickly melted when she pushed on his shoulders, digging her nails in the covering them crystal when she dropped in his lap. Before he could comprehend what happened, she impaled herself on his cock with a tiny, needy whimper that went straight to his dick. He arched with a soundless shout when she gasped softly, her muscles spasming and quivering around him. His hands clenched on her hips as he pulled her on him harder, whimpering at the feeling of her tight heat wrapped so perfectly around his aching flesh. "Gods…" she gasped, coiling her arms tight around his neck. "…missed this… so much."
He would agree if he could form a coherent thought. Instead, he buried his face against her shoulder, panting harshly as he struggled not to come immediately, his whole body on fire and twitching under her. Her tiniest movements sent a shock of pleasure through his nerve endings.
"So…" she purred against his throat, then lifted slowly on her knees, and he couldn't help but whine at the friction, his fingers digging in her skin and bound to leave bruises when he pulled her back, shaking violently and gasping into her skin. "…swear, Raha…" she nibbled at his jaw, then lifted again, moaning breathlessly when he pulled her back again, losing his mind at the feeling. "… that you're mine," she whispered, straightening and clenching her hands in his hair again, pulling his head back till he was forced to look at her, drowning in her dark-purple gaze, so full of lust and fierce determination when she nipped on his lip, sending another shudder down his spine. "You're mine, Raha, then, now, and always. Swear you're never leaving me… again," flash of pain in her eyes had him freeze, whimpering sadly as he framed her face in his palms.
Ignoring his body's insane, maddening need, he pulled her in a sweet, loving kiss. Swallowing her surprised, breathless whimper and soon tasting salt on his lips. He was smiling, his face as wet as hers, when he broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers and closing his eyes.
"I'm yours," he whispered softly, running his hands along her shoulders and back. "Always was, and I'll always be yours, Surr. I… I swear I'll never leave you again… Not if I can… help it," he took a deep breath, his heart pounding unevenly. "I swear on my love for you… because I still love you, I'll always love you, my Surr… " his ears lowered considerably when she sobbed breathlessly against his lips, her hands shaking as they smoothed over his shoulders, but he had to say it… "I swear on our c-children, Surr, I'm so… sorry…" he couldn't help how his voice was breaking, his throat so tight he couldn't breathe as tears slipped from his closed eyelids. "I'm so… sorry I wasn't… there… for you. For… them. I swear, we… will find a… way. To… fix… this… Everything… I swear I'll… make it up… to you. I'm so…"
"Hush," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his head tightly, pulling it against her shoulder as she nuzzled against his hair. "That's all… I needed to hear, my Raha… my love, my mate… My babies, Raha… " she sighed dreamily, kissing his temple, and he couldn't help but sob against her throat at the pure, boundless love in her voice. "…they are the most beautiful gifts you could have given me. My most precious treasure… because they were yours. Because when they look at me with your eyes… your beautiful, crimson eyes… Twelve, Raha… you simply can't imagine," she laughed softly, resting her cheek against his head. "It was… is… worth it. Everything that happened after I lost you… it was worth it, just to have them… But I promised them, before crossing the rift…" her voice hardened as she moved, sitting up and pulling his head back. He swallowed tightly at the sight of pure possessiveness and fierce determination in her amethyst eyes. "I promised them I'll bring you back… And I intend to keep it. No matter what, Raha… You know I always keep my word…" she smirked mischievously, smoothing his hair back before she framed his face with her palms, then pressed a delicate kiss on top of his nose. "And I promise you now, my love… We will save the First, the Source… and then I'll bring you back with me, and you'll meet our kits. No matter what it takes… We'll be a family, at long last."
He sighed softly, wrapping his arms tight around her back as he crushed his mouth on top of hers, swallowing her delighted purr, his heart swelling painfully with hope, with love, as he closed his eyes, devouring her mouth roughly as she started to move on top of him, clawing at the crystal on his shoulders as she whimpered and moaned into his mouth.
So soon growing dazed by pleasure as she broke the kiss, arching against him with a soft, breathless shout. He whimpered desperately, feeling her tight cunt spasming and clenching around his cock; groaning loudly as he pulled her up and down on his dick roughly, his ears twitching at her delighted, soft mewls as she smoothed her hands affectionately across his shoulders and head, rocking her hips on each desperate thrust, stealing breath and mind. Then, finally, he came with a sharp, relieved snarl, gasping breathlessly as she rocked in his lap, whispering her love and devotion against his ears, purring soothingly as she smoothed her hands along his spine while he trembled in her arms.
"My beautiful Raha…" her soft, loving whisper tore through the fog filling his head. He sighed with bliss, spreading gentle, affectionate kisses along her throat and shoulder as he smoothed his hands across her back and thighs, enjoying her soft skin, her warmth, and the way her scent surrounded him. "My beautiful, brave mate… how I've missed you…" she sighed softly, resting her chin on his crystallized shoulder.
He chuckled involuntarily when she yawned quietly, nuzzling sleepily against his throat as she purred with bliss, coiling around him so tightly, so possessively.
"Sleepy?" he hummed, dragging his crystallized fingers delicately along her spine, smiling when her purr grew louder, her embrace tighter. He always enjoyed her possessiveness beyond reason… loved it, honestly.
Surr was perfect for him. He only hoped that she thought… felt the same about him.
"Mhmm," she yawned again, curling around him even tighter, squirming to cross her legs behind his back, coiling them around his sides. "Feels like I've been up for ages," she whined petulantly, and he couldn't help but grin, remembering her lazy nature.
She was still so adorable it took his breath away… He sighed with pretend resignation, then, using his crystallized arm, pushed off the floor, choking down a laugh when she squeaked with indignation, immediately coiling around him even tighter when he slowly rose to his feet. Again, he chuckled, nuzzling against her shoulder with a loud, delighted purr rumbling in the back of his throat.
After all, she didn't change that much… and he was so glad his heart fluttered with joy.
"Hope you have some bed around here," she leaned away to peer at him from under her lashes with an impressive pout. "Because if you think I'm letting go of you anytime soon, Raha… think again."
"So bossy," he sighed with mock-resignation, flicking her on the nose and unable to contain his grin when she huffed with an offense, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Watch it," she bared her teeth at him, tightening her legs around his waist when he turned. Supporting her bottom with one hand, he opened the massive door with the other, uncaring of their clothes left, discarded carelessly, on the floor of the Ocular. Smiling involuntary when she shivered slightly, wrapping around him possessively again as he headed up the crystalline staircases. "You're lucky you're so warm," she grumbled against his throat. He chuckled again, wrapping his arms around her back and squeezing her delicately against his chest.
He closed his eyes briefly, for a second, just enjoying her tight embrace and thanking all the possible gods that she recognized him and ruined his plans.
He had so many questions he wanted to ask her… about her adventures, about their kits… But he smiled fondly when she went limp against him, purring softly against his throat… so trusting and… cute!
"I adore you," he whispered, rubbing his cheek against her throat. A fresh mark on her shoulder caught his gaze, and he growled softly, involuntarily.
His beautiful mate, his beloved Warrior.
Mother of his kits.
…his, his, his…
His arms tightened around her when new, fierce determination filled his crimson eyes.
This time… no matter what comes… he won't let go. Never, ever, no matter the price.
He waited for a chance to save her for a hundred years… thinking dying was the best solution. He sacrificed everything for it… but now to keep her, her and their kits… His jaw tightened as his eyes hardened into hard, merciless rubies… To keep them…
Woe on anything or anyone who would try to take them away from him. He paid the price already, losing years of his kits life… losing the chance to see them grow inside her, of watching them take their first breath, the first smile, first… everything.
They'll find a way… and then all three of them would be his, wholly and utterly… his.
G'raha Tia was done with regrets.
