Hey y'all! This chapter is a little more intimate than normal. I tried to keep things from getting to the 'gosh I need Clorox' level. Sorry if I didn't succeed and if you'd rather skip it entirely, I'll hopefully have another chapter published soon.
Chapter Twenty-One
The smell of saltwater in the wind wafted through the air as Echo unlocked the door of the hut, toeing it open as he lifted his beautiful bride off her feet and carried her inside, setting her upright in the middle of the small room.
He looked around. There was a little kitchen in the corner, a lounge with a holovision in front of it. There was a porch in front of them with a daybed. Through a door he saw a bathroom with a sanisteam and a... a bathtub! A really big one.
Ooh! I have to try that while we're here.
He turned again and there it was. A large four-poster canopy bed, set against the wall to the right of the porch windows.
And suddenly every hair on his body stood upright as if he were about to be struck by lightning. He knew what would eventually take place. He didn't know whether to feel excited or afraid.
Ella shifted behind him, and he turned to look at her - the only constant in this whole thing.
She was eying the bed as well, then timidly stealing glances his way. A flush was rising to her cheeks.
Echo cleared his throat and stepped back to her. Her eyes matched onto his, and he read a certain... uncertainty there.
"Ella..." he murmured. "We don't have to... if you don't want to right now. We can wait until you want to."
She ducked her head, little wisps of hair falling about her face. "I... I do want to. I really do. It's just..." she sighed. "I haven't... not ever."
His eyes widened. "You mean... ever?"
She nodded. "Yes."
He ran his hand through his hair in disbelief. "But you're so beautiful," he breathed. "How... I thought everyone did."
She shook her head. "Not everyone. Most do. Some decide to wait until they're married. Like me."
He nodded, "And some are completely oblivious to it until just before then."
She laughed lyrically. He loved to make her laugh. It was such a melodic, tuneful sound, like a bird whistling, the song bubbling from its throat.
"Ella... you probably already guessed, but I haven't either," he confessed.
It was likely obvious, what with his lack of knowledge until recently. But he wanted her to know, or remember, that she wasn't alone in this.
"Are you scared?" he whispered, taking her hand.
She shook her head, then paused and shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, I'm not... not terrified. And I really do want to, Echo. I have since you first kissed me. Well, before that even." She blushed at her own admission, then seemed to realize that it was okay to feel that way and sighed. "I just... it's new. Something I haven't ever experienced. I don't know what to do, or what I'd like. And I..." she ducked her head. "I want to please you."
I want you to find me beautiful. I want you not to be disappointed with what you see. I want to be as angelic as you say I am.
Echo cupped her cheek in his hand. She shuddered then leant into it, closing her eyes and seeming to draw comfort from his touch.
"Ella," he murmured. "You define beauty to me."
A veil of tears misted her lovely eternal eyes, and he longed to brush them away. But he realized that they were good tears. Tears that meant a fountain of joy had erupted. It mean he was doing this right.
"Ella, I don't want you to feel pressured into this. I don't want you to surrender half-willingly. I want you to not be afraid. If that means we put on comfortable clothes and just sleep tonight, I won't be disappointed," he promised. A smile dimpled his cheek. "I can't tell you how I've longed to just wake up with you in my arms. I've dreamt of dreaming beside you as long as I've known you."
Ella stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing into him as if she wanted to burrow within him and find the peace he was trying to hold for her. He held her and hugged her tightly until he heard her sniffle and drew back.
Tears were rolling down her cheeks. He lifted his hands to wipe them away.
"A'oatr," he crooned. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. Everything is just the way I always dreamed of and I can't believe it. More than I dreamed of, Echo. You're everything I believed was too much to ask for; everything I couldn't reconcile being worthy of... I still can't!" She sobbed a little then looked into his eyes. Hers were melty and warm, like liquid chocolate. "How did I come to deserve you? You think I'm an angel, but I think you... you're the angel. Truly. You have such a kind and pure heart, and you'd put aside your own desires to make me feel so safe."
"I love you," he shrugged. "I want you to feel safe. I want you to be happy and peaceful. If I didn't, I don't think it would be love."
She sniffled one more time, then nodded. "Echo... let's try. Please. The worst that happens is we decide to wait and try again later. But I want to. I know I'll regret it the rest of my life if I don't, and wonder what it might've been like if we had."
Echo felt nervousness simmering, but nodded. He could be brave for her.
"Why don't we pray?" he suggested.
She smiled and nodded.
He took both her hands and rested his forehead on hers, closing his eyes.
"Maker... you say you'll give us peace. You blessed our marriage in your sight today. Please... when we take the next step, bless that too. Give us peace and comfort and let us just be as we are together."
She nodded, "Thank you for bringing us together; thank you for this blessing which is being together. Give us both strength and courage, and deepen our trust beyond what we understand."
They stayed like that for a few seconds, then looked up at one another. Ella still looked shy, but something new was in her eyes. A searing desperation that reached out and grasped at his soul.
Hesitantly, he bent his head and captured her lips, his hands still on her waist and back. She clutched at his shirt and kissed him back.
And like it had been the spark to the gasoline, a fire erupted between them, burning and leaping towards the dimming skies.
Echo gently slid his hands up to the clasp that held the top of her dress as her fingers traced past his shoulders until they met at the button which rested in the hollow of his collarbone. Locking eyes, they undid the first ties in unison. He unzipped the dress, she unbuttoned his uniform coat.
When she finished the last button, he peeled his arms from it and lay it over the bench at the foot of the bed. Then he helped her extract herself from her gown and step out.
A long, sheer, white top covered her chest with lace and fell down to brush her thigh, where the silk counterpart of the outfit peeked through.
Ella ducked her head self-consciously.
Echo tenderly draped her beautiful dress over his coat and returned to her, kissing her more deeply than he had dared to before now. Her hands came up to grip at his white button-down shirt, anchoring herself to him as she responded with her own zeal.
Bending down he hooked his elbow under her knees and scooped her up, carrying her around to one side of the bed where he carefully set her in the middle of the mattress before toeing off his shoes and climbing on with her.
Gradually they lost more fabric. Echo, after her invitation, finally gave himself permission to gaze on the wonderful masterpiece she'd kept just for him - for his eyes only.
With every new path he learned, she stole his heart and breath away and broke his ability to process anything. He was sure that he'd never be able to make sense of anything ever again after seeing her impossible loveliness.
He worshiped her.
Every inch.
From the slender column of her neck to her toes which curled with pleasure as he committed to memory every detail.
Sometime after he'd begun to feel a bit adept - to which she heartily agreed - Ella begged him to let her show him what he meant to her, and to lavish him as he'd done to her.
And then bliss.
The only thing he knew was her name and her touch, like magic on his chest and arms and face and... oh, he couldn't breathe for the intensity.
"Are you okay?" she murmured, her lips against his neck as he tried to reel in his swirling and labyrinthine thoughts.
He could only gasp out her name and nod, holding her against him, every inch of him against every liquid centimeter of her.
Gently, and breathlessly, he turned them over so that she was lying back against the pillows. She reached up to wrap her hands behind his shoulders and nodded, a determined and serene expression resting upon her like a mantle.
Echo reached up and brushed his hand across her blushing face, tangling his fingers in her hair as he hissed a shuddering breath and sank his lips to meet hers.
A spark.
Her fingers tightened on his arm, and she tensed against him, her lips in a thin line, a soft murmur of stinging caution on her tongue. He kissed her slowly, lovingly, waiting until she kissed back to claim her mouth more intimately, ever attentive to her cues.
When she gasped against his lips and pulled him closer, he knew she was alright, and the last thing he could coherently remember was her lips on his and one each of their hands locking together.
Everything after was too wonderful to comprehend, too deep and pure to touch. A pleasure so raw it edged on agony, but pulled them back for more, addicted and awed.
The flames leaped higher until they raged out of control. Water and flares melded into one, something intangible and unexplainable, but real and there. Just beyond reach. Almost but not quite.
Ella gasped and opened her mouth to cry out but couldn't find her voice. A whisper finally trembled out, just a single word against his shoulder.
"... Echo..."
He gasped against her lips, closing his eyes as her heart urged his on through their chests, beating at the walls in an effort to unite, once and for all.
Faster and faster until they were two sledgehammers, drilling a tunnel path and finally...!
Finally.
White hot light poured over and around and through and from him as Echo held onto her. He couldn't bear the incandescence and couldn't breathe. Couldn't even think!
Everything seemed to slow and speed up, as if time itself had shattered and only now existed.
He heard a ringing, like a clear silvery wind whispering.
His soul.
And again it came, but this time there was a golden humming with it, like a haunting voice dancing out in the rain.
They washed over his body, leaving him shivering and every nerve alive where they touched him, like moonlight and electricity, rendering his bones useless and his muscles limp.
In a snap the vision faded and he tumbled back into Ella's arms, shaking as he clung to her weakly.
"Are..." he swallowed to try to break the shudders in his voice. "Are you... okay?"
She nodded, caressing her fingers through his messy hair. Her own dark curls were thrown about her in a wild but beautiful halo. "Yes. Oh, Echo... you're here."
And he understood.
It seemed something deep and steadfast was lit in their love - a brand new and good understanding that hadn't been there before.
They didn't do much more after that holy experience.
Echo made her comfortable, knowing that she'd likely ache if he wasn't diligent. Then he tucked himself in next to her and pulled her close to him, their skin rejoicing at the renewed contact.
His eyelids felt as if they were being weighted down. Never before had he felt so tired.
No. I've been tired. I've been exhausted. I'm spent right now. That's the best I can come up with to describe it. Gosh. I'm so sleepy.
Ella giggled dreamily as he yawned.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Echo mumbled.
She nodded against his neck, kissing his collarbone.
He shivered.
"Echo, you're sleepy," she interpreted.
He nodded, "Yes. I am. But that's okay; I can stay up if—"
She shook her head. "Let's sleep, Echo. I'm tired too."
Echo nodded and pulled her impossibly closer, pressing a kiss to her temple before reaching one arm back to turn out the light.
Before they gave into their fatigue, Ella sighed.
"Goodnight, husband."
Echo smiled against her forehead and hummed happily. "Goodnight, wife."
Finally.
•~§~•
Sunlight prickled across the bare skin of her back as Ella blinked into consciousness. It took a second for everything to come into focus, and a few more seconds for everything that had transpired to arrange itself in an orderly fashion in her memory.
Peeking through the pages of last night, she smiled. Her joy only grew as she took in the sleeping face of her husband, breathing softly in the pillow beside her.
I love you, Echo, she thought.
Unable to resist, she folded the sheets and blanket down so they pooled low on his waist. Her eyes raked up and down his masculine form.
His tanned skin practically glowed golden in the rising sunlight, early morning painting him rightly as the exquisite masterpiece he truly was.
He was all man. Every taut inch of him. And she loved it.
His lips looked particularly delectable this morning, and she couldn't bear not to taste them.
Echo moaned against her mouth, his eyes fluttering open. A smile made him squint as he took in her divine figure.
"Good morning my bride," he whispered huskily.
"Good morning my groom," she replied, a sultry note she didn't realize she knew sneaking into her innocent words.
Well... kinda innocent.
"Did you sleep well?" he continued, groaning as he stretched out.
She nodded, "Very well."
He flushed, "Good. Uh... do you want something to eat?"
She shook her head. "No. But I would like a bath. I'm feeling a little..." she pondered, then wriggled. "I'm feeling a bit sticky this morning."
He smiled. "I wanted to try it too. I've never been in a bathtub before that I can remember. It's possible I could've as a very young cadet, but I fear that to be beyond my memory."
She sighed. "Then we should go on in."
He hummed but didn't move to do so, instead scooting closer and pulling her flush to him. "You're so beautiful."
Ella giggled as he kissed a line up her neck, nibbling on her ear. "That tickles!"
"Oh it does?" he teased, a smug look in his eye. "How about this, hmm?"
She shrieked with laughter and bucked wildly, clutching at his hands. "Echo-! Stooop, pleaaase!"
Echo laughed and released her. Nuzzling his nose with hers. "How are you feeling this morning?"
He said this with a bit of concern if his furrowed brow was any evidence. His hand gently caressed her side, tingling over her ribs and down to her waist. Her breath hitched.
"I'm ok," she replied. "A little sore, but that's to be expected."
He sighed disappointedly, "I suppose."
She smiled and slipped her hand up his neck to cup his cheek, stroking it with her thumb. "You didn't hurt me."
"But I did—"
"No, Echo. Really. You didn't hurt me," she pressed. "I swear. You did everything you could to even make the unpleasant parts more comfortable. You didn't hurt me."
He sighed in relief and buried his face in her neck. "I love you."
"I love you too," she breathed. "But I also would love a bath."
He nodded and groaned, pulling himself up. Echo turned and rolled off the bed, then turned back and held out his arms to her. Beaming, she crawled into them, relaxing as he carried her into the bathroom and set her down on a chaise.
Ella studied him as he walked to the large tub and began running the water. It took him a few seconds to find the plug, but had everything under control otherwise.
He was positively scrumptious.
Her eyes ran down the length of his spine then climbed back up and roved over the thick corded muscles of his back and shoulders. They'd definitely gotten more pronounced since the encounter in the shower room.
Probably the ARC training.
He turned and smirked at her, arching his back like a cat as he stood up. He obviously knew she'd been checking him out.
He's mine. All mine. I can't believe it.
My husband.
What bigger claim can I stake than that?
He swiveled around and came back to her, sitting on the edge of the lounge as he skimmed his hands over her skin. The look in his dark amber eyes was heart-warming. Pure astonishment and awe. It was as if he couldn't comprehend her being real. Being his.
"My wife," he breathed, testing out the words again. He chuckled softly, "Isn't that something, hey?"
Ella nodded, "It is. I'm still getting used to it being real."
"Same here." He sighed. "I don't... did I tell you how beautiful you looked in that dress last night?"
She nodded, "At the altar. During the ceremony."
He shook his head, "But not last night? I meant to. I could barely say a word during the ceremony. It's a miracle that anyone heard me at all."
"Don't worry about not telling me last night," she said warmly, shifting closer and running her hand over his arm. These are definitely more muscular. Gosh, what do they do on Kamino? I need their workout program. "You were too busy showing me how beautiful I was without it."
His cheeks reddened and he ducked his head, "Well... yeah." Then he smiled at her, murmuring solemnly, "You always have been and always will be breathtaking, Ella."
Stay solid my melting heart.
He always knew how to make her feel gorgeous. He always knew what she needed to hear.
"I think I forgot to tell you how handsome you were when I came down the aisle to you," she admitted.
He laughed, "With my mouth gaping open, my face turning blue from lack of air, and my eyes bulging so much you could see veins?"
Ella giggled, "You didn't look nearly as comical as you think. And besides... you made me feel... how I've always wanted. I used to watch videos and things of people's weddings. The groom reactions. I'd always hoped that someday the man at the end of my aisle would be amazed by me."
"Amazement doesn't come close," Echo said. "More like you broke my brain and my lungs and I died and came to life again in milliseconds."
"That sounds horrible," she fretted.
He shook his head, "Best moment of my life."
She sighed dreamily, "Everything was amazing wasn't it?"
"You betcha."
"I was terrified I was going to trip."
"Nah. Your dad would've caught you. Or a hundred men from the 501st. Or me."
"So I was in good hands?"
"Many, many, many good hands."
"I think Hardcase cried harder than anyone," Ella remarked.
Echo chuckled, "Yeah. He's really quite the softy."
Ella hummed in agreement, "I'm so glad that we have a whole cake and two tubs of ice cream just for us. It's so good, right?"
He moaned, "Yes, it was so yummy. But not as yummy as you."
Ella flushed, still not used to this kind of talk being appropriate. Then she gasped. "Echo the bath water!"
He cursed and stood up, hurrying to the tub and shutting off the water which was only two inches from the rim. He sighed. "What now?"
She grinned, "You see that ball over there?"
"The thing wrapped in wax paper?"
She nodded, "What kinds are there?"
He looked through them, scrutinizing the labels. "Um, Muja Fruit Magic, Lavender Lush, Vanilla Sparkles?"
"Do the lavender one."
"Uh, how?"
"Unwrap it and drop the ball in and watch." She sat up, leaning forward on her elbows to watch his reaction.
Which was priceless.
Echo gasped, standing completely still as the little ball fizzed, dissolving into the water and turning it a light purple. A sweet floral scent rose from the bath.
The man's eyes were wide and he looked like he'd just seen the most incredible thing in the history of ever.
"Wow!" he finally breathed. "What was that?"
Ella smiled at his surprise. "A bath bomb."
He shook his head, "That was cool!" He almost bounced up and down like an excited kid. He refrained, barely, returning to her, picking her up again and carrying her to the tub where he gently lowered her into the warm water.
Ella moaned at the feeling of the heat all around her, soothing away some of the ache from the night before. She tugged Echo's hand until he slipped in with her.
Her husband gasped, then groaned in ecstasy and lay beside her, resting his head against her shoulder. His hands wandered across her bare skin mindlessly, and he pressed hot kisses against her neck.
"Mmm..." she murmured, turning against him to press all of her against all of him. Just the meeting of their skin was so sweet. She loved being this close to him.
Echo tangled their legs together as he continued to love on her. Ella sighed and kissed his ear. He gasped and broke away.
"You alright?" she whispered.
He nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine. You just..." he flushed.
Ella smiled and pulled him closer, "Oh Echo... you're adorable."
He sighed, unperturbed by this character trait, his hands running over her low back and rear end and pulling her against him. "Mesh'la. Please…" he begged.
Ella caught his mouth, letting her eagerness answer for her in the kiss. She sat up and pulled him tightly against her.
It was a long time before they left the tub.
•~§~•
Ella wrapped the sheer night robe around her and walked onto the porch, the night breeze blowing through her tousled hair and over her practically bare skin as she walked onto the soft sand of the beach.
Nearing the water's edge, she took off her robe and dropped it on a smooth rock, then glided into the lake until the water reached her chest.
The white lace bikini did little to hide her as she floated, gazing up at the starry sky, her hair floating about her like an elaborate crown. It was all he could do not to drag her from the water then and there.
But then again, he liked swimming too.
Echo smiled on his dazzling bride, glad she'd finally joined him.
Yes, it had been his idea to let her rest a little. It had been a week since they first came here, and... well, they hadn't really taken a break from being together at all.
He knew that she liked being with him. She often started everything, or begged him to please, just once more and we can stop for the day?
He loved being with her; no mistake about that. It was probably one of the most amazing things about their new marriage. But they'd been celebrating so much... he knew he had to be careful or he could hurt her.
He wouldn't do that for the world.
Yet, despite his resolve to let her be away from him for a while, he found himself diving under and swimming towards her as fast as he could, as if his body was on some sort of autopilot.
He popped up beside her and kissed her cheek, smiling against her sweet skin as her lips mimicked his. She let her feet drop under her and stopped floating, just her head and collarbone above water. The dip of her neck cupped a teaspoon of water, rippling and sloshing quite entrancingly as he fought to keep his gaze on her face.
She giggled. Of course she knew the struggle she started just by existing - just by being her drop-dead gorgeous self.
Well, you brought this on yourself you know, he reminded.
"Hello handsome," she purred, running her fingers down his chest and stomach.
Echo gasped at her touch, swallowing hard.
No. He would not give in. She might want this, but it could hurt her. He must keep his resolve.
She was doing little to help him, however.
"What are you doing?" he rasped.
She quirked her brow, tilting her face so that the pale moonlight illuminated it, every glistening centimeter of perfection in high definition for his guiltily-ravenous eyes.
"I thought it was clear. Maybe I wasn't forward enough." And she did it again, driving him mad as her fingernails caressed his hair back from his face and lightly scraped on his scalp and her lips did wicked things against his neck.
"Ella..." he growled, resolve wavering. "Please don't. You know why we can't."
She rolled her eyes, fixing him with a predatory glare. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. "No, you decided I needed a break. I don't. I don't want a break. I'm fine, and I want you, and you won't let me have you! We only have so much longer here. We might never have this much time to ourselves again. I don't want to waste that."
"I don't want to hurt you."
"That won't happen!"
"But it could!"
She rolled her eyes and shoved him, swimming away.
He followed. He didn't like the look in her eyes. Something wasn't right, and it wasn't simply that she was starving for more of him.
"A'oatr," he breathed heavily as he followed her towards the house. "Please, I'm sorry. I just don't want to hurt—"
"But you are!" she rounded on him and stabbed his chest with an accusatory finger. "I just want you, and I can't have you because you won't let me, and that hurts. What did I do?"
Huh?
She was breathing hard, blinking fast, her voice trembling as she continued, "I'm not the way you thought I'd be and now you're tired of me."
His eyes widened and he shook his head, desperately. "No, Ella, that's not it at all! I swear!"
She hugged her practically naked body and stalked towards the house. "Yes it is. It must be."
He walked fast towards her and grabbed her arm, turning her around to see tears streaming down her face.
Pain zinged through his heart, settling like a bad aftertaste in the back of his throat.
She thought he was displeased with her; that he didn't find her beautiful anymore. That he was tired of her.
Oh, Ella. I'm sorry. If I knew you'd feel like this...
He pulled her close and held her. She came willingly into his arms, the tension draining from her shoulders. "Ella, I'm sorry. Really. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just... I wanted to protect you."
She sighed, "Echo, I want you. I really want you. You don't need to protect me from yourself. You'd never hurt me. Not like that."
"Why do you think that?" he asked, really wanting to know the answer.
She turned her face up to his and managed a wobbly smile. "Because I know you."
"Oh, Ella," he murmured, tracing a glowing line on her cheek. "I'd have to be dead not to think you're astonishingly beautiful. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. More beautiful than sunrises or sunsets. More beautiful than the sun shining on the waters of Kamino and making it look like there's nothing but diamonds sparkling as far as the eye can see. You're more beautiful than anything you could name."
Then he smiled.
"I'll tell you. I'll show you."
"Tell me," she pleaded.
He skimmed his hand down her spine, then moved around her a little to kiss all the way down it, trying to convey the awe he had for her.
"My favorite thing since we came here was waking up in the morning to see the sun glittering on your back, and painting you with the liquid light you're made of, trickling down the curves of your hips and legs, pouring over your neck and shoulders like a waterfall of gold."
She blushed. "Really?"
"Really."
She shivered.
"Every time I see or think of you, I can't think straight. You just take over everything and fill my senses with you. I've memorized your perfume and the smell of your skin when I bury my face in your neck and breathe you in. You smell like warm butter and sugar, and sometimes like honey and some sort of fruity flower."
"Apple blossoms," she replied. "My perfume is apple blossoms and honey."
He nodded. "I've never had apples before."
"We'll have to fix that soon," she said.
Then he continued. "Your lips are my favorite taste. When you don't wear the lip gloss, you taste like vanilla. When you do, it's vanilla and cotton candy. I did try that once. There was a fairground that we passed through on our way to a checkpoint with the General, on a planet called Bittia. Someone just handed us these wands of spun sugar and said thank you for what we do so that the fairgrounds could happen peacefully. It was one of the sweetest things I'd ever tasted."
"You have a huge sweet tooth."
He laughed bashfully, "Yeah, I do. But I loved that taste. I made it last as long as I could. Rex thought I was funny, but he was doing the same thing so he's a bit of a hypocrite. It was a beautiful day though. One of my favorite memories. I felt like a person that day. The people made me feel like what I did mattered, at least to them. They're my second reason for fighting now. So that they could be free and happy, and all the little kids on the Ferris Wheels and carousels could have a childhood with peace."
He smiled, brushing her damp hair aside and kissing a trail up the nape of her neck until his lips hovered over her ear.
"When you kissed me, and I tasted those delicious lips of yours with the gloss, I felt free again. I was back on Bittia, and I was kissing you beneath that beautiful sky and the golden lights of the carousel."
Ella turned and threw her arms over his shoulders. "Please, Echo. I need you."
He nodded and hooked her knees with his arms, carrying her to the daybed on the porch while practically ripping off her bathing suit, throwing the pieces carelessly to the deck.
"I love you, Ella. I adore you. I don't want you to ever feel like you aren't enough for me again. You're more than enough. More than I deserve, but Maker blessed me anyway. I love you. I love you, I love you so much."
The stars burned above them like spotlights, bringing the proof of his words to center stage as he made his promise as evident as he could, meticulously memorizing every sweet song of her skin and every curve of her masterpiece.
They lay there together far into the wee hours of the morning, so entangled you couldn't tell where one began and the other ended.
Echo stroked over her sweat-sparkling skin with his shaking hand, pressing retreating kisses to her shoulder and lips.
"I love you, Ella. I love you more than I could ever tell you with words. I love every piece of you. You have completely and utterly captivated me, body, soul, and spirit. It is impossible for me not to find you the most ethereal woman in the galaxy," he whispered raggedly, panting against her ear. "You are absolutely beautiful, Ella. It's who you are. Every inch of your skin glimmers with the majesty of your soul. I could not find one more radiant than the other; it would be futile and unfair to both."
He made sure to keep telling her of his amazement of her until she fell asleep, cradled against him.
He sighed as the stars twinkled above him. He'd given in. But that was the right thing to do. Ella needed him to always give in. To always say yes to her.
He could never hurt her by refusing.
He vowed never to again.
:
:
:
I hope that was okay.
Thanks again for your interest in my story! It really makes me feel super happy. You have no idea. And I'm starting to plan some possible new works that I may start after this is completed.
Thank you so very much! Y'all are gems!
Love, Peace, and
LittleBitOfGrace
:
:
